Eternal Image of Love
The temple of Khajuraho are India’s unique gift to theworld
representing as they do a paean to lefe to love to joy-perfect in
expression. Life in every form and mood has been captured in stone
testifying to the craftsman’s artistry and extraordinary breadth of
vision of the Chandela Rajputs. Close behind the Taj and up there
with Varanasi Jaipur and Delhi the temples of are one of India’s
major attractions. Once a great Chandela capital Khajuraho is now a
quiet village. Large number of visitors comes to Khajuraho in March
for the spectacular dance festival.
The Khajuraho temples were built under later Chandela kings in the
short span of hundred years from 950-1050 AD in a truly inspired
burst of creativity.
Of the 85 original temples 22 have survived till today constituting
one of the world’s greatest artistic wonders. Lost among forests for
centuries they were accidentally ‘discovered’ by a British army
engineer in 1838.
The name Khajuraho is derived from Khajura – date palm which grows
freely in the area and perhaps because there were two golden Khajura
trees on a carved gate here.Architecturally the khajuraho temples are unique being very
different from the temple prototype of their period. Each stands on
a high masonry platform with a marked upward direction in the
structure further enhanced by vertical projections to create the
effect of grace and lightness. Each of the chief compartments is
mounted by its own roof grouped so that the highest is in the centre
and the lowest over the portico. A highly imaginative interpretation
of the risking peaks of the Himalayas abode of the Gods. The three
main compartments are the entrance (ardhamandapa) assembly hall (
mandapa) and sanctum ( garbha griha) with further additions in the
more developed temples.The modern village of Khajuraho is a cluster
of hotels, restaurants, shops and stalls near the western group of
temples.
Places of attraction
Western Group
Kandariya Mahadev: The largest, most typical Khajuraho
temple, it soars 31 mts. high. It is dedicated to Shiva and the
sanctum sanctorum enshrines a lingam. The main shrine is exquisitely
carved and features, in delicate detail, Gods, Goddesses, celestial
maidens and lovers. Particularly noteworthy are the entrance arch,
the ceilings and pillars of the interiors compartments.
This is the most developed, the largest and tallest of the Khajuraho
temples. Dedicated to Shiva, the elaborately carved makara torana
doorway leads to a porch with an ornate ceiling and a dark inner
sanctum with a marble linga.
The architectural and sculptural genius of Khajuraho reaches its
peak in this temple where every element is richly endowed. Built
1025-50, it represents Chandela art at its finest. Although the four
subsidiary shrines that once stood around the main temple are long
gone, the central shrine is in superb condition and shows the
typical five-part design of Khajuraho temples. The mithuna on the
Kandariya Mahadev include some of the most energetic eroticism to be
seen at Khajuraho.
Chaunsat Yogini : The only granite temple and the earliest
surviving shrine of the group (900 AD), it is dedicated to Kali.
Only 35 of the original 65 shrines remain. Another Kali temple
(Originally dedicated to Vishnu) is the Devi Jagadambe Temple which
is similar in layout and predates the next temple, the Chitragupta.
It has a standing Parvati image in the Sanctum.
Chitragupta Temple: Facing eastwards to the rising sun, the
temple is dedicated to the Sun God, Surya. The image of the deity in
the inner sanctum is particularly imposing five feet high, and Surya
can be seen driving his chariot and seven horses while on the
central niche in the south façade there is an 11-headed statue of
Vishnu. The central head is that of Vishnu himself; the 10 others
are of his incarnations. The group scenes depict royal processions,
hunting scenes and group dances, reflecting the lavish lifestyle of
the Chandela courts. The fourth temple at the back of the western
enclosures does not share the common platform with the other three.
Vishvanath Temple: Believed to have been built in 1002, this
temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and according to the longer
inscription on the wall, originally had an emerald linga in addition
to the stone one-day. A three-headed image of Brahma is enshrined in
this temple. The approach is equally impressive, with lions flanking
the northern and elephants the southern steps that lead up to it. A
Nandi bull faces the shrine.
Lakshmana Temple: The lintel over the entrance of this
beautiful Vaishnavite temple Shows the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and
Shiva with Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort. The finely carved sanctum has
a three-headed idol of Vishnu’s incarnations, Narasimha and Varaha.
This boar incarnation also appears in a nine-feet-high statue at the
Varaha Temple. The large Lakshmana temple is dedicated to Vishnu,
although in design it is similar to the Kandariya Mahadev and
Vishvanath Temples. It is one of the earliest of the western
enclosures temples, dating from around AD 930 to 950, and is one of
the best preserved.
Matangeswara Temple: Next to the Lakshmana Temple, this
temple is not within the fenced enclosure and simpler in form and
decoration than its neighbour and unlike all the others. Still a
living place of worship, the temple is dedicated to Shiva. It has an
eight-feet-high lingam, and is outside the precincts of the Western
Group.
Eastern Group
Parsvanath Temple: The group’s largest Jain temple and
exquisite in detail. The sculptures on the northern outer wall are
particularly noteworthy. The themes depict, in charming detail,
everyday activity. Within, a throne faces the bull emblem of the
first Tirthankara, Adinath. The Parsvanath image was installed in
1860. Although it was originally dedicated to Adinath, an image of
Parsvanath was substituted about a centiry ago; the temple takes its
name from this newer images.
Ghantai Temple: This Jain temple has a frieze, which depicts
the 16th dreams of Mahavira’s mother and a Jain goddess on a winged
Garuda.
Adinath Temple: Dedicated to the Jain saint, Adinath, the
temple is lavishly embellished with sculpted figures, including
yakshis. Adjacent to the Parsvanath Temple, the smaller Adinath has
been partially restored over the centuries. It has fine carvings on
its three bands of sculptures again depict attractive sura-sundaris,
the niches have yakshis, the corners, Dikpalas. Like the Parsvanath,
it is very similar to the Hindu temples of Khajuraho. Only the
swtriking black image in the inner sanctum indicates that it is Jain
rather than Hindu.
The three Hindu temples of the group are the Brahma, containing a
four-faced lingam, the Vamana, which is adorned on its outer walls
with carvings of apsaras in a variety of sensuous attitudes; and the
Javari, with a richly carved gateway and exterior sculptures.
Excursions
Panna National Park: (32 kms.from Khajuraho) Panna National
Park spreads along the river Ken. The jungles today harbour many
species of wildlife. The tiger can be glimpsed here, along with
other rare species such as the panther, wolf and gharial. Herds of
nilgai, chinkara and sambar are a common sight.
Situated in a large, dense forest belt forming the northern fringe
of the natural teak forest, the park provides an ideal habitat for
the tiger. Alternating valleys and plateaus, grassy maidans, steep
gorges and escarpments, down which the waterfalls cascade, present a
breathtaking panoramic view. A gharial sanctuary along the river Ken
near the spectacular Ranesh Falls is an added attraction for
tourists. The river attracts a number of avian species, some of them
pretty and the others good songsters.
Local Festivals
The khajuraho Festival of Dance is a weeklong event held every
year in February/March. Many of the country’s most accomplished
dancers perform in the spectacular setting of the Western group of
Temples.
There is also a relatively new Music Festival in just it’s third
year-held on 28 and 29 November it should become a regular on the
calendar.
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