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Khajuraho: Human feelings, expressive and fearless
Standing tall and strong as a tribute to the talent of Indian sculptors, the Khajuraho collection of temples is one of the best examples of temple architecture.
The grace and beauty of the Khajuraho temples are beyond words. The sculptures portray human emotions in such an elegant and transparent way that visitors are left in awe.
About 20 temples are dispersed over many square kilometers in Khajuraho. Based on their direction, the temples are divided into three groups: the Western group, the Eastern group, and the Southern group. These are devoted to both Jain and Hindu deities.
The four Jain temples of Khajuraho are located in the Eastern group. These include the temples of Adinath, Shantinath, Parshwanath, and Ghantai, which were built under the Chandela dynasty.Â
The elaborate architecture of the Bhagwan Parshwanath Temple at Khajuraho draws tourists. Its walls are covered in pictures of lions, sea nymphs, and elephants. Despite being a Jain temple, its walls are covered in pictures of Hindu gods like Vaishnav.
Key architectural characteristics of the temple include the garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum), a modest shrine to the west, and a pair of axial projections at its two ends, known as the ardh-mandapa (the hall) to the east.
Lord Shiva is the primary deity in around six of these temples in Khajuraho; eight are devoted to Lord Vishnu; one is dedicated to the Sun God and Lord Ganesha; and three are to the Jain tirthankaras (saints). This is a perspective of the Chaturbhuja Temple’s deity.
The largest of these is the Lord Shiva-focused Kandariya Mahadeo Temple. It is one of the four sacred locations for worshiping Shiva; the other three being Gaya, Kedarnath, and Kashi.
The complex and detailed carvings and sculptures in the temples, which portray scenes from everyday life, are what give them their captivating appeal. This page displays the information from Duladeo Temple.Â
The finely etched walls of the Vamana Temple bear witness to its magnificent construction, which has awed generations. The sculptures of several Gods, their consorts, female figures, and legendary figures like Varaha and Nandi adorn its elaborately carved exterior.
The Vamana Temple in Khajuraho features a tall shikhara that is adorned with intricately carved designs.
Khajuraho’s Western Group of Temples, arranged in order of orientation, are a magnificent sight. The complex and detailed carvings and sculptures in the temples, which portray scenes from everyday life, are what give them their captivating appeal. The majority of these temples honor both Jain and Hindu deities. The Parvati Temple honors Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, and is a member of Khajuraho’s Western Group of Temples. The shrine is very tiny, with an ornate entrance gate adorned with exquisitely carved images of Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, and Lord Vishnu. Erotically charged statues that skillfully capture human emotions adorn the temple’s front.
The Chitragupta Temple, located in Khajuraho’s Western Group of Temples, is devoted to the Sun God. It draws tourists with its magnificent architecture and exquisite carvings of celestial women, such as surasundaris and apsaras, as well as scenes of elephant wars and hunting. The Chitradurga Temple comprises an entrance porch, a maha-mandapa with transepts, a vestibule, and a sanctum with a circumambulatory walk. Khajuraho’s Lakshmana Temple is a tiered structure with finely carved columns, situated atop a lofty platform.
Because of the shrine known as Vimana and the flat-roofed entry porch called mandapa, the temple has an architecture reminiscent of the Nagara style. The Nagara temple shrine is made up of a superstructure known as the spire, or shikhara, and a base platform. The temple has exquisite sculptures and is constructed of sandstone. The Lakshmana Temple’s exterior is adorned with magnificent sculptures of animals, including horses, elephants, and hunting scenes. The section of the wall directly beneath the main shikhara is adorned with numerous exquisitely carved images of celestial women.
Among the most fascinating buildings in Khajuraho is the Pratapeshwara Temple, popularly referred to as the Harmony Temple in conversation. This Khajuraho temple was constructed in the 19th century by Chattarpur King Raja Pratap Singh, and it has elements of several architectural styles. The shikhara in the Pratapeshwara Temple is normally Brahminical, but the dome is in the Rajputana style. Given its cemented dome, it appears to have been constructed far later than the other ancient temples.