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 One
of the most celebrated manifestations of Indian architecture
is to be found in a group of temples at Khajuraho in central
India. Situated a hundred miles south-east of the town of
Jhansi in the modern-day state of Madhya Pradesh, these
temples are over thirty in number. These temples, unlike
many others in central or south India, do not illustrate a
development over a long period of time, but were erected
over a relatively narrow period of hundred years from A.D.
950. The Khajuraho temples represent, one might say, a happy
and almost unique coincidence of religious emotion, abundant
patronage, artistic genius, and aesthetic sensibility.
Fortunately, these temples have weathered the climate for a
thousand years and have withstood neglect surprisingly well.
The existing temple of Khajuraho can be divided into three
groups, Western, Eastern and Southern. The famous Western
Group, designated a World Heritage site, is enclosed within
a beautifully laid-out park. Yasovarman (AD 954) built the
temple of Lord Vishnu, now famous as Lakshmana temple is an
ornate and evolved example of its time proclaiming the
prestige of the Chandellas.
The Vishvanatha, Parsvanatha and Vaidyanatha temples in
Khajuraho belong to the time of king Dhanga, the successor
of Yasovarman. The Jagadambi, Chitragupta, are noteworthy
among the western group of royal temples of Khajuraho. The
largest and grandest temple of Khajuraho is the immortal
Kandariya Mahadeva, which is attributed to king Ganda (AD
1017-29).
The other examples that followed viz., Vamana, Adinatha,
Javari, Chaturbhuj and Duladeo, are smaller but elaborately
designed. The Khajuraho group of temples are noted for lofty
terraces (jagati) and functionally effective plans. The
sculptural embellishments include, besides the cult images;
'Parivara', 'Parsva', 'Avarana' 'Devatas', 'Dikpalas', the 'Apsaras'
and 'Sura-Sundaris' which win universal admiration for their
delicate, youthful female forms of ravishing beauty. The
attire and ornamentation embrace the winsome grace and
charm.
Unlike the
rather plain treatment of other central Indian temple
interiors, the Khajuraho temples are richly decorated with
sculpture. Other than numerous deities enshrined in wall
niches, there are attendants, graceful "maidens" in a
variety of provocative postures, dancers, musicians and
embracing couples. On one temple alone, the figures thus
depicted are over six hundred and fifty in number. Many of
these compositions display great sensuality and warmth.
There are also scenes of explicit sexual activity which
possibly illustrate the tantric rites that accompanied
temple worship. It is quite reliably said that some of the
sexual postures follow the Kama Sutra, the ancient Indian
manual of love-making.
The Khajuraho temples were built during the reign of the
Chandelas. While some show marks of a Shaivite sensibility,
others clearly manifest the influence of Vaishnaism,
Jainism, and tantrism. These temples have an architectural
character distinct from that of any other group of temples
elsewhere in the country. Instead of being contained within
the customary enclosure wall, each temple stands on a high
and solid masonry terrace. Though none of the temples are
very large, they are still imposing structures because of
their elegant proportions and rich surface sculpture.
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