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Khajuraho
Temples
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The
Khajuraho village surrounded by the
mountains of Chatarpur district of
Madhya Pradesh is 395 Km southeast of
Agra. Today this village remains with 22
temples, which give us a glimpse of a
golden time of art and devotion at their
peak. Out of 22 temples, two were made
from sandstone. The stone blocks were
first carved and then the interlocking
pieces were assembled to form a temple.
Each temple is different from one
another.
Kandariya Mahadeo
The 31m high temple is the largest and
most typical Khajuraho temple with
exquisite carvings and intricate and
detailed craftsmanship in stone
depicting divine deities, celestial
maidens, eternal lovers, gods and
goddesses. This temple is dedicated to
Lord Shiva and enshrines the 'linga'.
Chaunsath Yogini
The temple is the earliest temple of the
group that has survived. It belongs to
900 AD and is dedicated Goddess Kali. It
has the distinction of being the only
granite temple here.
Chitragupta Temple
This temple is dedicated to the Sun God
(Surya Dev). It faces towards east or
the rising sun and the imposing image of
the image of the deity in the inner
sanctum is as high as five feet and is
shown driving a horse-drawn chariot. It
is in front of this temple and the
Vishwanatha temple that most of the
dance performances take place during the
Khajuraho Dance Festival.
Vishwanatha Temple
This temple has impressive entrances
with magnificent stone guarding its
northern steps and royal masonry
elephants taking care of the southern
steps. The three-headed image of Lord
Brahma in the temple is not less
captivating.
Lakshmana Temple
A pretty Vaishnava temple flaunts a
lintel over its entrance depicting the
divine trinity of Lord Brahma, Lord
Vishnu and Lord Shiva along with Goddess
Lakshmi, the wife of Lord Vishnu.
Matangeshwara Temple
Situated outside the premises of Western
group of temples, this Lord Shiva's
temple is known for the daunting
eight-feet high lingam (male organ
representing the natural process of
reproduction and the continuity of human
life form) that it enshrines.
Parsvanatha Temple
The largest Jain temple of the Eastern
group, Parsvanath temple has intricate
stone carvings, especially, the
sculptures on the northern outer wall of
the temple are certainly praiseworthy.
It enshrines a throne facing the bull
emblem that represents the the first
tirthankara, Adinatha.
Ghantai Temple
This Jain temple has remarkable frescos
depicting the 16 dreams of the mother of
Lord Mahavira at the time of his birth
and a Jain goddess mounted on a winged
Garuda.
Adinatha Temple This temple is
richly ornamented with delicate and
pretty scultures including those of
yakshis. It is dedicated to the first
Jain tirthankara (saint), Adinath.
Most of the temple here belong to Jain
faith but there are three Hindu temples
of the group, namely, the Brahma temple
enshrining a four-faced linga; the
Vamana temple with divine carvings of
sensuous celestial maidens in various
poses adorning its outer walls and the
Javari temple with a opulently carved
doorway and ostentatious sculptures on
its exteriors.
Duladeo Temple
This Shaiva temple is known for
flaunting the striking images of the
celestial maidens or apsaras and richly
ornamented figures.
Chaturbhuja Temple It is the huge
imposing intricately carved image of
Lord Vishnu in the temple's sanctum,
which is the chief attraction of the
temple. |
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Fax: 91-11-23721731
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