KHAJURAHO
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.
WESTERN
GROUP
 Khndariya
Mahadeo: The largest most typical of Khajuraho's temples, it soars 31 metre
high. Dedicated to Shiva, the sanctum enshrines a linga. The main shrine
is exquisitely carved, and features in delicate detail, gods, goddesses,
celestial maidens and lovers.
Chaunsat Yogini : The only granite
temple and the earliest surviving shrine of the group (900AD), it is dedicated
to Kali.
Chitragupt 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
driving a horse-drawn chariot.
Vishwanath Temple: 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.
Lakshmana Temple: The lintel over the
entrance of its beautiful Vaishnavite temple shows the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva, with Lakshmi, Vishnu's consort.
Matangeswara Temple : Still living a
place of worship, the temple is dedicated to Shiva, and has an eight-feet high
lingam, and is outside the precincts of the Western Group.
EASTERN
GROUP
Parsvanantha Temple: The group's largest
Jain temple and exquisite in detail, the sculptures on the northern outer wall
are particularly noteworthy. Within , a throne faces the bull emblem of the
first tirthankara, Adinatha.
Ghantai Temple: This Jain temple has a frieze which depicts the 16 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.
The
three Hindu temples of the group are the Brahma containing a four-faced linga;
the Vamana, which is adorned on its outer walls with carvings of a apsaras in a
variety of sensuous attitudes: and the Javari, with a richly carved
gateway and exterior sculptures.
SOUTHERN
GROUP
Duladeo Temple: Dedicated to Shiva, the apsara and ornamented figures are the
temple's most striking features.
Chaturbhuj Temple: This temple has a massive, intricately carved image of Vishnu in the
sanctum. Read
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