Sculptures With Art of Love and Passion : Khajuraho Temples

Situated in the heart of Central India, Khajuraho is aHistory
temple town different from any other temple city ofBuilt between AD950 and 1050 by the Chandela
India. It is not about religion, worshipping and deities,dynasty, temples of Khajuraho is the evidences of
instead temples in this fascinating village are famousthe architectural geniuses during the times of
for the eroticism etched on its walls in the form ofChandela dynasty. The 85 temples were built in North
sculptures. There are so many theories andIndian 'Nagara' style of architecture, though only 20
controversies over eroticism depicted on the outerof them have survived the rough weather conditions
walls of temples in Khajuraho.over long years of time. The two richer distinctive
According to a legend, the creators of Khajuraho hadgroups of temples are the Western and Eastern
descented from the moon. The story of the origin ofgroup of temples. With hardly any written records
this great dynasty is interesting. A beautiful youngand rare references to its origin, the history of
daughter of a Brahmin priest was seduced by theKhajuraho has become trapped in the mythical
moon god while she was bathing in the Rati onefolklore of the region. According to the Myths
evening. Her name was Hemavati. The son born ofKhajuraho was known as 'Khajur-vahika' or
this union between a mortal and a god was a son'Khajjurpura' in the ancient times because of its
was named Chandravarman. Harassed by society, thegolden date palms (known as 'khajur') that lined the
unwed mother sought refuge in the dense forest ofgates of this city.
Central India where she was both mother and guruTemples
to her young son. This boy of Hemavati and moonKhajuraho is surrounded by 22 temples, which give us
grew up to found the great Chandela dynasty. Whena glimpse of a golden time of art and devotion at
he was established as a ruler, he had this dream onetheir peak.Out of 22 temples, two were made from
night in which his mother implored him to buildsandstone. The stone blocks were first carved and
temples that would reveal human passions, and inthen the interlocking pieces were assembled to form
doing so bring about a realization of the emptiness ofa temple. Each temple is different from one another.
human desire. Chandravarman began the constructionThe temples are grouped into three geographical
of the first of the temples, successive rulers addeddivisions : western, eastern and southern.
to the fast growing complex.Western Group of Temples:Lakhmi Temple
Few scholars believe that the Chandelas wereThe Kandariya Mahadeo Temple
believers in the powers of Tantrism; the cult whichDevi Jagdamba Temple
believes that the gratification of earthly desires is aChitragupta Temple
step closer to the attainment of the infinite. YetViswanath Temple
another theory justifies the erotica of Khajuraho,Eastern Group of Temples:
claiming it had a specific purpose. According to thisParsvanath Temple
theory, in those days boys lived in hermitages,Ghantai Temple
following the Hindu law of being "brahmacharis" untilBrahma Temple
they attained manhood. Therfore, the only way theyVamana Temple
could prepare themselves for the worldly role ofJavari Temple
'householder' was through the study of theseSouthern Group of Temples:Dulhadev Temple
sculptures and the earthly passions they depicted.Beejamandal Temple
However, few Hindu scholars emphasise that theKhajuraho temples were discovered accidentally by a
erotic sculptures are present only on the outer wallsBritish military adventurer in 1838. Built between
of the temples and not inside, which according toAD950 and 1050 by the Chandela dynasty, the
them means that one should leave all his/her worldlytemples by the end of the 15th century were
desires outside before entering the place of worship.abandoned, hidden deep within thick jungle.