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Places to go to : |
1) The Western Group Temples:
With main temples enclosed in this complex within a fenced enclosure, most of the temples are large and lavishly decorated, dedicated to either Lord Shiva or Vishnu.
The most well preserved of all the temples, the Lakshmana Temple, is the seat of Lord Vishnu as Vaikuntham. The enshrined statue is 4-ft high and has three faces, of a loin, a man and a boar. |
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This temple carries fine figures of Apsaras (beautiful dancing women), scenes from everyday life, battles, hunting and orgies. Around the base of the temple, highly explicit exhibition of an orgy is depicted, and includes a man with a horse with stunned women looking in shock.
In front of the temple are two smaller shrines, one dedicated to Devi and the
other to Varaha (local deities). This larger-than-life Boar figure is made of single block of yellow sandstone and is engraved with 627 miniature figures in 12 neatly carved rows.
The Kandriya Mahadev Temple
This temple is the largest of the lot. This temple which was built in 1030 AD by King Vidyadhara is aesthetically and visually appealing and shows the typical five parts design of Khajuraho temples. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Kandariya Mahadev Temple with its numerous figures and sculptures including some famed display of eroticism by the “Mithunas” (carved erotic figures) owes its allegiance to the Tantric Shaivite order.
The Devi Jagdamba Temple
This temple rests on the same platform as Kandariya Mahadev.
Although originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this was later turned to be for worship of Parvati and then Kali (Goddess Jagdamba). The temple carries “Mithunas” on display yet again.
The Chandra Gupta Temple
This is the only sun temple in Khajuraho. The temple hosts a 7ft image of Sun-God dressed in armored coat and boots.
Although the condition of this temple is not as good as others, nevertheless it carries some interesting works including an 11-headed Vishnu on the southern wall.
Other temple in the area includes:
- Parvati Temple: originally dedicated to Vishnu and now has an image of Ganga riding on the back of a crocodile.
- Vishwanatha Temple: Another temple with complex five-part design. Built by king Dhanga in 999 AD, it includes an intact shrine of Nandi (the bull, the vehicle of Shiva, worshipped amongst Hindus).
- Matangesvara: This temple is still in every day use and architecturally plain when compared with other temples.
Chausath Yogini & Mahadev
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Perhaps the oldest temple at Khajuraho believed to be constructed around 900AD. It is the only temple constructed entirely of granite. Laigun Mahadev is a ruined shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, about half a kilometer away.
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