Khajuraho Group of Temples

About Khajuraho Group of Temples

• The Khajuraho Group of Temples represents the culmination of northern Indian temple art and architecture of the Chandella dynasty.
• Location: Khajuraho temples are located in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh.
• Builder: The temples were built during the reign of the Chandella dynasty between 900 CE and 1130 CE.
• Religious Affiliation: The temples are associated with Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Jainism, while the Parsvanatha Temple is the largest Jain temple in the complex.
• Surviving Temples: Khajuraho had about 85 temples in the 12th century, but only around 20 temples remain today.
• Categorisation: The Khajuraho temples are divided into three groups:
  • Western Group: This is the most important and well-preserved group and includes Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Vishwanath Temple, Lakshmana Temple, Devi Jagdamba Temple, Chitragupta Temple, and Chausath Yogini Temple.
  • Eastern Group: This group contains both Hindu and Jain temples and includes Brahma Temple, Vamana Temple, Javari Temple, Ghantai Temple, and Parsvanatha Temple.
  • Southern Group: This group includes Duladeo Temple and Chaturbhuja Temple, which is unique because it does not contain erotic sculptures.
• Architecture:
  • Temple style: The Khajuraho temples are built in the Nagara style of North Indian temple architecture.
  • Temple Platform: Each temple stands on a highly ornate terraced platform called jagati.
  • Shikhara: The sanctum is crowned by a shikhara, whose vertical form is enhanced by a series of miniature spires.
  • Temple Layout: The temples follow an axial plan consisting of ardhamandapa, mandapa, antarala, and garbhagriha, arranged in a hierarchical sequence.
  • Additional Features: Many temples include transepts, projecting windows, and a circumambulatory path around the sanctum.
  • Panchayatana Type: Some temples follow the Panchayatana plan, with four subsidiary shrines around the main shrine.
  • Building Material: Most temples were constructed using light-coloured sandstone from the Panna region, while some smaller structures used granite.
  • Orientation: Most temples face east so that the rising sun illuminates the temple entrance.
• Sculpture: The Khajuraho temples are renowned for their rich sculptural tradition, which is harmoniously integrated with the temple architecture.
  • Themes Depicted: The sculptures portray Hindu gods and goddesses, mythological stories, acts of worship, and various sacred and secular themes.
  • Social Life Representation: The carvings depict teachers and disciples, dancers, musicians, ascetics, domestic scenes, and other aspects of daily life.
  • Celestial Figures: Special emphasis was given to the representation of celestial women such as apsaras and surasundaris.
  • Erotic Sculptures: Erotic sculptures form an important part of the sculptural programme and are associated with ideas of female beauty, fertility, and human life.
• Management and Protection:
  • Ownership and Management: The monuments are owned by the Government of India and are managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
  • Legal Protection: The site is protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.