Â鶹APP

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Khajuraho Temples

The Khajuraho are a group of Hindu temples located in the Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh. The temples were constructed by the Chandella rulers and are considered to be among the most beautiful medieval monuments in India.

The temples which are famous for their architectural styles and sexual sculptures attract a lot of tourists. This is because the sculptures found in the temples are unique and therefore travel enthusiasts are keen on exploring the diverse features the temple offers. Therefore, this article provides the top ten facts that will give the reader deep insight into the notable attraction site.

1. The temples have a rich history

Khajuraho Temples were constructed between the 9th and 11th centuries by different kings that ruled the Chandella dynasty. They were not built at the same time but over different generations and thus making them a unique historic site. The Chandella dynasty ruled the central part of India for five centuries allowing them to build a lot of temples as they were in power for a long time. Some of the Chandella rulers include Yashoverman, Dhanga, Vijaydhara and Parmadidev.

2. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

With a rich historical background, the tourist attraction site was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. This status brings in a lot of tourists and thus becomes a good revenue source for the country. The temples are also considered to be the largest group of medieval temples, a concept that attracts a lot of attention to it.

3. Only 10% of the sculptures are erotic

The Khajuraho Temples are famous because of 5he erotic sculptures that are located on the temple walls. This fact makes people think that they are the only kind of sculptures located in the temples. However, erotic sculptures take only 10% of the total sculptures.

The rest of the sculptures which take up 90% are not talked about. These sculptures feature normal carvings that depict how life was during those times. There are sculptures of farmers, potters, musicians and women but much is not known about them because they are not in the limelight like the rest.

4. The architecture

The Temple of Khajuraho features the Nagara style of architecture. This architectural style has a ground plan and elevation and a cruciform spread. Sandstones used during construction were sourced from the quarries of Panna.
The Khajuraho Temples follow a similar layout that comprises a base and then the entrance steps that lead to the entrance porch also known as ‘Ardh-mandap’. It then leads to the mandap which is the assembly hall and further to the ‘mah-mandap’ then the ‘Antaral’ which is the vestibule and finally to the sanctum where the deity is placed. The temple has kept the same form and there are no changes in both the interior and exterior walls.

5. The meaning of the name Khajuraho

The origin and significance of the name Khajuraho are not known since two famous stories tell of how the name came to be. One story states that the name originated from ‘Khajoor’ which is palm trees and since it is said that the ancient city was surrounded by palm trees, that is how the temples got their names.

The second story says that the name originated from ‘Khajura-vahak’ which means the scorpion bearer. This is also another symbolic name for Lord Shiva.

6. The religion

The famous temples are dedicated to two religions, Jainism and Hinduism. The temples have features that characterize the two religions as they were built at different times by different people. This unique feature is important in that it shows that different religions can coexist.

Additionally, the acceptance of the temples with two religions is used as a lesson to society on the importance of accepting other people’s beliefs and religions.

7. The legend of Rati Talab

The notable legend of Rati Talab is connected to the origin of the Chandella dynasty which constructed the temples. The story tells of an extremely beautiful woman who was a widow at 16 years old. One night she went to take a bath in Rati Talab and Chandrama who is the moon go was amazed by her beauty and came down to earth. They made love and the next morning as he wanted to leave, the woman was upset that no one would accept her and her child. The god consoled her that her son would be a strong king who was the Chandella empire.

8. The rediscovery of the temples

While the Khajuraho Temples were built a long time ago, they remained unknown even after the end of the Chandella dynasty because they lay under the cover of the forest away from public sight. They were rediscovered by a British engineer T. S. Burt in 1838 after he took a wrong detour and stumbled upon them and reintroduced them to the world.

9. The surviving temples

There were 85 temples built by various rulers but only 22 are remaining after the rest were ruined by natural calamities. The remaining ones are well maintained and they were even recognised as the best-preserved monuments of antiquity through a survey done by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Additionally, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is critical for the attraction site to be preserved so that history is not lost.

10. The reason why the erotic sculptures are on the temple walls

There have been several explanations made to explain why there are erotic sculptures on the temple walls. One is that they were an introduction to adult life and everything it encompasses. So the men and women were only introduced to them when they reached a certain age. Another one is that sex in the Indian religion is interpreted spiritually and philosophically and there, the sculptures are just an extension of reality and no value is attached to them.

Third, the Khajuraho Temples were inspired by Tantric philosophy which suggests that those who seek the truth have to be unmoved by the sexual figures so that they can get a right to enter the shrine.