Khajuraho Temples: UNESCO World Heritage Site and Fascinating Historical Legacy

Khajuraho is a small town in the Bundelkhand region (Chatrapur district) of Mandya Pradesh state, Central India. It is a famous tourist and archaeological site known for its sculptured temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Jaina Patriarchs.

1. UNESCO World Heritage Site

The movements at Khajuraho were designed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986 for their beautiful and erotic rock cravings. Khajuraho has the Vindhya range of mountains as its beautiful backdrop. 

The secret of the Khajuraho temple, in these erotic sculptures made on the temples of Khajuraho different postures of sexual actions between women and men, have been shown different asanas of Kamasutra. It has been displayed on these walls with great beauty and artistry. 

2. Group Of Monuments

The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandela dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. Only about 20 temples remain, they fall into three distinct groups and belong to turn different religions- Hinduism and Jainism.

Built-in sandstone, each temple is elevated from it envisions by a highly ornate terraced platform or Jayati, on which stands the body of Jangha, where the sanctum is topped by a tower, or shikhara of a type unique to Nagara, where the verticality of the central spine stop the sanctum is accentuated by a series of miniature spires flanking it, each symbolising amount Kailas, the abode of the Gods.

In the late 11^th  century, the Chandela in a period of chaos and decline moved to hill torts elsewhere. Khajuraho became continued its religious importance until the 14^th century but was afterwards largely forgotten, urns remoteness probably saved it from the desecration that the Muslim or Mughal, conquerors generally inflicted on Hindu monuments. 

I’m 1833 a British army captain, T.S Brut, came upon information. That led him to the rediscovery of the complex of temples in the jungle in Khajuraho.

3. The Name Derives From 

The town's name derives from the prevalence of Khajurr or date palms in 2011.

4. Historical Records 

Note that the Khajuraho temple site had 85 temples by the 12^th century, spread over 20 square kilometres of these, only about 25 temples have survived, spread over six square kilometres.

5. The Logic Of Artwork

The Khajuraho temples feature a variety of artwork, of which only 10% is sexual or erotic art outside and inside the temples. The skills cover numerous aspects of human life from birth to death like marriage and many such activities and other values considered important in Hinduism.

Sex is also an essential part of human life and so it is given its due share in the artwork. Hinduism considers sex as an essential part of life. Dharma, Artha, kama and duties which a man is required to fulfil in his lifetime. Here kama signifies sex. So, there is nothing sinful in sex. 

6. Story Behind Chandela Dynasty

The moon always evokes romance and it is little wonder that the descendants of the celestial moon God would build monuments that stand for love. The story goes that a beautiful woman called Hemavathy was bathing in the dark under the moonlight when she was seduced by the moon himself. She ran into forests to regulate and raised her son, Chandravarman alone. 

The moon, however, promised her that their son would rule over a kingdom one day. True to his word Chandravarman grew up to establish the Chandela dynasty. It is believed that he was influenced by his mother’s story and so he built temples with sculptures depicting the human passion and probably, the futility of the same. 

Written By: Apoorva Girai