Chitragupta Temple/ चित्रगुप्त टेंपल, Rajnagar Rd, Sevagram, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

The visit to this Chitagupta Temple, one of the UNESCO, World Heritage Sites, Khajuraho, was a part of the “Bhopal, Udayagiri Rock Cut Caves, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Sanchi, Bhojpur, and Khajuraho – of Madhya Pradesh Heritage Walk” organized by the எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு, between 25^th and 28^th December 2024.

The temple complex of Khajuraho is classified into three groups: Western, Eastern, and Southern Groups of Temples. The temples Chausath Yogini and the Lalguan Mahadeva are exempted from the above three groups since they are farthest away.

Western Group is the largest and most important. The temples in this group are dedicated to Shiva, Ma Parvati, Jagathambi, Maha Vishnu, and the Sun. The Western Group consists of the following temples.

 

Lakshmana Temple

Varaha Temple

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

Devi Jagadambi Temple

Parvati Temple

Chitragupta Temple

Pratapeshwar Temple

Vishwanath Temple with Rishaba Shrine

Matangeshwar Temple

Chitragupta Temple (early 11th century)

The Temple faces east and belongs to the Western Group. This temple is dedicated to Surya and is the only Sun temple at Khajuraho. The reason for calling it Chitragupta Temple is not known. The sanctum sanctorum enshrines a 4' 10" high image of Surya, the Sun God. Though similar to the Devi Jagdambi Temple, it is more developed and ornate.

ARCHITECTURE

The development of Chandella architecture can be seen as the ceiling has evolved from being a square to an elaborate octagon. Nothing original remains on the platform, and almost the entire shikhara is restored. However, the walls, with their three rows of sculptures, depict some unique images. The dashavatara Vishnu with his ten heads representing his ten Incarnations, the Ashtavasus, and the somber-looking Siddhi Vinayaka Ganesha is quite unique. Also, the depiction of the trinity along with their Consorts, Brahma Saraswati, Shiva Parvati, and Vishnu Lakshmi, are extremely interesting, and a few of the very well-preserved images are on a much higher level. What is very noteworthy is that the divine couples frequently appear along the same vertical axis.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that this temple was constructed during the same period as the Sri Viswanatha Temple of the Western Group.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Parvati Temple/मंदिर, Rajnagar Rd, Sevagram, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

The visit to this Parvati Temple, one of the UNESCO, World Heritage Sites, Khajuraho, was a part of the “Bhopal, Udayagiri Rock Cut Caves, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Sanchi, Bhojpur, and Khajuraho – of Madhya Pradesh Heritage Walk” organized by the எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு, between 25^th and 28^th December 2024.

The Khajuraho temple complex is divided into three groups: Western, Eastern, and Southern. The Chausath Yogini and Lalguan Mahadeva are exempt from the above three groups because they are the farthest away.

Western Group is the largest and most important. The temples in this group are dedicated to Shiva, Ma Parvati, Jagathambi, Maha Vishnu, and the Sun. The Western Group consists of the following temples.

Lakshmana Temple

Varaha Temple

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

Devi Jagadambi Temple

Parvati Temple

Chitragupta Temple

Pratapeshwar Temple

Vishwanath Temple with Rishaba Shrine

Matangeshwar Temple

Parvati Temple

The Devi Parvati temple faces east and appears to form part of the Vishvanatha temple. It is currently dedicated to Goddess Parvati.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple originally consisted of a grabha-griha (sanctum), antrala (porch), and a mukha-mandapa (entrance porch). Presently, the plinth of the sanctum and antrala has survived, while the mukha-mandapa is completely lost. The sanctum is panchratha in plan, and the bhadra shows additional projections. The sanctum is enshrined with an elegant image of Uma in sama-bhanga pose with her vehicle godha (iguana). However, the four-armed Vishnu seated on Garuda, as shown on the lintel, indicates that this temple might have been built for any Vaishnav deity.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that this temple was built along with Vishwanatha Temple between 950 and 1000 CE.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Devi Jagadambi Temple/ देवी जगदम्बी मंदिर, Lalguwan Rd, Sevagram, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

The visit to this Devi Jagadambi Temple, one of the UNESCO, World Heritage Sites, Khajuraho, was a part of the “Bhopal, Udayagiri Rock Cut Caves, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Sanchi, Bhojpur, and Khajuraho – of Madhya Pradesh Heritage walk” organized by the எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு, between 25^th and 28^th December 2024.

The Khajuraho temple complex is divided into three groups: Western, Eastern, and Southern. The Chausath Yogini and Lalguan Mahadeva are exempt from the above three groups because they are the farthest away.

Western Group is the largest and most important. The temples in this group are dedicated to Shiva, Ma Parvati, Jagathambi, Maha Vishnu, and the Sun. The Western Group consists of the following temples.

Lakshmana Temple

Varaha Temple

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

Devi Jagadambi Temple

Parvati Temple

Chitragupta Temple

Pratapeshwar Temple

Vishwanath Temple with Rishaba Shrine

Matangeshwar Temple

Devi Jagadambi Temple

This Devi Jagadambi Temple faces east. This temple, named after the presently enshrined image of Parvati in the sanctum, was originally dedicated to lord Vishnu. This temple is on the same platform/plinth as the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple on the north side. One of the niches has the image of Varahi, one of the female forms of Varaha, and another incarnation of Sakthi in a seated posture.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple stands on a lofty platform and strikingly resembles the Chitragupta temple in respect of plan, design, and general conception. However, the hall has a square ceiling. The principal elements of the temple are the mukha-mandapa (entrance porch), the maha-mandapa with lateral transepts, antarala, and grabha-griha without ambulatory. A four-armed image of the god Vishnu is carved on the door lintel of the sanctum. The temple is known for its sculptural establishment.

Three bands of sculptures adorn the outer walls, and it is here, through the amorous couples and the surasundaris, that Chandella's art matures. Two very interesting iconographies are the three-headed, eight-armed Shiva and the Varaha form of Vishnu.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The Chandela King Ganda Geva ruled for a short time (early 11th century), but the Chitragupta and Devi Jagadambi temples are attributed to him. The Vishwanath temple inscription was composed during his rule.

It is believed that Devi Jagdambi Temple and Kandariya Mahadeva Temple were built early, and both are on the same platform.  

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

On the platform

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Kandariya Mahadev Temple/कंदरिया महादेव मंदिर, Sevagram, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

The visit to this Kandariya Mahadev Temple, one of the UNESCO,  World Heritage Sites, Khajuraho, was a part of the “Bhopal, Udayagiri Rock Cut Caves, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Sanchi, Bhojpur, and Khajuraho – of Madhya Pradesh Heritage walk” organized by the எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு, between 25^th and 28^th December 2024.

The Khajuraho Complex Temples are classified into three groups, namely Western, Eastern, and Southern Groups of Temples. The temples Chausath Yogini and the Lalguan Mahadeva are exempted from the above three groups since they are farthest away.

Western Group is the largest and most important. The temples in this group are dedicated to Shiva, Ma Parvati, Jagathambi, and Maha Vishnu. The Western Group consists of the following temples.

Lakshmana Temple

Varaha Temple

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

Devi Jagadambi Temple

Parvati Temple

Chitragupta Temple

Pratapeshwar Temple

Vishwanath Temple with Rishaba Shrine

Matangeshwar Temple

Kandariya Mahadev Temple

This Kandariya Mahadev Temple is the largest and loftiest temple in Khajuraho. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva of the Western Group and is on the same platform/plinth as the Ma Jagathambi Temple. The temple faces east.

ARCHITECTURE

Though strikingly similar to the Vishwanatha Temple, its magnitude is incomparable. The temple consists of principal elements of a developed temple, viz. mukha-mandapa (entrance porch), mandapa, maha-mandapa with transepts, antarala, and grabha-griha enclosed by an inner ambulatory with transepts on both sides and the rear. Viewed from a distance, this temple with its towering 30.5-metre-high shikhara gives the impression of a deep cave in a huge mountain, emulating Shiva's abode, Mount Kailash. Some even compare it with Brahma's abode, Mount Meru.

The temple has a high platform with elegantly ornamented moldings, including friezes of elephants, horses, warriors and hunters, acrobats and musicians, dancers, devotees, and miscellaneous scenes. This is the only temple at Khajuraho that displays two makara-toranas carved in a single stone, both of exquisite design. This is the only temple where the torana at the entrance to the maha mandapa, very similar to the torana at the main entrance, has been preserved. The four-stepped Chandra shilas (moonstones flanked by conch shells) lead to the ornate doorway that leads to the garbhagriha, where a marble lingam (representing the procreative energies of Shiva), four feet in diameter, has been enshrined over a sandstone pedestal.

The platform's lateral projections make it unique, and the lofty basement has the most marvelous moldings. Four looped makara torana, carved out of a single stone, adorn the entrance. On the sanctum lintel, a frieze of dancers and musicians is represented by a four-armed Shiva flanked by Brahma and Vishnu on the right and left sides, respectively. 

 

Over eight hundred sculptures adorn the interiors and exteriors of the temple. Erotic sculptures appear on the northern and southern facades. There is hardly any surface on which the artists' creativity has not found an expression, yet they have been balanced so beautifully that they do not generate a feeling of clutter or being over-embellished.

Shiva Temple (11th century)

Sharing the same platform between the Kandariya Mahadeva and the Devi Jagdambi Temples, this little temple stands in a ruined state. What exists is a small doorway sheltered by a porch, within which an isolated female figure has survived.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The famous Kandariya Mahadev temple was built during the time of Chandella King Vidyadhara (between circa 1025-1050 C.E). Abu Rihan Alberuni, who accompanied Mohammad of Gazni in his campaign against Kalanjara 1022 CE, called the region Jajahuti and mentioned "Khajuraho" as its capital.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

The entrance torana

 The only Jain Sculpture in the Hindu Temple

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---