The visit
to this Matangeshwar 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 25th and 28th December 2024.
The Khajuraho Complex Temples are divided into three groups: Western, Eastern, and Southern. The Chausath Yogini and the Lalguan Mahadeva are exempt from the above three groups because 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.
Matangeshwara
Temple
This temple faces east and enshrines one of the largest
Siva-Lings of North India. Shiva is called Matangeshwara and is one of the
living temples of the Khajuraho temples. This
is situated south of the Lakshmana Temple. This is one of the largest Shiva Lingams in North India. It measures 2.53 m and is one meter in diameter.
ARCHITECTURE
At
the center of the small sanctum hall, a huge pedestal supports a colossal Shiva Linga. Symbol of the procreative energy of Shiva. The basement moldings
and the jangha have similar designs and are fairly plain. With the simple
structure of a Vimana, A flag on its pyramid-shaped roof indicates that it is
still in use for worship.
It stands on a lofty platform and elaborates on the Brahma temple in plan and design. Internally, it is square, externally cruciform, and has a grand stepped pyramidal roof. However, the temple is devoid of the exuberant sculpture and ornamentation that became a hallmark of the developed Khajuraho temples.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION
The temple is ascribed to the fifth
Chandella ruler, Harshadeva. It is believed that he died before he could
complete its construction, and to commemorate him, the structure was converted to
that of a Vimana, indicating that it was a Swargarohan (funerary) temple
dedicated to Shiva.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Om Shri Guru Padmaya Namah !! Om
This place is the place of Matang Dhuna Shri
Shri 1008 Shri Padma Maharaj Ji (Jhadu Wale) Maharaj. Maharaj used to live
here. His photograph is also kept inside the Dhuna, along with his stone statue.
He was a resident of a nearby Lalgawan, and in his youth, he left home and started
serving the Dhuna. He was given the responsibility of preparing firewood and
cleaning the Dhuna. He continued to do this as per the orders of his Guru. Due
to this, he came to be known as Jhadu Wale Maharaj. He departed from this body
on 06 January 2008 (Mauni Amavasya). His Samadhi is built nearby. According to
local belief, Maharaj Shri used to continuously wield a date palm broom
(Bahara), and if he ever hit someone with the broom, the wishes of the devotees
used to get fulfilled. This is why there is a Bahra on his Samadhi, and Bahra
can be seen in both the hands of the statue. Every morning, local people come
and serve him. Radha Chachi from the Bindua family of the local Basti village also
comes to serve him. She takes care of the service and decoration of the statue, along with the cleaning of the inside. In the evening, her son Shri Sanjay Ji
performs the Aarti service of Maharaj. Please put donations for service in the donation box only. --OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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