2. KHAJURAHO GROUP OF
MONUMENTS
•Khajuraho is one of the four
holy sites linked to deity Shiva
(the other three are Kedarnath,
Kashi and Gaya).
•Group of Hindu and jain
temples
•Famous for Nagara style and
their erotic sculptures
•Had 85 temples by 12th
century spread over
20kms,only 20 survived over
6kms
•Divided into 3 geographical
divisions: western, eastern and
southern
•Follow HINDU SYMBOLIC
MANDALA DESIGN principle of
squares and circles
3. Built between 950-1050 CE by CHANDELA
DYNASTY
The building activity started almost
immediately after the rise of their power,
throughout their kingdom
Most temples were built during the reigns of
the Hindu kingsYashovarman and Dhanga
4. All temples except one face sunrise
Follow geometrical designVASTU-PURUSHA-
MANDALA
3 important components
VASTU-dwelling structure
PURUSHA-universal essence at the core of Hindu
tradition
MANDALA -circle
symmetrically, concentrically layered, self repeating
structure around the core of the temple called
garbhagriha, where abstract principle purusha and the
principle deity of the temple dwell
Shikhara rise above the garbhagriha
5. HISTORY
The temple is said to have been built byVidhyadhara of the Chandela
dynasty.
Vidhyadhara, was a powerful ruler who fought Muhammad of Ghazni
in 1019. Ghazni had to return back
Ghazni again waged war againstVidhyadhara in 1022, attacked the
fort of kalinjar and was unsuccessful.
It was lifted and Ghazni andVidhyadhara called a truce and parted by
exchanging gifts.
Vidhyadhara celebrated his success over Ghazni and other rulers by
building the Kaṇḍāriyā MahādevaTemple, dedicated to his family
deity Shiva.
6. Situated in western group
Largest among 3 temples i.e.
Mantangheswara
Vishwanath
kandhariya
Use of 64 pada grid systems
Famous for carvings,sculpture
and erotic art
9. STRUCTURE
•Built over a plan of -
102ft (31m) length
67ft (20m)width
102ft (31m)height
•MASSIVE PLINTH -4m (13ft)
height
• steep steps with high rise lead
from ground level to the
entrance
•At ENTRANCE-torana a very
intricately carved from single
stone
•Highly decorated ROOF rise in
a grand form terminating in the
shikhara with 84 miniature
spire
10. In the interior space from the
entrance there are three
MANDAPAS or halls, which
successively rise in height and
width, which is inclusive of a small
chamber dedicated to Shiva, a
chamber where Shiva's wife, Parvati
is deified
central sanctum or GARBHAGRIHA
where the Shiva linga is deified.
The sanctum sanctorum is
surrounded by interlinked passages
which also have side and front
balconies
Due to inadequate natural light in
the balconies the sanctum has very
little light thus creating a "cave like
atmosphere“, in total contrast to
the external parts of the temple.
11. 8x8 (64)Vastupurusamandala
Manduka grid layout plan.
Above the temple’s brahma padas
is a SHIKHARA(Vimana or Spire)
that rises symmetrically above the
central core, typically in a circles
and turning-squares concentric
layering design (right) that flows
from one to the other as it rises
towards the sky.
The pillars, walls and ceilings
around the space, as well as outside
have highly ornate carvings or
images of the four just and
necessary pursuits of life - kama,
artha, dharma and moksa.This
clockwise walk around is called
PRADAKSHINA.
12. In the interior halls of the temple and on its exterior faces there are
elaborately carved sculptures of gods and goddesses, musicians and
apsaras or nymphs
The huge pillars of the halls have architectural features of the "vine or
scroll motif".
In the corners of the halls there are insets which are carved on the surface
with incised patterns.
There is a main tower above the sanctum and there are two other towers
above the other mantapas also in the shape of "semi-rounded, stepped,
pyramidal form with progressively greater height".
The main tower is encircled by a series of interlinked towers and spires of
smaller size.
These are in the form of a repeated subset of miniature spires that abut a
central core which gives the temple an unevenly cut contour similar to
the shape of a mountain range of mount Kailasa of the Himalayas where
god Shiva resides.
13. Decorated with huge
amount of stone sculpture,
depicting matters of
everyday life as well as
animal and humans
10% of sculptures account
for erotic art rest is god
,goddesses and animals
Estimated to have 870
large sculptures on its
exterior and interior
walls,each on about 1m
high
14. Made of sandstone with granite foundation
almost concealed from view
No use of mortar stone putt together with
mortise and tenon and held by gravity
Columns and architraves built with megaliths
weighs up to 20 tons
15. Central Indian region, where Khajuraho temples are,
remained in the control of many different Muslim
dynasties from 13th century through the 18th century.
In this period, some temples were desecrated,
followed by a long period when they were left in
neglect.
In 1495 CE, for example, Sikandar Lodi’s campaign of
temple destruction included Khajuraho.
The remoteness and isolation of Khajuraho protected
the Hindu and Jain temples from continued
destruction by Muslims. Over the centuries,
vegetation and forests overgrew, took over the
temples.
