For the students of UG and PG, BHU

1. What is the reason behind the carving of erotic art over the temples part ?
It is believed that the Khajuraho is the place which is in the international map due to its erotic
art. But it is our perception about eroticism, because out of 100 %, 90 % of the art of Khajuraho are
social,political,economical and natural scenes.It is only becauseof the western eyes and their thinking
angle erotic art of Indian architecture highlighted more in comparison to others. Though, this is right
question that why these kind of scenes are executed over the wall ? It is also known as 'Maithunas'.
The two important scholars Dr. A.K.Coomarswamy in context of Konark and Dr. Devangana
Desai in context of Khajuraho worked lots on the said issue. It is the British scholar words after looking
the Konark “most beautiful and yet the most obscene”.There are many reasons studied by many behind
the execution of erotic sculptures and sexual imagery on the wall of the religious architecture of
Brahminical and Buddhist in India:
We can broadly divide into 02 types of erotic scenes-
I. Natural- Sex between human of different age group,
a. Couple (one male and one Female) Scene- Accepted in the society, Some time with the supporter an
sometime alone.
b. Group (One male and many women or One woman and many male)Scene- Not accepted in the society,
II. Unnatural- Sex between an animal and human.
FOR PURE MIND-
1. IT is so 'holy' and 'pure', because in many Indian manuscripts, sex was considered to be spiritual and
not hedonistic.
2. In order to enter inside the temple so pure, you need to relieve yourself of all your desires and lust. It
is by acceptance of lust and desire in you that you can learn to control it after visualizing the erotic art.
3. Thesesculptures are always on the outer walls of temples meaning that the humans need to leave their
desires outside before stepping in.
4. A.K. Coomaraswamy, stating that the sculptures are a depiction of Indian sex-symbolism which is
‘sacramental’ in its likeness to the union of the individual soul with the universal spirit.
FOR MOKSHA
5. To fulfill the four goals of Hinduism - Puruṣārtha (पुरुषार्थ) "object of human
pursuit". Dharma (righteousness, moral values), Artha (prosperity, economic values), Kama (pleasure,
love, psychological values) and Moksha (liberation, spiritual values). Kama signifies desire, wish,
passion, emotions, pleasure of the senses, the aesthetic enjoyment of life, affection, or love, with or
without sexual connotations. Kāma as "love" without violating dharma (moral responsibility), artha
(material prosperity) and one's journey towards moksha (spiritual liberation). These discuss arts,
emotions, love, erotics, relationships and other sciences in the pursuit of pleasure.
The Kamasutra of Vātsyāyana is most well-known. Others texts include Kalidas literatures, Ratirahasya,
Jayamangala, Smaradipika, Ratimanjari, Ratiratnapradipika, Ananga Ranga among others.
6. God is sat-chit-ananda (Truth, Realisation and Bliss). This realisation of true bliss is ever present in all
individuals. However, the minds of creatures have been influenced by maya (or illusion) which makes
them believe that bliss is a product of the senses. This illusory bliss of the senses is maximised in sexual
intercourse. The sight of a female's body in her youth entices the minds of men although it is filled with

2. bones, marrow, phlegm, blood and all sorts of impurities. Thus, they are led astray by impure will and
leave the path of realising God. Just as insects in great hurry rush towards the flames to burn to death,
so do they rush towards their doom by being enticed by the female beauty. Therefore, to attain the
nirvanic bliss or God realisation, apure and devoted soulmust by allmeans purify his mind and intellect
by subjugating his passions and should constantly try to realise God i.e., bliss within him. Keeping this
knowlede in mind the devotees have carved sexualimages outside the temples so as to make the world
understand that sexual tendencies and all impurities must be kept outside and only the pure minded
should enter to witness the image of the Lord present in the hearts of all.
7. The Western mind has been conditioned from Bible. Which stipulates. Sex is the original sin and
forbidden by GOD. That is why, both Adam and Eve are externed from the Garden of Eden. On the
other Hand, The Vaidik dharma stipulates, Kama, Artha and Dharma as Purusha Traya for everyone.
Kama is desire and sex is part of this Desire. Hindus do not consider Sex as a Sin, but as gift of God. Sex
is fundamental to propagation of human an many other lives, and to deny is to deny your own
existence. This why it is depicted on most Hindu Temples.
REALITY OF THE SOCIETY & NATURE
8. These sculptures in those eras was neither considered impure nor moralised, as it is today. It was seen
as a pure act that brought fertility in the world and helped give birth.
9. The sculptures are the part of Samsara which the human must ultimately give up to reach within, on
the path of Moksha.
FOR PIOUS PLEASURE
10.Sex was treated as one of the worldly pleasures, equal to other pleasures, and not looked down upon.
11.The symbol of these elements on the temple is urging the people to give up their pleasures to enjoy
the afterlife.
ACT AS EDUCATION CENTRE
12. On the outer walls you will notice the reliefs are not only sexual but many of daily life. In times where
there was no sex education, this was it. Sex is important for married life. A temple in the olden times
was not just a place of worship, but also a place for gatherings. Hence, this place seemed to be the best
to teach/display important aspects of life.
MYTHOLOGY
13.In the case of Khajuraho It is said that a beautiful woman called Hemavathy was bathing in the dark
under moonlight, when she was seduced by the Moon himself. She ran into the forests for refuge and
raised her son, Chandravarman alone. The moon however promised her that their son would one day
rule over a kingdom. 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
human passions and probably, the futility of the same.
FOR DISTRACTION
14.Another interpretation says they served as aform of sexeducation, by rekindling passions in the ascetic
minds of people, who were probably influenced by Buddhism.

3. TANTRIC PRACTICE
15.It is more of a depiction of Tantric cult and beliefs. tantric beliefs, one of them even compared the
Mithunas making love as a metaphor, representing the sexual imagery of the life force – an union of
Shiva and Shakthi.
FOR GOODLUCK
16.The carvings of maithuna’s are symbols of “good luck” along with several sculptures that showcase
mythical creatures.
Our temples are center of our civilisationinallaspects.They are teaching center, community hormoney
center, helping center for needful, activity center and above all they make our lives meaningful by
adding divinity in all these. After all this do not forget that we are worshipper of a phallic symbol that
is Shiva Linga alongwith Yonipeeth. To understand the Vaidik-Pauranic culture one should understand
the philosophy, nature from the eyes of our deeply rooted culture. Sex is common action of our life
and in fact the nature is result of this.