Archaeological and Historical Significance of Khajuraho Temple

The temples of Khajuraho were built during the reign of the Rajput Chandela dynasty in northern India. After gaining control of their kingdom, which later became known as Bundelkhand, they began construction on the complex. The majority of the temples were built between 950 and 1050 AD, under the reigns of Hindu kings Yasovarman and Dhanga. Until the 12th century, Khajuraho was home to 85 temples. When the Delhi Sultanate conquered central India in the 13th century, some of the temples were destroyed and the others were left in a state of disrepair. The temples that survived and sustained the test of time are now only 22 in number.

Archaeological and Historical Significance of the Khajuraho Temple

The world-famous Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh have been stealing the show on a regular basis for a variety of reasons over the years. The most widely held belief is that the sculptures on the Khajuraho mandir depict sensual themes, which many people believe to be true. Perhaps, in the midst of all of this, we tend to lose sight of the most crucial issue, namely, the fundamental purpose for which these temples were constructed. 

Historic Mythology

According to Indian mythology, a lovely woman named Hemvati was worshipped at the Khajuraho temples, which were named after her. Once when Hemvati was bathing at a pool near Benaras, the Moon God was enchanted by her beauty. They soon gave birth to a son whom they called Chandravarman. Hemvati was, however, concerned as her child would be subjected to persecution because he was born out of wedlock. She, thus, cursed the Moon God, who then predicted that Chandravarman would grow up to become a powerful king.

As per this prophecy, the child grew up to become a mighty and renowned king who established the Chandela dynasty in India. After the death of Hemvati, Chandravarman dreamt of his mother who instructed him to construct temples that depicted human passions in fond of her memory.

Themes on the Temple

Surprisingly, just 10% of the carvings on the temple complex portray sensual themes, which is a significant achievement. The remaining cravings describe the ordinary existence of the common man. Some of the sculptures show ladies applying makeup, while other sculptures depict potters, farmers, singers, and other members of the general public who live in their communities. 

Tourism and Cultural Events

It is possible to split the temples in Khajuraho Mandir into three groups: the Eastern group, the Southern group, and the Western group of temples. Of these three groups, only the Western group offers the facility of an audio-guided tour, which takes guests on a guided tour of the temples. Another option is to take an audio-guided tour, which was created by the Archaeological Survey of India and contains a narration of the temple’s history and architectural features.

The Khajuraho Dance Festival is held every year in February in the Khajuraho Mandir. It consists of a variety of classical Indian dances performed against the backdrop of the Chitragupta or Vishwanath Temples in Delhi.

Every evening, the son et lumière (sound and light) spectacle at the Khajuraho temple complex is presented for visitors. The first show is broadcasted in English, and the second show is broadcast in Hindi. It is hosted on the open lawns of the temple compound and has gotten a mixed response from those who have attended.

Conclusion

The Khajuraho temple is located approximately 175 kilometres southeast of Jhansi in the Chhatarpur district of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It comprises Hindu and Jain temples of the 11th century. The Khajuraho temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Architectural symbolism in the Nagara style is prominent, as are sensual sculptures, which account for around 10% of the sculptures on display at other temples in the area. Most of the Khajuraho temples were constructed by the Chandela dynasty between 950 and 1050 AD. According to historical records, the Khajuraho temple complex included 85 temples spread across 20 km2 area by the end of 12th century.