By Shreya Sanyal
Another face of India is the Northern India. India has the unique ability
to see the different phases of life in a lively manner. Rainbow colors and
the lights filling the streets have the ambiance of the North India. And so
is the works of North India.
If you reach the Chattarpur Station of Madhya Pradesh, you will stand on a
road which will take you to the UNESCO
World
Heritage Site called the
Khajuraho Temples.
Depicting the Hindus – Madhya Pradesh being a major Hindu Society, the
Temples were made by the Chandela Rajputs. Chandelas ruled this part of
India from 10th to 12th century and it took 100 years to build the Khajuraho
Temples. Out of the 80
Temples which were
originally made only 22 now stand. Much of the preservation these days is
being done by Archaeological Survey of India.
Most of the Khajuraho Temples are dedicated to the Hindu Gods –
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Hindu Scriptures which are more
prevalent in the Northern India – Brahma is the creator of the
Universe, Vishnu is the Protector and Lord Shiva is the Destructor. Based on
this North Indian Mythology, the Khajuraho Temples have been dedicated to
these Hindu Gods. Out of all the Temples. Some of them have also been
dedicated to the Jain Clan.
Each of the Temple is based upon the North Indian Shikhara Temple Styles.
The Panchayatana style too has been added. As per the North Indian style,
each of the Khajuraho Temple had four subordinates shrines and the main
shrine is in the middle of these four
shrines.
Today one can see some of the shrines surrounding the Temples. Each of the
Temples have been given a different name, have a separate area full of
greenery and each has the description of its own.
Though all of the 22 Khajuraho Temples are surrounded by a single thick
stone walled boundary; those in which still the Puja/ Prayer is done have a
separate closing and opening time. The Temples are made in three directions
– Western, Eastern and Southern.
Each of the Temples have the Shikaras (Spires), to create a base for the
main shikara over the sanctum. As per the Northern Style of Architecture, a
base is the most important part of any building. All the angles and
gradients are put into count before taking the ground for sanctum. Each
Temple has two sanctums – subordinate and main. In each of the
Khajuraho Temple there is a Ardhamandapa – Porch, Mandapa –
Assembly Hall, Antarala- Vestibule, Garbhagraha – Underground room, and
the sanctum sanctorum.
Irrespective of the location of the Temples, what is of more importance to
the people who study the Khajuraho Temples is the statues and the Carvings.
Though the Temples do not contain any Erotic art inside the Temple but the
outside carvings of these are filled with Erotic Depictions. The outer
carvings also depict human bodies and the changes in the body of human
beings as it changes from time to time. The daily life of human beings have
also been depicted in these carvings. According to some the black magic or
Tantrickism has also been depicted in these carvings.
Despite of all these Controversies, the Khajuraho Temples display the
developing art of landscape Archaeology – a stream which has caught
with todays line – a perspective which North India Dwells in....
