View source for Khajuraho Group of Monuments

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native_name = Khajuraho | 
type = city | 
latd = 24.85 | longd = 79.93|
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state_name = Madhya Pradesh |
district = [[Chhatarpur district|Chhatarpur]] |
leader_title = |
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altitude = 283|
population_as_of = 2001 |
population_total = 19,282| 
population_density = |
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'''Khajuraho''' (Hindi खजुराहो) is a village in the [[States and territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Madhya Pradesh]], located in [[Chhatarpur District]], about 385 miles (620 kilometres) southeast of [[Delhi]], the capital city of [[India]].

One of the most popular [[tourist destinations in India]], Khajuraho has the largest group of [[medieval]] [[Hindu]] and [[Jain]] [[temple]]s, famous for their [[erotic sculpture]]. The name Khajuraho is derived from the [[Hindi]] word ''khajur'' meaning ''[[date palm]]''.

==History==
The city was once the original capital of the [[Chandela]] [[Rajput]]s, a Hindu dynasty that ruled this part of India from the 10th to the 12th centuries. The Khajuraho temples were built over a span of a hundred years, from [[950]] to [[1050]]. The Chandela capital was moved to [[Mahoba]] after this time, but Khajuraho coninued to flourish for some time. 

The whole area was enclosed by a wall with eight gates, each flanked by two golden palm trees. There were originally over 80 Hindu temples, of which only 22 now stand in a reasonable state of preservation, scattered over an area of about 8 square miles (21 km²).

{{Infobox World Heritage Site
| WHS         = Khajuraho Group of Monuments
| Image       = [[Image:Khajuraho5.jpg|275px|A typical temple at Khajuraho with divine couples. Note lace-like ornamentation on the major and the minor shikharas.]]
| State Party = {{IND}}
| Type        = Cultural
| Criteria    = i, iii
| ID          = 240
| Region      = [[List of World Heritage Sites in Asia and Australasia|Asia-Pacific]]
| Year        = 1986
| Session     = 10th
| Link        = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/240
}}

Unlike other cultural centers of North India, the temples of Khajuraho never underwent massive destruction and a number of them have survived. They are fine examples of Indian architectural styles that have gained popularity due to their salacious depiction of the traditional way of life during medieval times. They were rediscovered during the late 19th century and the jungles had taken a toll on some of the monuments.

The Khajuraho group of monuments has been listed as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].

==Geography==
Khajuraho is located at {{coor d|24.85|N|79.93|E|}}<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/35/Khajuraho.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Khajuraho]</ref>. It has an average elevation of 283&nbsp;[[metre]]s (928&nbsp;[[foot (unit of length)|feet]]).

==Demographics==
[[As of 2001]] India [[census]]{{GR|India}}, Khajuraho had a population of 19,282. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Khajuraho has an average literacy rate of 53%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 62%, and female literacy is 43%. In Khajuraho, 19% of the population is under 6 years of age.

== Architecture ==
Khajuraho temples, constructed with spiral superstructures, adhere to northern Indian [[shikhara]] temple style and often to a [[Panchayatana]] plan or layout. A few of the temples are dedicated to the [[Jain]] pantheon and the rest to Hindu deities - to God's Trio, [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva]], and various [[Devi]] forms, such as the [[Devi Jagadambi temple]]. A Panchayatana temple had four subordinate shrines on four corners and the main shrine in the center of the podium, which comprises their base.  The temples are grouped into three geographical divisions : western, eastern and southern
With a graded rise secondary shikharas (spires) cluster to create appropriate base for the main shikhara over the sanctum. [[Kandariya Mahadeva]], one of the most accomplished temples of the Western group, comprises eighty-four shikharas, the main being 116 feet from the ground level. [[Image:Khajuraho-Lakshmana temple.JPG|left|thumb||275px|Lakshmana temple at Khajuraho. This is a [[panchayatana]] temple, two of the 4 secondary shrines can be seen. [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Khajuraho_tempel_india.jpg another view] ]]
These shikharas - subordinate and main, attribute to the Khajuraho temples their unique splendor and special character. With a graded rise of these shikharas from over the [[ardhamandapa]], porch, to [[mandapa]], assembly hall, [[mahamandapa]], principal assembly hall, [[antarala]], vestibule, and [[garbhagraha]], [[sanctum sanctorum]], Khajuraho temples attain the form and glory of gradually rising [[Himalaya]]n peaks.These temples of khajuraho have sculptures that look very realistic and are studied even today.

==Landscape==
The Khajuraho temples are now set in a parkland landscape. When India gained independence from Britain in 1947 the landscape setting was semi-desert and scrub. The archaeological park now has something of the character of an English public park, with mown grass, rose beds and ornamental trees. This may be popular with visitors but has no relationship with the historic landscape at the time the temples were built. The development of [[landscape archaeology]] as an academic discipline raises questions concerning the [[landscape of archaeology]] of Khajuraho and the original relationship between the temple complex and the surrounding area. There are no records of what the original landscape might have been but it is known that a large community of priests used the temple complex and that Indian gardens in the tenth century were predominantly tree gardens. They did not have lawns or herbaceous flowering plants.

[[Image:Khajurahosculpture.jpg|thumb|Sculpture from a temple at Khajuraho]]

==The statues and carvings of Khajuraho==

Khajuraho temples, according to [http://www.liveindia.com/khajuraho/8a.html], do not contain sexual or erotic art inside the Temple or near the deity; however, some external carvings bear erotic art and tantric sexual poses. Also, some of the temples that have two layers of walls have small erotic carvings on the outside of the inner wall. There are many interpretations of the erotic carvings. According to some current Hindu interpretations, they portray that, for seeing the deity, one must leave his or her sexual desires outside the Temple. They also show that divinity, such as the deities of the Temples, is pure like the [[atman]], which is not affected by sexual desires and other characteristics of the physical body. Meanwhile, the external curvature and carvings of the Temples depict humans, human bodies, and the changes that occur in human bodies, as well as facts of life. Some 10% of the carvings contain sexual themes; those reportedly do not show deities, they show sexual activities between people. The rest depict the everyday life of the common Indian of the time when the carvings were made, and of various activities of other beings. For example, those depictions show women putting on makeup, musicians, potters, farmers, and other folks. Those mundane scenes are all at some distance from the Temple deities. A common misconception is that since the old structures with carvings in Khajuraho are Temples, the carvings depict sex between deities. 

[[Image:Ganesh_khajuraho.jpg|thumb|Ganesh at Khajuraho]]

[[Image:Horse_Woman_Khajuraho.jpg|thumb|Pose from inside a temple at Khajuraho]]


Between 950 and 1050, the Chandela monarchs, followers of the [[Tantric]] tradition, built these temples. Adherents of Tantrism teach that gratification of Earthly desires is a step towards accomplishing [[Nirvana]]. In olden days, before the [[Mughal]] conquests, when boys lived in hermitages, following ''[[brahmacharitva]]'' until they became men, they could learn about the world and prepare themselves to become householders through examining these sculptures and the worldly desires they pointed out.<ref>[http://www.cultureholidays.com/Temples/khajuraho.htm Article on Khajuraho Temples] -- Accessed on March 06, 2007</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== See also ==
*[[Kandariya Mahadeva]]
* [[Hemvati]]
* [[Kalinjar]]
* [[Beejamandal]]
* [[Jain temples of Khajuraho]]

==External links==
{{commonscat|Khajuraho}}


* [http://www.liveindia.com/khajuraho/index.html Temples of Love Khajuraho with Gallery]
* [http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/23e1c/10b5e3/ Photos of Khajuraho temples]
* [http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/NorthIndia/Khajuraho/Khajuraho.htm Photos of Khajuraho]
* [http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/khajuraho/ Love, The Living Spirit of Khajuraho] by Prof. P. C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet.
* [http://www.dharssi.org.uk/travel/india/khajuraho.html Photos and travel tips for Khajuraho temples including maps showing how to get there]
*[http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2002/05/05/stories/2002050500420200.htm/ Lessons from Khajuraho]
*{{wikitravel}}

{{World Heritage Sites in India}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Hindu holy cities]]
[[Category:Tourism in Madhya Pradesh]]

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