Editing Khajuraho Group of Monuments (section)

== Arts and sculpture ==
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[[File:Индия2.jpg|thumb|Erotic sculptures]]
The Khajuraho temples feature a variety of art work, of which 10% is sexual or [[erotic art]] outside and inside the temples. Some of the temples that have two layers of walls have small erotic carvings on the outside of the inner wall. Some scholars suggest these to be [[Tantric sexuality|tantric sexual]] practices.<ref>Rabe (2000), Secret Yantras and Erotic Display for Hindu Temples, Tantra in Practice (Editor: David White), ISBN 978-8120817784, Chapter 25, pp 434-446</ref> Other scholars state that the erotic arts are part of Hindu tradition of treating [[kama]] as an essential and proper part of human life, and its symbolic or explicit display is common in Hindu temples.<ref name=ddesai/><ref>See:
* Heather Elgood (2000), Hinduism and the Religious Arts, ISBN 978-0304707393, Bloomsbury;
* Stella Kramrisch, The Hindu Temple, Volume 1, ISBN 81-208-0223-3, pp 92-96;
* Alain Danielou (2001), The Hindu Temple: Deification of Eroticism, ISBN 978-0892818549, pp 101-119</ref> James McConnachie, in his history of the ''Kamasutra'', describes the sexual-themed Khajuraho sculptures as "the apogee of erotic art":
<blockquote>"Twisting, broad-hipped and high breasted nymphs display their generously contoured and bejewelled bodies on exquisitely worked exterior wall panels. These fleshy ''apsaras'' run riot across the surface of the stone, putting on make-up, washing their hair, playing games, dancing, and endlessly knotting and unknotting their girdles....Beside the heavenly nymphs are serried ranks of griffins, guardian deities and, most notoriously, extravagantly interlocked ''maithunas'', or lovemaking couples."</blockquote>

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The temples have several thousand statues and art works, with Kandarya Mahadeva Temple alone decorated with over 870. Some 10% of these iconographic carvings contain sexual themes and various sexual poses. A common misconception is that, since the old structures with carvings in Khajuraho are temples, the carvings depict sex between deities;<ref>[http://www.liveindia.com/khajuraho/8a.html "Khajuraho"]. Liveindia.com. Retrieved on 2014-07-14.</ref> however the kama arts represent diverse sexual expressions of different human beings.<ref>Alain Danielou (2001), The Hindu Temple: Deification of Eroticism, ISBN 978-0892818549</ref> The vast majority of arts depict various aspects the everyday life, mythical stories as well as symbolic display of various secular and spiritual values important in Hindu tradition.<ref name=unesco/><ref name=ddesai/> For example, depictions show women putting on makeup, musicians making music, potters, farmers, and other folks in their daily life during the medieval era.<ref>George Michell, The Hindu Temple: An Introduction to Its Meaning and Forms, University of Chicago Press, ISBN 978-0226532301, pp 117-123 and pp 56-58</ref> These scenes are in the outer padas as is typical in [[Hindu temple]]s.

There is iconographic symbolism embedded in the arts displayed in Khajuraho temples.<ref name=ddesai/> Core Hindu values are expressed in multitude of ways. Even the Kama scenes, when seen in combination of sculptures that precede and follow, depict the spiritual themes such as [[moksha]]. In the words of [[Stella Kramrisch]],

{{Quote|1=This state which is “like a man and woman in close embrace” is a symbol of moksa, final release or reunion of two principles, the essence ([[Purusha]]) and the nature ([[Prakriti]]).
|2=Stella Kramrisch|3=1976<ref name=stellakvol1/>
}}

The Khajuraho temples represent one expression of many forms of arts that flourished in Rajput kingdoms of India from 8th through 10th century CE. For example, contemporary with Khajuraho were the publications of poems and drama such as ''Prabodhacandrodaya'', ''Karpuramanjari'', ''Viddhasalabhanjika'' and ''Kavyamimansa''.<ref>[[Louis Herbert Gray|L. H. Gray]], Journal of American Society, Vol. 27</ref> Some of the themes expressed in these literary works are carved as sculpture in Khajuraho temples.<ref name=ddesai7/><ref>H.M. Woodward (1989), The Lakṣmaṇa Temple, Khajuraho, and Its Meanings, Ars Orientalis, Vol. 19, pp. 27-48</ref> Some sculptures at the Khajuraho monuments dedicated to Vishnu include the ''Vyalas'', which are hybrid imaginary animals with lions body, and are found in other Indian temples.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Smith|first1=David|title=Monstrous Animals on Hindu Temples, with Special Reference to Khajuraho|date=January 1, 2013|pages=27–43|doi=10.1558/rosa.v7i1-3.27|url=http://www.equinoxpub.com/journals/index.php/ROSA/article/view/15261|accessdate=February 9, 2015}}</ref> Some of these hybrid mythical art work include ''Vrik Vyala'' (hybrid of wolf and lion) and ''Gaja Vyala'' (hybrid of elephant and lion). These ''Vyalas'' may represent syncretic, creative combination of powers innate in the two.<ref>The Lakṣmaṇa Temple, Khajuraho, and Its Meanings, Hiram W. Woodward, Jr., Ars Orientalis, Vol. 19, (1989), pp. 27-48</ref>