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THE MEDLEY OF TEMPLES AT KHAJURAHO
Location of Khajuraho: Madhya Pradesh.
Main Groups: Western, Eastern, Southern.
Main Temples:Lakshmana Temple, Kandariya Mahadev Temple.
Other Temples: Chausath Yogini Temple, Varaha Temple.
VAMANA TEMPLE IN KHAJURAO
An Ode To The 'Dwarf Incarnation
(Built in This temple belongs to the eastern group of temples and is
situated north of the Khajuraho
village, about a furlong east of the Ninora Tal and almost the same
distance north of the Javari Temple.
Dedicated to the 'Vamana' (dwarf) incarnation of Vishnu, this temple
consists on plan of a sanctum without ambulatory having a mono-spired
'sikhara', a vestibule, a 'maha-mandapa' with lateral transepts and a
porch, of which only the plinth has survived. Of all the temples at
Khajuraho it bears the close resemblance to the Adinatha Temple, which
likewise has no ambulatory and has a 'sapta-ratha' sanctum with a
mono-spired 'sikhara'.
Another noteworthy feature of this temple is that the top or third row of
the 'jangha' (wall) shows framed niches containing diamonds in the place
of sculptures, an early feature shared by the subsidiary shrines of the
Lakshmana Temple. It is one of the very few local temples, which have a
cognizable 'samvarna' roof over the 'mahamandapa' and exhibit female
struts on the ceilings of the balconied windows. In all other respects,
this temple is broadly akin to the other developed temples of Khajuraho.
On the evidence of sculptural and architectural style this temple is
assignable to 1050 to 1075 AD.
DULADEO TEMPLE AT KHAJURAHO
The
Kunwar Math
(Built in circa AD 1100-1150) This Shaiva Temple, traditionally known as
the temple of Duladeo or 'Kunwar Math', stands on the left or north bank
of the Khurau Nala, about a kilometre south of the Khajuraho village. It
is situated about half a mile south of the Ghantai Temple and the same
distance southwest of the Jain group of temples including the Parsvanath
temple.
The temple faces east and consists on plan of a sanctum without
ambulatory, vestibule, 'maha-mandapa' and entrance porch. The sanctum is
'sapta-ratha' on plan as well as in elevation. While its 'sikhara' is of
the usual developed form, clustered around by three rows of leaning
half-spirelets, its 'maha-mandapa' shows some peculiarities of design and
decoration. 
While some figures are of exceptional artistic merit on this temple, the
plastic treatment has on the whole become stiff and in many cases lacks
depth of relief, which is evident on a majority of the figures of nymphs
of the exterior. The iconography of this temple also shows some
distinctive traits. The Ashtavasu figures are invariably depicted here
with a crocodile mount in place of the usual bull, while the 'dikpalas',
'yama' and 'Nirriti' wear their raised curls in a stylised fan shape. The
facades of this temple carry tedious repetitions of the images of standing
Shiva and Shiva-Parvati.
The temple is incompletely preserved and has been extensively repaired
and restored.
CHAUSATH YOGINI TEMPLE : The Oldest Temple At Khajuraho
(Built
in late 9th century). Situated about three furlongs south of the Kandariya
Mahadeva Temple and about two furlongs west-south-west of the Shivasagar
Tank, this monument belongs to a very rare class of temples, dedicated to
the sixty-four Yoginis, which represented innumerable aspects or
manifestations of 'Shakti'.
The temple is built on a low rocky ridge and stands on a Cyclopean
'jagati' (platform), from 14 to 18 feet high, made of rough dressed
boulders of coarse local granite. The entire superstructure reared on the
platform terrace is made of granite ashlars.
Distinguishing Features
This is the only temple at Khajuraho, which is not oriented due north
south but is oriented northeast to southwest. This temple has many notable
features. While most of the Khajuraho temples are made of a fine variety
of buff or pink sandstone, this is the only temple at the site, which is
made entirely of granite. Further, this structure is extremely simple in
plan and design, with hardly any carvings or ornaments and has no
pretensions for architectural elegance.
