MPdiaries Part 4....Khajuraho

We reached late evening at Khajuraho and checked into the hotel- Khajuraho Temple View. There was a beautiful view of lake outside the hotel and on the other side of the lake were the Khajuraho temples.

Early morning we set out to visit the temples. Day was spent visiting the monuments of Hindu and Jain temples.

First we headed towards Jain temple. The sadhvi dressed in white, with a peacock feather whisk, a metal water pot and scripture roamed barefoot around the campus.

There were hymn playing in the temples and you could hear them loud even if you did not enter the temples. All temples had high steps with no railing support to climb up. I needed help each time I wished to climb those steps

These temples are considered as the UNESCO World Heritage site.  There are about 22 temples in the campus. These are built of sandstones and are famous for their nagara architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures. There were about 84 postures of  erotic sculptures. We were asked to listen to the guide to understand the legends and the stories hidden behind these sculptures. There were beautiful carvings around the walls of the temples and I stood there admiring the art and workmanship of the artist. .. some sculptures depict the tantric activity in sex, some the lifestyles and the cultural history of the people that lived in that era. They told the story of how people spend their time,, men hunting and travelling, women grooming and entertaining.  There were apsaras elegantly dressed in finery and jewels, with mirror in their hand, applying kohl in their eyes or henna in their hair.

It tells the story of how people tried to keep the balance between their worldly pleasure and their spiritual life. Then there are sculptures of musicians, painters, army, animals, instruments used for different purpose, arm weapons, vehicles, transport and also flowers mainly lotus. Every God had their own vehicle. Just like Ganesha has mouse as its vehicle,  Kaam God (the God of passion) has parrot as vehicle Goddess Laxmi..wife of Vishnu has owl as her vehicle, Goddess Saraswati has a swan.

You can see the Artists' imagination in carving out the figures with profound expressions, such that, they actually speak to you. . I would have loved to go through all 22 temples but I needed help to climb those large stone steps. I wish they would install strong railings for support or maybe an escalator?

We stopped to have coffee at the café in the park and then went for shopping. Had a relaxing afternoon playing cards in the common room. 

In the evening we went to see the light and sound show narrated by Amitabh Bacchan.