Chaturbhuj Temple (Devanagari: चतुर्भुज मंदिर) is a
temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
dedicated to the Hindu god
Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" withi ...
in
Khajuraho, India in the village of Jatakari.
It is also known as Jatakari Temple (Devanagari: जटकारी).
The name
Chaturbhuja (lit. "One who has four arms''")'' is an epithet of Vishnu. The temple was built by Yasovarman of the
Chandela
The Chandelas of Jejakabhukti was an Indian dynasty in Central India. The Chandelas ruled much of the Bundelkhand region (then called ''Jejakabhukti'') between the 9th and the 13th centuries. They belonged to the Chandel clan of the Rajputs.
...
Dynasty in c. 1100 CE.
[Sen, S.N., 2013, A Textbook of Medieval Indian History, Delhi: Primus Books, ] This is the only temple in Khajuraho which lacks erotic sculptures.
As part of the
Khajuraho Group of Monuments
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments are a group of Hindu and Jain temples in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, India, about 175 kilometres southeast of Jhansi. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temples are famous for their nagara-styl ...
, the temple was inscribed on the
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
World Heritage List
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
in 1986 because of its architecture and testimony to the
Chandela
The Chandelas of Jejakabhukti was an Indian dynasty in Central India. The Chandelas ruled much of the Bundelkhand region (then called ''Jejakabhukti'') between the 9th and the 13th centuries. They belonged to the Chandel clan of the Rajputs.
...
dynasty.
Architecture
The temple consists of a
sanctum without
ambulatory
The ambulatory ( la, ambulatorium, ‘walking place’) is the covered passage around a cloister or the processional way around the east end of a cathedral or large church and behind the high altar. The first ambulatory was in France in the 11th ...
,
vestibule,
and an entrance porch.
The temple stands on a Modest (chabutara).
Around the wall, there are three bands
of sculptures (see also image of outer wall).
Main idol
The main idol in the temple is of four-armed Vishnu (also seen in the image). It is 2.7 meters
in height.
Gallery
Image:Khajuraho India, Chaturbhuj Temple, Photographed 10-03-2012.JPG, Chaturbhuj Temple, Khajuraho India
Image:Khajuraho India, Chaturbhuj Temple, Main Idol.JPG, Main Idol (Vishnu), Chaturbhuj Temple, Khajuraho India
Image:Khajuraho India, Chaturbhuj Temple, Roof.JPG, Roof, Chaturbhuj Temple, Khajuraho India
Image:Khajuraho India, Chaturbhuj Temple, Ganga-Yamuna 01 Sculpture; Photographed on 10-March-2012.JPG, Ganga-Yamuna Sculpture Chaturbhuj Temple, Khajuraho India
Image:Khajuraho India, Chaturbhuj Temple, Ganga-Yamuna 02 Sculptures; Photographed on 10-March-2012.JPG, Ganga-Yamuna Sculpture Chaturbhuj Temple, Khajuraho India
Image:Khajuraho India, Chaturbhuj Temple, Outer Wall. Photographed 10-March-2012.JPG, Outer Wall, Chaturbhuj Temple, Khajuraho India
Image:Khajuraho India, Chaturbhuj Temple, Shiva Sculpture; Photographed 10-March-2012.JPG, Shiva Sculpture on Outer Wall, Chaturbhuj Temple, Khajuraho India
References
External links
M.P. Tourism Website, Official Website of Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Corporation, Khajuraho*
ttp://asibhopal.nic.in/monument/chhatarpur_khajuraho_jatakartemple.html Archaeological Survey of India, Bhopal Division, Chaturbhuj Temple, Khajuraho
{{Khajuraho Group of Monuments
Bundelkhand
Monuments and memorials in Madhya Pradesh
World Heritage Sites in Madhya Pradesh
Hindu temples in Khajuraho
Vishnu temples