Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho
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The Lakshmana Temple is a 10th-century Hindu temple built by
Yashovarman Yashovarman (IAST: Yaśovarman) was the ruler of the Kingdom of Kannauj and first king of the Varman dynasty. Life Yashovarman was the king of Kannauj in the early part of the eighth century. The city (then known as Kanyakubja) had previously ...
during 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. T ...
dynasty located in
Khajuraho Khajuraho () is a city, near Chhatarpur in Chhatarpur district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. One of the most popular tourist destinations in India, Khajuraho has the country's largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous ...
, India. It is dedicated to Vaikuntha Vishnu - an aspect of
Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...
. 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. They are about 46 km (28.6mi) from Chhatarpur, Chhatarpur city, the district headquarter, 283 km (177mi) from Gwalior, southea ...
, and owing to its architecture and religious importance, the temple was inscribed on the
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
World Heritage List World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritag ...
in 1986.


Location

This temple is located in the Western Temple complex in
Khajuraho Khajuraho () is a city, near Chhatarpur in Chhatarpur district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. One of the most popular tourist destinations in India, Khajuraho has the country's largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous ...
.
Khajuraho Khajuraho () is a city, near Chhatarpur in Chhatarpur district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. One of the most popular tourist destinations in India, Khajuraho has the country's largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous ...
is a small village in the Chhatarpur District of
Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (; ; ) is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and the largest city is Indore, Indore. Other major cities includes Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Sagar. Madhya Pradesh is the List of states and union te ...
,
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
.


Architecture

It is a Sandhara Temple of the Panchayatana Variety. The entire
temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a place of worship, a building used for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. By convention, the specially built places of worship of some religions are commonly called "temples" in Engli ...
complex stands on a high platform ( Jagati), as seen in image. The structure consists of all the elements of
Hindu temple architecture Hindu temple architecture as the main form of Hindu architecture has many different styles, though the basic nature of the Hindu temple remains the same, with the essential feature an inner sanctum, the ''Garbhagriha, garbha griha'' or womb-ch ...
. It has entrance porch (ardh-mandapa),
Mandapa A ''mandapa'' or ''mantapa'' () is a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture and Jain temple architecture. ''Mandapas'' are described as "open" or "closed" dependin ...
, Maha-Mandapa,
Antarala ''Antarala'' (Sanskrit: अन्तराल; ) is a small antechamber or foyer between the ''garbhagriha A ''garbhagriha'' () is the innermost sanctuary of Hindu and Jain temples, often referred to as the "holy of holies" or " sanctum ...
and
Garbhagriha A ''garbhagriha'' () is the innermost sanctuary of Hindu and Jain temples, often referred to as the "holy of holies" or " sanctum sanctorum". The term ''garbhagriha'' (literally, "womb chamber") comes from the Sanskrit words ''garbha'' for ...
. Unlike other temples in
Khajuraho Khajuraho () is a city, near Chhatarpur in Chhatarpur district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. One of the most popular tourist destinations in India, Khajuraho has the country's largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous ...
, its sanctum is Pancharatha on plan (top-view). Its
shikhara ''Shikhara'' (IAST: '), a Sanskrit word translating literally to "mountain peak", refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture of North India, and also often used in Jain temples. A ''shikhara'' over the ''garbhagriha'' chamber ...
is clustered with minor
urushringa ''Urushringa'' (Sanskrit: ''uruśṛn̍ga'' उरुशृङ्ग, lit. ''having high peak'') is a subsidiary tower springing from the sides of the main ''shikhara'' tower in the Hindu temple architecture of northern India. Overview The urus ...
s (refer images of temple top i.e. shikhara). The wall portion is studded with balconied windows with ornate
balustrade A baluster () is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its ...
s. It has two rows of sculptures (refer images of temple's outer wall) including divine figures, couples and erotic scenes. The sanctum doorway is of seven sakhas (vertical panels). The central one being decorated with the ten
incarnation Incarnation literally means ''embodied in flesh'' or ''taking on flesh''. It is the Conception (biology), conception and the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form or an Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic form of a god. It is used t ...
of Vishnu. The Lintel depicts goddess Lakshmi in the centre flanked by
Brahma Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...
and Vishnu. The sanctum contains four-armed sculpture of Vishnu. One of the niches has the image of the sculptor and his disciples at work.


Sculptures


Main idol

Main image is of three-headed & four-armed sculpture of Vaikuntha Vishnu. The central head is of human, and two sides of boar (depicting
Varaha Varaha (, , "boar") is the avatar of the Hinduism, Hindu god Vishnu, in the form of a wild boar, boar. Varaha is generally listed as third in the Dashavatara, the ten principal avatars of Vishnu. In legend, when the demon Hiranyaksha steals ...
) and lion (depicting Narashima). File:Lakshmana Temple 01.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 02.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 03.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 04.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 05.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 06.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 07.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 08.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 09.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 10.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 11.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 12.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 13.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 14.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 15.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 16.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 17.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 18.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 19.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 20.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 21.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 22.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 23.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 24.jpg File:Lakshmana Temple 25.jpg


Outer wall sculpture

File:Khajuraho India, Lakshman Temple, Sculpture 02.JPG, Ganesha sculpture (outer wall), Lakshman Temple, Khajuraho, India File:Khajuraho India, Lakshman Temple, Sculpture 03.JPG, Sculpture (outer wall), Lakshman Temple, Khajuraho, India File:Khajuraho India, Lakshman Temple, Sculpture 04.JPG, Sculpture (outer wall), Lakshman Temple, Khajuraho, India File:Khajuraho India, Lakshman Temple, Sculpture 05.JPG, Sculpture (outer wall), Lakshman Temple, Khajuraho, India File:Khajuraho India, Lakshman Temple, Sculpture 06.JPG, Sculpture (outer wall), Lakshman Temple, Khajuraho, India


Sculptures inside temple

File:Khajuraho India, Lakshman Temple, Sculpture 08.JPG, Narshima sculpture (inside temple sanctum), Lakshman Temple, Khajuraho, India File:Khajuraho India, Lakshman Temple, Sculpture 09.JPG, Damaged Varaha sculpture (inside temple sanctum), Lakshman Temple, Khajuraho, India File:Khajuraho India, Lakshman Temple, Sculpture 10.JPG, Devi Killing Mahisasura sculpture (inside temple sanctum), Lakshman Temple, Khajuraho, India File:Khajuraho India, Lakshman Temple, Sculpture 11.JPG, Lakshman Temple, Khajuraho, India File:Khajuraho India, Lakshman Temple, Sculpture 12.JPG, Hayagriva sculpture (inside temple sanctum), Lakshman Temple, Khajuraho, India File:Khajuraho India, Lakshman Temple, Sculpture 13.JPG, Vamana sculpture (inside temple sanctum), Lakshman Temple, Khajuraho, India File:Khajuraho India, Lakshman Temple, Sculpture 14.JPG, Shiva and Brahma sculpture (inside temple sanctum), Lakshman 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_lakshmantemple.html Archaeological Survey of India, Bhopal Division, Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho {{Authority control Monuments and memorials in Madhya Pradesh World Heritage Sites in Madhya Pradesh Hindu temples in Khajuraho Vishnu temples 10th-century Hindu temples