Khajuraho Group of Monuments

Lore & Background

The Khajuraho temples were built during the rule of the Chandela dynasty, with building activity starting almost immediately after the rise of their power. Most temples were built during the reigns of Hindu kings Yashovarman and Dhanga. The largest surviving temple is Kandariya Mahadeva, built under King Vidyadhara. The temples were in active use through the end of the 12th century, but after the Delhi Sultanate attacked the Chandela kingdom in the 13th century, they fell into neglect. Burt rediscovered it. Alexander Cunningham later documented the temples in the 1850s and 1860s.

Reader's Guide

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments represents a significant cultural and architectural achievement of the Chandela dynasty. The temples are clustered near water bodies, and all but one face the sunrise, reflecting Hindu symbolic traditions. The site integrates masculine and feminine deities, highlighting the interdependence of the four goals of life in Hinduism: dharma, kama, artha, and moksha. Of the surviving temples, six are dedicated to Shiva, eight to Vishnu and his affinities, one to Ganesha, one to the Sun god, and three to Jain Tirthankars. The temples were built together but dedicated to two religions, suggesting a tradition of acceptance and respect for diverse religious views. The erotic sculptures, which cover less than 10% of the temple sculpture, are in proportional balance with non-sexual images. Burt. The remoteness and isolation of Khajuraho protected the temples from continued destruction by Muslim dynasties.

Did You Know?

• The name Khajuraho is derived from Sanskrit 'kharjura' (date palm) and 'vāhaka' (bearer), and local legends state the temples had two golden date-palm trees as their gate.
• The temple complex originally had 85 temples by the 12th century, but only about 25 survive today.
• The 10th-century Bhand Deva Temple in Rajasthan was built in the style of the Khajuraho monuments and is often called 'Little Khajuraho'.
• When the monuments were built, boys lived in hermitages as brahmacharyas until manhood, and the sculptures helped them learn about the worldly role of 'householder'.