Khajuraho is a village (now more of a Tourist town) located in Madhya Pradesh. In this still hard to get to village, you can find the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples.
What makes them so famous? It could be they were built around 950-1050 A.D. and are very well preserved. Or perhaps the intricate designs- that are so lifelike. Maybe their size. They are enormous. Many of the carvings depict everyday life of the common Indian at that time….from women applying make-up, musicians, potters, farmers, etc. It’s a unique insight into dailylife back then.
Clearly that’s what makes it such a popular tourist destination. Nothing to do with the erotic sculptures on the outside walls, that make you do a double take. Only 10% of the carvings are of tantric sex. They are on the outer temple walls, and their graphicness startles you when you realize what the scene is depicting.
There are some entertaining explanations of the erotic carvings…including one which suggested the temples served as an instructional guide for young Brahamn boys.
No comments:
Post a Comment