Group of Temples, Khajuraho

The Khajuraho Group of Temple is a group of Hindu and Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh, India. About 175 kilometres (109 mi) southeast of Jhansi, they are one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.The temples are famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures.The Khajuraho group of temples were built together but were dedicated to two religions namely Hinduism and Jainism suggesting a tradition of acceptance and respect for diverse religious views among Hindus and Jains.

History :

Khajuraho, the ancient Kharjjura-vahaka represent today a distinct pattern of art and temple architecture of its own reminding one of the rich and creative period it witnessed during the Chandella rule. It was the principal seat of authority of the Chandella rulers who adorned it with numerous tanks, scores of lofty temples of sculptural grace and architectural splendour. The local tradition lists eighty-five temples but now only twenty-five are standing examples in various stages of preservation. But for Chausath-Yogini, Brahma and Mahadeva which are of granite, all the other temples are of fine grained sandstone, buff, pink or pale yellow in colour. 
Yasovarman (AD 954) built the temple of Vishnu, now famous as Lakshmana temple is an ornate and evolved example of its time proclaiming the prestige of the Chandellas.

Yasovarman

The Visvanatha, Parsvanatha and Vaidyanatha temples belong to the time of king Dhanga, the successor of Yasovarman. The Jagadambi, Chitragupta, are noteworthy among the western group of royal temples of Khajuraho. 

king Dhanda

The largest and grandest temple of Khajuraho is the immortal Kandariya Mahadeva which is attributed to king Ganda (AD 1017-29). The other examples that followed viz., Vamana, Adinatha, Javari, Chaturbhuj and Duladeo, are smaller but elaborately designed. The Khajuraho groups of temples are noted for lofty terraces (jagati) and functionally effective plans comprising of an ardhamandapa, acting as entrance generally adorned with makara torana and kakshasana, the mandapa, as the hall with antarala leading to garbha griha or sanctum. The larger temples have mahamandapas in front of the ardhamandapa. They also have minor shrines at four corners and thus categorized as pancayatana. The exterior of the temples are richly decorated. In contrast, Javari and Brahma temples are simpler creations.

king Ganda

The sculptural embellishments include, besides the cult images; parivara, parsva, avarana devatas, dikpalas, the apsarases and sura-sundaris which win universal admiration for their delicate, youthful female forms of ravishing beauty. The attire and ornamentation embrace the winsome grace and charm.
The recent excavation at Bija Mandal in Jatkara near Khajuraho has revealed the remains of a huge temple base datable to 11th century A.D. which extends over 4 m than the largest known temple (Kandariya Mahadeo Temple). An exquisite image of Sarasvati was also found from here

The sculpture

There are 25 Temples at Khajuraho fiew are :

1  The Temple of Devi Chausath Yogini (64 Yoginis) completed by 885CE :

 2   The Brahma Temple copleted by 925CE  :

3   The Temple of Lal Gun Mahadev completed by 900CE :

4   The Temple of Matangeshwar Completed by 1000CE :

5  The temple of Varaha completed by 950CE :

6 The Lakshmana Temple completed by 939CE :

7 The Temple of Parshvanath completed by 954CE :

8  The Vishvanatha Temple completed by 999CE :

9  Devi Jagdambi Temple completed by 1023CE :

10 The Temple of Chitragupta Completed 1023CE :

11 Kandariya Mahadev Temple (largest temple) Completed by 1029CE :

12 The Temple of Vamana Completed by 1062CE :

13 Adinath Jain Temple completed by 1027CE :

14 The Javeri Tample completed by 1090CE :

15 Chaturbhuja Temple completed by 1110CE :

16  The temple of Duladeva (Dulhadeo) Completed by 1125CE :

17 The Temple of Ganesha Completed by 1000CE :

18 The Temple of Hanuman Completed by 922CE :

19  Mahishasuramardini Temple Completed by 995CE :

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