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Location
of Khajuraho: Madhya
Pradesh.
Main Groups: Western, Eastern, Southern.
Main Temples:Lakshmana Temple, Kandariya Mahadev
Temple.
Other Temples: Chausath Yogini Temple, Varaha
Temple.
The
temples at Khajuraho are divided into three broad groups:
1. The Western Group, which is the largest, compact and
centrally located group in Khajuraho, includes some of the most
prominent monuments, built by the Chandela rulers.
2. The Eastern Group, which comprises of five detached
sub-groups in and around the present village of Khajuraho, and
3. The Southern Group, which is the most distant one
comprising of two main monuments near and across the Khudarnala.
The Western Group of Temples
The western group of temples, which the visitor encounters first,
is situated along the main approach road to Khajuraho. This is the
largest and most important group with most of its constituent
temples laid out roughly in two rows. The Lakshmana Temple, the
Matangesvara Temple and the Varaha Temple form one complex and the
Visvanatha and Nandi temples are not far from this complex. These
temples form an irregular row running north-south, while the
Chitragupta, Jagadambi and the Kandariya Mahadeva temples form a
more regular, parallel row, about a furlong to their west.
The western group of monuments is best maintained by the
Archaeological Survey of India amidst a setting of green lawns,
colourful shrubs and flowerbeds. Admission to its enclosure is
regulated by a ticket of small denomination, valid from sunrise to
sunset. The monuments of the group face east and are arranged in
two rough alignments, running north south.
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The Eastern Group of Temples
The eastern group of monuments, situated in close proximity to the
Khajuraho village, includes three Brahmanical temples known as
Brahma, Vamana and Javari and three Jain temples, the Ghantai,
Adinath and Parsvanath. The Brahmanical temples are located along
or near the Khajuraho-Sagar, while the Jain temples are situated
farther south and are conveniently approached by a metalled road.
 The
Southern Group of Temples
The southern group of monuments comprises the Duladeo and the
Chaturbhuja temples. The Duladeo is about a kilometre south of the
Khajuraho village and half a mile southwest of the Jain group of
temples. The Chaturbhuja Temple is a mile further south and is
close to the Khajuraho airport.
PRIME TEMPLES AT KHAJURAO
VARAHA TEMPLE
(Built in circa AD 900-925, during the reign of Harshadeva) This
small rectangular temple, built on a rock foundation, faces the
southeastern portion of the Lakshmana Temple. Dedicated to Lord
Vishnu, the temple has a 'phamsana' (pyramidal) roof of receding
tiers, supported on twelve pillars, there being a short frontal
projection, supported on two other pillars, which serves as the
entrance.
The shrine is devoid of 'jagati' (platform) and stands on a 10
feet high plain plinth of which the lower half is made of granite
ashlars and the upper half of sandstone. It is approached by a
flight of steps of which the three upper courses are of sandstone,
and the remaining of granite. It is a simple rectangular pavilion
with a projection in the west; the whole enclosed by a plain
parapet originally mounted by an ornate balustrade. The 'asanapatta'
(seat-slab) of the parapet supports the fourteen pillars. The
shafts of the pillars are octagonal below, sixteen-sided in the
middle and circular above, carrying a plain circular capital,
surmounted by plain brackets of the curved profile with a vaulted
top of the type found in the subsidiary shrines of the Lakshmana
Temple.
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