Friday, October 26, 2018,

BELOW THE FIRST WRITE-UP IS ANOTHER : Khajuraho: The Sexiest

Temples in India
“Only about 10 percent of the temples’ artwork is sexual in nature”

9:29:29 PM

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-there-so-much-sexuality-in-the-Khajuraho-temples-of-India

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-there-so-much-sexuality-in-the-Khajuraho-temples-of-India

Why is there so much sexuality in the Khajuraho

temples of India?

Answer

2 Answers

Kamat Ashok, Psychologist | Educator | Speaker | Author |

Answered Apr 10
(Read the full article to decode the mystery)

I find the following reality in the thought process of Khajuraho temples..

 Khajurao temples were built around 950AD to 1050AD by the then rulers of
Chandela dynasty.. Though almost 85 temples were built at that time, only about 25
are surviving now.
 The central theme of these temples focus on the Hindu philosophy of life reflecting
the four aspects of ‘dharma-artha-kama-moksha..’
 The intricate carvings depict everything about life and it’s existence.., not sexuality
in particular..
 Of all the carvings on the temples, only 10% of the sculptures are erotic..
 The erotic sculptures are neither at the outset nor they are placed prominent in
comparison to the rest of the sculptures.. and one needs to pay extra attention to find
and understand these..
 The artistic sculptures cover various aspects of human life and values considered
important. The images are arranged in a configuration to express the three principles
‘Avyakta, Vyaktavyakta and Vyakta’, which reflects the Hindu philosophy of‘aagama’..
 The human nature consists of three basic properties such as vyakta - visibile,
vyaktavyakta - suppressed, avyakta - invisible.. , meaning, there are several things in
our life that are visible to others, several more that we suppress from others, and some
more that are invisible to others.. What we see in the sculptures of Khajuraho are all
these three human tendencies expressed with their spiritual meaning..
 These temples and the sculptures also play the role of testing and purifying your
mind.. The seeker comes to the temples, ‘sees’ all the sculptures around, realizes his
material nature, frees himself from all his lust, enters the temple and becomes one
with the ultimate truth.. the ‘Shiva’ himself..
Bottom Line: There is something that is visible, something that is
suppressed and something that is invisible.., and when you find all the
three, your understanding of the Khajuraho temples and your life becomes
complete..
Stay Blessed..

Kamat Ashok

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Promoted by Origins Of India

Khajuraho temples are world famous for their erotic scenes but these constitute only a
tiny proportion of the carved decorations (10%) and the temples cannot be reduced to
that. Also, there are sculptures of this type in many other places, for example the Sun
Temples in Konark and Modhera, though none can rival those at Khajuraho.

Why erotic sculptures in spiritual places?

Several theories have been put forward to explain the presence of these carvings on
some Hindu temples.
  The spiritual theory, according to which the erotic figures remind us
that sexual energy is to be transcended to reach a state of spiritual
awakening. One must focus his/her attention on his/her inner world rather than
remaining dependent on his five senses, which drive him/her to endlessly strive for
material things.
 The tantric explanation, according to which sex in all its forms is sacred.
It reproduces the ultimate act of creation, the union of male and female. Sex is the
cause of the creation and manifestation of the universe.
 Some also say that these temples had educational value. While talking
about sex might be taboo, the art of lovemaking can be learnt by studying these
sculptures.

https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/khajuraho-sexiest-temples-india-007337

https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/khajuraho-sexiest-temples-india-007337

9 JANUARY, 2017 - 00:56 KERRY SULLIVAN

Khajuraho: The Sexiest Temples in India

o     
The Khajuraho temple complex is a series of beautifully built and decorated buildings in Madhya
Pradesh. Of the 85 temples originally built by the Chandela dynasty between 900 AD and 1130 AD,
only 25 remain. Khajuraho has been designated as UNESCO World Heritage site and is highly
worthy of tourist attentions. Yet what really sets Khajuraho apart from other temples is the numerous
erotic carvings, both inside and outside the temple, that depict men, women, and even animals
engaging in lovemaking, orgies, and bestiality under the benign smiles of divinities.
Temple Construction in the Golden Age for Central India
The Khajuraho temples were commissioned almost as soon as the Chandelas came to power in
Madhya Pradesh, a region in Central India. They were dedicated to two Indian religions, Hinduism
and Jainism, suggesting a culture of acceptance and respect for differing religious traditions. In a
space of about 20 square kilometers (7.72 square miles), 85 temples were built by successive
Chandela rulers. This was a golden age for Central India.
It came to an abrupt end at the start of the 13 th century when the Sultanate of Delhi invaded the
Chandela Kingdom and seized the capital city Mahoba (located about 35 miles (56 kilometers) from
Khajuraho). Up until the invasion, the Khajuraho temples were actively worshipped. However, upon
the arrival of the Muslim Delhi Sultanate, the temples were desecrated or destroyed. The Islamic
rulers had a “policy of intolerance for worship [sic] places of other religions so all the citizens of
Khajuraho left the town with a hope that its solitude would not attract attention of the Muslim
invaders into the temple area and in this way both temple and they themselves will remain unhurt”
(Khajuraho-India, 2016).
Temples Emerge from the Jungle
It was only the relatively isolated temples that managed to survive the various Islamic dynasties that
ruled the area from the 13 th to the 18 th century. Yet even these suffered as the forests and
vegetation slowly overgrew the neglected buildings. It was not until 1838 that Khajuraho temples
were made known to the world. British explore T.S. Burt had heard rumors of a sexually explicit
temple deep in the Indian jungle but “had to be persuaded by his Indian attendants to make the
journey; he didn’t believe anything of interest would be found at the remote spot” (Ramadurai, 2015).
 Erotica at Khajuraho temples (  Nagarjun Kandukuru / flickr  )
The Erotic Carvings of Khajuraho
In addition to architectural brilliance and masterful sculpting, the Khajuraho temples have become
well known for their erotic carvings. Little is known for certain about the intent of the sexual imagery
but it is widely believed that the temples were meant to celebrate all aspects of human life, including
sex. Only about 10 percent of the temples’ artwork is sexual in nature, however, these attract the
most attention. The temples depict the many different manifestations of Shakti and Shiva, the female
and male divine principles. Yet, human figures are the ones engaged in the mithunas (a Sanskrit
term used in Tantra to describe the ritual context of sexual unions)