Is there any one, who do not know about ancient temple of Khajuraho and its erotic images? If you ever dreamed to travel the World, Khajuraho would be in your list for sure. Because of so many erotic and love making postures at Khajuraho, these temples also known as Love Temple. Though, Khajuraho is an important World Heritage site of India, but the site attract more tourists than history & heritage lovers.
Even, Khajuraho temple’s sexual images become the synonymous of erotic art. Lots of paintings, sculptures depicting intimate scene or other form of eroticism, being sold worldwide on the name Khajuraho Art.
It’s unique thing, that a religious or sacred place have so many erotic or sexual images. Any body can associates these erotic postures with the famous scripture of Kamasutra, written by Vatsayana.
Magnificent architecture and theme of Kamasutra make everybody curious to explore Khajuraho. The curiosity and love towards Indian heritage dragged me too.
Read : Complete travel guide for visit Khajuraho Temples
Erotic and love making images of Khajuraho
These temples are more than thousand year old; broken sculptures can be seen on temple walls. One couple can be seen enjoying their togetherness.
I don’t think the images below, captured from the various temples of Khajuraho need any caption or introduction. 😉
These images showing erotic postures may be titillating, possibly may get your jaw dropped. Temple’s wall gallery at Khajuraho display some couples in intimate postures while few in love making pose. They are not bother to hide their assets or any kind of feeling, even they celebrating the male-female bonding in public.
These erotic expression are so loud and shocking, its really hard to imagine that any temples can have such images. I think such sexual images can be found only in ancient temple of India.
Similar figures can also be seen on Lingaraja temple and another famous world heritage site of Konark Sun temple in Odisha.
Story behind the erotic images of Khajuraho
Exact reason behind the idea of making so many erotic postures in Khajuraho temples is still unknown. But there are several theories or stories supporting this unique idea:
1) Moon & Hemavati: The first and most popular tale is about ‘Hemavati’, from nearby village. As the story say, she was extremely beautiful that anybody could mesmerise on her beauty.
One night, Hemavati was bathing in moon light. The Moon could not able to resist his lust after looking at Hemavati, as her body was looking more sensual in the white light.
Then moon transformed himself in the form of attractive man and approached her. Hemavati easily got hypnotised and trapped in the plan of moon. Moon fulfilled all his lusty wishes and told to Hemavati that one day their child will rule over a kingdom.
Soon, Hemavati realised her sin and ran away to the forest. There she gave birth to a son and named ‘Chandravarman’.
As per Moon’s prediction, Chandravarman established the Chandela dynasty and ruled over the region for many years. He was quite influenced with the story behind his birth, so he built temples with erotic images showcasing the human love, lust, desires and passions in various forms.
2) Road to Moksha: Another theory says that a person can attain ultimate Moksha only after liberating from their worldly desire. And the best possible way to disengage from their desires is to fulfill them extensively. Else, these unattended desires may interrupt and distract you, when you will try to concentrate & connect with supreme knowledge.
These sexual images on Khajuraho temples is a indicative message that; Complete all the activities ( shown on the walls) then come to main sanctum to attain ultimate goal (Moksha). Osho Rajneesh also have written similar thing in his book ‘Sambhog Se Samadhi Ki Aur’, published in March’1969. Later in 1971, this book translated in to English as ‘From Sex to Super-consciousness’.
3) Tantric practice: Some historians believe that Khajuraho temple have close association with Tantric practice. As practicing some yogic pose help in awakening of Kundalini (best way to gain spiritual energy and a shortcut to attain Moksha).
While in Tantric practice, sex is used to awaken this energy. And a perfect sexual posture can awaken the Kundalini. These erotic images on the wall of Khajuraho temples representing those postures rather than usual love making.
4) Back to materialism: Another theory states that, during that era people were getting inclined towards Buddhist philosophy of life, and so they were aparting themselves from materialistic world.
Making such temples with so many sexual images was one way to create interest and curiosity among people towards materialist life.
Apart from the erotic postures, various other aspect of life have been depicted on these temples, to educate people about the way of living and responsibility as a social unit.
Now, it is up to you which theory you wan to believe. Whatever be the reason behind these images of Khajuraho, the truth is everyone want to visit Khajuraho. It doesn’t matter, whether you have any interest in history or historical sites but Khajuraho would be in your bucket list. Get the travel guide with detailed itinerary for Khajuraho temples.
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