Lakshmana Temple 1 1w3t30

LAKSHMANA TEMPLE KHAJURAHO •Features : Temple with sculptures on the facade •Type : Temple •Built :930-950 AD •Address : Rajnagar road, sevagram, khajuraho, Madhya pradesh, India.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT LAKSHMANA TEMPLE KHAJURAHO • Lakshmana Temple Khajuraho is the biggest and best temple in khajuraho. • Belonging to the western group of temple, the Lakshmana temple is one of the three largest temple in khajuraho. • The temple was built in commemoration of military victory and temporal power of the Chandela dynasty.

• Completed around 954 A.D., it is thought to be one of the earliest Chandela temples. • It took 20 years to build and was completed during the reign of Dhanga. • It is the best preserved of all Khajuraho temples. • The Lakshmana temples is dedicated to vishnu.

LAKSHMANA TEMPLE

• The structure is as high as it is long. • Every part of the temple is heavily decorated with a variety of sculptures that allude to the pleasures, pastimes, lifestyle, desires and conquests of the chandela dynasty.

OVERVIEW OF SCENES CARVED ON LAKSHMANA TEMPLE EXTERIOR • Horse – mounted hunters pursuing their prey. • Musicians providing lively entertainment for the court. • Soldiers on the march.

EXTERIOR SCENES AND ARCHITECTURE OF LAKSHMANA TEMPLE KHAJURAHO

• The Lakshmana temple best preserves the architecture features that typify the larger temples here. • The bands are broken by ornate balconied windows with carved pillars and overhanging eaves. • The nymphs shown attending to their toilet, bearing offerings, dancing, playing musical instruments.

• They are graceful and fluid, with expressive faces and gestures. • The facades are covered in superb sculpture.

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE OF LAKSHMANA TEMPLE KHAJURAHO • The interior through a simple makara – torana flanked by gladiators. • The circular celling of the porch (ardha mandapa) is a superbly carved open lotus blossom. • In the hall (mandapa) is a raised platform possibly used for dancing and tantric rituals.

• At each corner of the platform are pillars with carved brackets with apsaras which are among the finest sculptures at khajuraho. • There are eight figures on each column, representing the eight sects of TANTRA. • The sanctum (garba-griha) doorway has a showing incarnations of Vishnu while the lintel has lakshmi with Brahma and siva on either side.

• A frieze above depicts the nine planets including Rahu, while Krishna legends and innumerable carvings of animals, appear on the wall. • The pancha- ratha sanctum (main shrine) was built to house the threeheaded images of Vishnu as Vaikuntha. • Which features one human head and the head of two of Vishnu`s avatars (incarnations), a lion and a boar.

• Around it are 10 incarnations and 14 forms of Vishnu. • Varaha, dedicated to Vishnu`s boar incarnation, and the locked Lakshmi are two small shrines facing the large Lakshmana temple. • Inside Varaha is a wonderful, 1.5m high sandstone boar, dating from 900 A.D. and meticulousy covered with carvings of several deities.