Khajuraho Temple Style
Khajuraho located in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh is world famous for ancient and medieval temples. It was called Khajurpura and Khajur Vahika in ancient times. There are a large number of ancient Hindu and Jain temples here. Khajuraho is famous for the temples built of bent stones. Ancient and medieval stone-craftsmen and sculptors preserved Hindu painting for centuries in the temples of Khajuraho. In these temples, various scenes of enjoyment and pleasure have been engraved with utmost skill.
Khajuraho was the first capital of the Chandela Empire. The Chandela dynasty and the founder of Khajuraho were medieval Gurjara rulers. King Chandravarman considered himself a Chandravanshi. The Chandela kings ruled central India from the tenth to the twelfth century. The temples of Khajuraho were built between AD 950 and 1050 by these Chandela kings.
The poet Chandbardai has described the origin of Chandela in the Mahoba Khand of Prithviraj Raso. King Chandravarman won many battles. King Chandravarman got 85 unique temples built in Khajuraho covered with ponds and gardens at the behest of his mother. Chandravarman's successors also continued the construction of the temple at Khajuraho.
Western Group
A large group of temples located near Sivasagar is called the Western Group. It is one of the most attractive places in Khajuraho. This temple group was built in AD954. The huge temples of this complex have been elaborately decorated which reveals the opulence and power of the Chandela rulers. Shiva and Vishnu are depicted in the Devakulas displayed in the temples.
The Lakshman temple situated in this complex is of high quality. In this Lord Vishnu is shown seated in Baikuntha. This four-feet high Vishnu statue has three heads. These heads are depicted as human, lion and boar. In the left part of the floor of this temple, activities related to public life, traveling army, domestic life and dancers are shown.
The platform of the temple has four auxiliary altars. This temple is related to the Tantric sect. Its façade is decorated with two types of sculptures, in which the middle section depicts Mithun or couples embracing. There are two small altars in front of the temple. One is dedicated to Goddess and the other to Varaha Deva. The huge Varaha figure is made of a single block of yellow stone.
Kandariya Mahadev Temple: Kandariya Mahadev Temple is the largest of the western group of temples. It is famous for its grandeur and musicality. This huge temple was built by Chandel king Vidyadhar in AD 1050. It is a Shaivite temple. The temple is about 107 feet high. Makar Toran is its main feature.
The marble lingam of the temple has highly energetic Mithuns. According to Alexander Cunningham, here are the most figures of Gemini. He counted 646 figures outside the temple and 246 figures inside.
Goddess Jagdamba Temple: To the north of the platform of the Kandariya Mahadev temple is the temple of Jagadamba Devi. This temple was earlier dedicated to Lord Vishnu and was constructed between AD 1000 to 1025. After hundreds of years, the Maharaja of Chhatarpur got the idol of Goddess Parvati installed in this temple, due to which it is called Devi Jagdamba Temple. There is a deep sensitivity to the expressions in the sculptures engraved here. This temple is famous for the fictional depiction of Shardul. Shardul was a mythical animal that had the body of a lion and the head of a parrot, elephant or boar.
Surya Mandir (Chitragupta Temple): The Sun Temple located in Khajuraho is called Chitragupta Temple. This temple is the fourth temple situated on the same platform. It was also built during the reign of King Vidyadhar. In this, a seven feet high statue of Lord Surya is installed wearing armor. Lord Surya is riding on a chariot of seven horses. A sculptor is shown sitting on a chair at work. The eleven-headed Vishnu statue is installed on the south wall.
Viswanath Temple: The Vishwanath temple, very important among Shiva temples, was built in AD 1002-03. This temple situated on the Jagti of the western group is very beautiful. Panchayatan style Sandhar Prasad is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Along with the Shivling in the sanctum sanctorum, a Shiva idol mounted on Nandi has been installed.
Other Temples: Laxmi temple is situated opposite to Lakshman temple and Singh temple is built between Kandariya Mahadev temple and Devi Jagdamba temple. On the way to the garden, the Parvati temple is situated on the east side. It is a small temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple was built by Maharaja Pratap Singh of Chhatarpur between AD 1843- 1847.
In this, Goddess Parvati is shown mounted on a ghoul. To the right of Parvati temple is Vishwanath temple which is the largest temple of Khajuraho. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shankar. This temple was built by King Dhanga in AD 999. Scenes of Apsaras writing letters and musical meetings are depicted on the walls of the temple. Nandi temple is situated opposite Vishwanath temple.
Eastern Group
The temples of the eastern group are divided into two disparate groups. The group of first four temples of this category is near the ancient Khajuraho village. The second group consists of Jain temples which are located behind the village school. Hindu Temple The Ghantai Temple is located at the other end of the old village, adjacent to which are the Vamana Temple, the Zayari Temple and the Brahma Temple.
The Vamana temple was built between AD 1050 to 1075. Whereas the Jairi temple was built between AD 1075- to 1100. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Brahma temple was established in AD 925. Chaturmukhi Shivling is installed in this temple. This temple is not related to Brahma but to Lord Shiva.
Jain Temple: The group of Jain temples is situated in a separate complex. They belong to the Digambara sect. The largest temple of this group is dedicated to Tirthankara Adinath which is situated to the north of Parshvanath temple. The last Shantinath temple of the Jain group was built in the eleventh century. There are attractive idols of Yaksha couple in this temple.
Southern Group
There are two temples in this part. One is the Duladev Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and the other is the Chaturbhuj Temple dedicated to Vishnu. Duladev Temple is situated on the banks of river Khuddar. It was built by King Madanavarman in AD 1130. The Chaturbhuj temple was built in AD 1100. In its sanctum sanctorum, the 9 feet high idol of Lord Vishnu is shown in saint-disguise. The afternoon is considered the best time to visit the temple of this group. The sun-rays falling in the afternoon make these idols attractive.
Chaturbhuj Temple: This immaterial type of Vishnu temple is situated half a kilometer south of Jatkara village. It has ardha-mandapa, mandapa, narrow gap as well as sanctum sanctorum. The plan of the temple is Sapratha. The construction period of this temple is believed to be between the construction of Jawari and Duladev temple. This is the only temple in Khajuraho built of sandstone, in which there is a complete absence of Mithun idols.
The craftsmanship of this temple indicates decadence. The ornaments of the idols have been depicted, but their subtle marking has been left incomplete. The animal sculptures on the walls of the temple are also crudely distasteful. Other craft legislations including Apsaras are customary, which lack vitality and expression. The marking of the students has been done in attractive postures.
On the basis of its craft, beauty and stylistic features, this temple is considered close to the last built Dulhadeva. The shards of the entrance of the quadrilateral temple are of spiral type. Some of the melody has been left untouched. Most of the Apsaras and some of the deities in the temple are wearing double mekhela. The semi-pillars of the temple chariots are circular.
Dulhadev Temple:This is basically a Shiva temple. Some historians also call it Kunwarnath temple. Its construction period is around AD 1000. This temple is important from the point of view of image classification. This temple of Nirandhara Prasad Prakriti is of integrated nature in its foundation plan. The temple is adorned with beautiful statues. The quadrilateral statue of Ganga is very beautiful. There are many statues engraved in the inner and outer part of the temple, whose expressions are beautiful and stimulating. Statues of women, Apsaras and Mithunrat couples have been made in large numbers.
'Vasal' on the temple stones The name of the artist named is Ankit. The vistas of the temple are circular and pillars are ornate. The idols with dancing posture are beautiful and attractive. In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, Shivling is installed on the yoni-Vedika. The idols are inscribed on three plates outside the temple. Elephants, horses, warriors and scenes of ordinary life are engraved here. Apsaras seem to be the symbol of free, free and uninterrupted life. In Apsara Tods, Apsas are depicted in groups of two-two, three-three.
The temple consists of a pavilion, a mahamandapa and a mukhamandapa. The idols of Ganesh and Veerabhadra are seen peeping from their chariots in the facade. Vidyadhar and Apsaras appear to be moving, but the weight of ornamentation on the idols is visible. Ashtavasu is crocodile. Yama and Narutti's hairstyle is different from tradition and is fan-shaped.
The Jagati of the temple is high and is beautiful and visible. Rows of statues have been established on the thigh. There is also leaf decoration on the stone. The chhajjas are decorated with deities, Digpals, Apsaras, human pairs and Mithun-couples. There are chariots on the balcony of Bhadras. There are also deity statues engraved there. The statue of Guru-disciple has been inscribed on the chamber-koot of Dakshina Bhadra.
Shikhar Saptaratha is containing the original Manjari. It is furnished with land-owners. Uru:Two of the horns are of Saptratha and one of Pancharatha nature. There are horns on the pratithas of the summit, two horns each on the side nandis and three horns on each karanaratha. The horns are of even size. The eastern face of the inner part is protected on which the nine chariots are built, with four rows of origins from bottom to top.
The idols of Shiva and Parvati are inscribed on the eight chariots. There are three chariots on the pillar branch, on which Shiva idols are inscribed, which according to tradition are surrounded by Brahma and Vishnu. The Bhootnayak idols are below the Shiva idols, while the Navagraha idols are in a standing posture in the resting part. On this pillar branch, the water goddesses are in tribhangi postures.
But more tortoises have been marked. The main idols are considered to be symbols of Ganga-Yamuna. There is also a statue of Mahakal, which is covered with thatched. In the chariots of the outer part of the temple, there is a six-armed Bhairav in a dance-posture on the southern face, Shiva with twelve arms and a Trimukhi ten-armed Shiva idol in another chariot.
On its wall are Nataraja with twelve arms, Chaturbhuj, Harihara, on the northern face Shiva with twelve arms, Vishnu with eight arms, Chamunda with ten arms, Vishnu in the form of Gajendra-Moksha and Shiva-Parvati in pair posture. On the western face there are two statues of four-armed naked Nariti, Varuna and Vrishabhamukhi Vasu. In addition to the fractal statue of Vayu on the northern face, three images of Vrishabhamukhi Vasu and one each of the quadrilateral Kuber and Ishaan are engraved.
Orissa's Kalinga Temple Style
The architecture of Orissa is built in the Kalinga architectural style developed in ancient times. The temples of Orissa are the best examples of Kalinga architectural style.
Temples of Makakanooka: The five temples of Makakanuka Odisha are considered to be examples of architectural marvels.
Sun Temple of Konark: The Sun Temple of Konark was built in the 13th century AD by King Narsinghev (I) of the Ganga dynasty. It is built in the Kalinga style and is dedicated to Lord Biranchi-Narayan (Sun). The word Konark is derived from the combination of the words angle and ark. Ark means the sun, while angle refers to the corner or edge.
Presented Konark Sun Temple is constructed from red colored sandstone and black granite stones. It was built in AD 1236-54 by King Narasimhadeva of the Ganges dynasty. This temple is one of the most famous places in India. In this temple built in Kalinga style, the Sun God is seated in a chariot and the stones are carved with exquisite carvings.
The temple is built with twelve pairs of chakras pulled by seven horses, in which the Sun God is shown seated. At present there is only one horse left. Beautifying the base of the temple, these twelve chakras represent the twelve months of the year and each chakra is made up of eight auras, which represent the eight watches of the day. The main temple is built in three mandapas.
Of these, two tents have collapsed. In the third pavilion where the idol was, the British had closed all the doors by filling them with sand and stones so that the temple would not be damaged any more. मन्दिर में सूर्य भगवान की तीन प्रतिमाएं हैं- (1.) बाल्यावस्था-उदित सूर्य – 8 फुट, (2.) युवावस्था-मध्याह्न सूर्य – 9.5 फुट, (3.) प्रौढ़ावस्था-अपराह्न सूर्य- 3.5 फुट।
प्रवेश-द्वार पर दो सिंह हाथियों पर आक्रमण के लिए तत्पर दिखाये गए हैं। दोनों हाथी, एक-एक मानव के ऊपर स्थापित हैं। ये प्रतिमाएं एक ही पत्थर की बनीं हैं। ये 28 टन की 8.4 फुट लम्बी, 4.9 फुट चौड़ी तथा 9.2 फुट ऊंची हैं। मंदिर के दक्षिणी भाग में दो सुसज्जित घोड़े बने हैं, जिन्हें उड़ीसा सरकार ने अपने राजचिह्न के रूप में अंगीकार किया है।
ये 10 फुट लम्बे एवं 7 फुट चौड़े हैं। मंदिर सूर्य देव की भव्य यात्रा को दिखाता है। इसके प्रवेश द्वार पर नट मंदिर है। यहाँ मंदिर की नर्तकियां, सूर्यदेव को प्रसन्न करने के लिये नृत्य करतीं थीं। मंदिर में फूल, बेल और ज्यामितीय आकृतियों की नक्काशी की गई है। इनके साथ ही मानव, देव, गंधर्व, किन्नर आदि की प्रतिमाएं भी एन्द्रिक मुद्राओं में प्रदर्शित की गई हैं। इनकी मुद्राएं कामुक हैं और कामसूत्र से लीं गई हैं।
मंदिर लगभग खंडहर हो चुका है। यहाँ की शिल्प कलाकृतियों का एक संग्रह, भारतीय पुरातत्व सर्वेक्षण विभाग के सूर्य मंदिर संग्रहालय में सुरक्षित है। रवीन्द्रनाथ टैगोर ने इस मन्दिर के बारे में लिखा है-‘कोणार्क जहाँ पत्थरों की भाषा मनुष्य की भाषा से श्रेष्ठतर है।’
यह सूर्य मन्दिर भारतीय मन्दिरों की कलिंग शैली का है, जिसमें कोणीय अट्टालिका (मीनार रूपी संरचना) के ऊपर मण्डप की तरह छतरी होती है। आकृति में, यह मंदिर उड़ीसा के अन्य शिखर मंदिरों से भिन्न नहीं लगता है। 229 फुट ऊंचा मुख्य गर्भगृह 128 फुट ऊंची नाट्यशाला के साथ बना है।
इसमें बाहर को निकली हुई अनेक प्रतिमाएं हैं। मुख्य गर्भ में प्रधान देवता का वास था, किंतु वह अब ध्वस्त हो चुका है। नाट्यशाला अभी पूरी बची है। नट मंदिर एवं भोग मण्डप के कुछ ही भाग ध्वस्त हुए हैं। मंदिर का मुख्य प्रांगण 857 फुट गुणा 540 फुट आकार का है। मंदिर पूर्व-पश्चिम दिशा में बना है।
जगन्नाथ मंदिर:पुरी के जगन्नाथ मंदिर की वास्तुकला प्राचीन काल की है। मंदिर के गर्भगृह में मुख्य देव की प्रतिमा स्थापित है तथा गर्भगृह के ऊपर ऊंचा शिखर बना हुआ है। उसके चारों ओर सहायक शिखर हैं। मंदिर परिसर एक दीवार से घिरा हुआ है, जिसमें से प्रत्येक तरफ एक द्वार है, जिसके ऊपर एक पिरामिड-आकार की छत है। राज्य में सबसे बड़ा मंदिर होने के कारण, इसमें रसोईघर सहित दर्जनों सहायक भवन स्थित हैं। मंदिर के शीर्ष पर अष्टधातुओं के मिश्रण से बना एक पहिया है।
मुक्तेश्वर मंदिर: यह छोटा मंदिर 10.5 मीटर ऊंचा है। इसके बाहरी हिस्सों पर मूर्तियों का अंकन किया गया है जिनमें देवी-देवताओं के साथ पौराणिक दृश्य भी दर्शाए गए हैं। मंदिर का तोरण द्वारा नक्काशीदार युक्त है। सभा भवन की छत में प्रत्येक पंखुड़ी पर मूर्ति के साथ एक अष्ट-दल कमल की सुंदर चंदवा बनाई गई है।
लिंगराज मंदिर: भुवनेश्वर का लिंगराज मंदिर 12वीं सदी में बना। यह मंदिर उड़ीसा की स्थापत्य कला का चरम माना जाता है। इसकी ऊँचाई 150 फुट है। इसकी वास्तुकला कलिंग शैली की सर्वोच्च उपलब्धियों में से एक है।
राजारानी मंदिर: भुवनेश्वर के राजारानी मंदिर का निर्माण ई.1000 के आसपास हुआ। इस मंदिर ने मध्य भारत के अन्य मंदिरों के वास्तुकला के विकास के लिए विशेष रूप से खजुराहो के मंदिरों का मार्गदर्शन किया। अप्सराओं और मिथुन मूर्तियों की कामुक नक्काशी के कारण प्रेम मंदिर के रूप में भी जाना जाता है।