Khajuraho: sex and the sacred
Erotic detal from the base of Lakshana Temple in Khajuraho (Photo credit: Aotearoa/Wikimedia)
Located in the fertile Gangetic plains of Madhya Pradesh, the sprawling Khajuraho temple complex is a fascinating monument to the sanctity of human sexuality. The central theme of the temples is the celebration of womankind, her form, for her beauty and her temperament.
Lakshana Temple, Khajuraho (Photo credit: Airunp/ Wikimedia)
The complex, built by the Chandela rulers between 950 and 1050, is a one of the finest example of Indo-Aryan architecture. It was built during a period of peace and prosperity, where creativity flourished under royal patronage. The Chandelas commissioned 85 temples, but only 22 are remaining today.
Zooerastia depicted on the base of Lakshana Temple (Photo Credit: Aotearoa/Wikimedia)
The finely engraved figures show gods, goddesses, nymphs (apsara), men, women and beasts engaged in many and varied sexual activities.
Engraving on the base of Lakshana Temple (Photo Credit: Dey/Flickr)
The temples are clustered into three groups, spread over 20 square km of land. The Chausath-Yogini, Brahma and Mahadeva temples are made of granite while all the other temples are built with fine grained sandstone.
The gentle flow of the women’s cloth during this intercourse captures the ethereal moment (Photo Credit: pasug/Flickr)
Khajuraho, or Khajur-vahika, derives its name from the golden date palms (khajur) that ones adorned the gate of the great city. The engravings were not built merely for aesthetic value, as they also served to teach young virgins all they needed to know about sexuality.
Sculptures from Vishvanath Temple(Phot Credit kuranda/Flickr)
The temples are today listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, and the The Archeological Survey of India is entrusted with preserving these temples for future generations.
March 24th, 2008 at 5:49 am
christ, they were athletic back then.
March 24th, 2008 at 6:55 am
On the one hand, it’s a wonderful expression of sexuality laid bare for all to see. It’s nice to see such normally hidden, secretive things shown openly and unafraid.
On the other hand, Christ, they were athletic back then.
March 24th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Artistically speaking, it is lovely. And for it’s time, I would also say that it would be “educational” for the sexual novice, but Christ they WERE athletic back then.
And freakin’ nimble, too.
March 24th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
free porn hahaa
March 25th, 2008 at 4:39 am
Love the 4th picture…
Wonder if back in those days you had to pay to watch the wall?
And they really loved animals back then!
April 6th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
That gives all new meaning to “I’m rock hard”
April 7th, 2008 at 3:07 am
they had big tits
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:13 pm
fake!
April 26th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Photoshopped
May 5th, 2008 at 2:39 am
to the people that said fake and photoshopped can i just say you are thick.alot of churchs and places of worship had sculpturs like this hidden of them.these are just not hidden.
May 5th, 2008 at 5:00 am
It’s for real. Seen an exhibition of this stuff in London years ago. It makes me laught to think how priggish Americans must react to this. There’s a whole world out there, but don’t tell em, or they’ll only invade and destroy
May 5th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Hehe, hush! Yeah, so let’s say it is Photoshoped…
May 5th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I can’t even begin to imagine the amount of time that went into creating all of this. Very cool. I am really impressed. And I have to agree with the above statements. Christ, they were athletic back then. ^_~
May 5th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
It’s great to see people having felt free to express themselves in such a way.
Our world could learn a thing or a thousand things from such art.
If it weren’t for sex…(we wouldn’t be here) + many more!