Temple Architecture

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Temple Architecture In Early Medieval India: Khajuraho Temple Architecture

The early medieval temples in central India were constructed by Chandela rulers between 10th and 12th century in Khajuraho (Bundelkhand region)
which represent the epitome of Nagara style of architecture.
According to the oral tradition eighty-five temples stood at Khajuraho, but today only twenty-five survive. Of them,

ten were dedicated to Vishnu in his various forms,

eight to Shiva,
one to Surya,
one to the Chaunsath Yoginis and
five to the Jaina faith.

For example,

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple of Lord Shiva,

Lakshman Temple and Chaturbhuja Temple of Lord Vishnu,
Chitragupta Temple of Sun god,
Adinatha Jain Temple etc.
Two phases of temple building activities:

Phase I: mainly made of granite.

Imp. temples:

Chausath Yogini temple

Varah temple:
Brahma temple:
 Shiva Linga inside Brahma temple:

Phase II: mainly made of sandstone

Imp. temples:

Lakshaman temple
Vishwanath temple
Parswanath temple
Kandariya Mahadev temple
The Khajuraho temples mark the culmination of the central Indian building-style and reveal certain distinctive peculiarities of plan and elevation.
Most of the temples of Khajuraho are built of a fine-grained variety of sandstone.
Temples are compact, lofty temples without any enclosure-wall and are erected on a high-platform-terrace (jagati), which elevates the structure
from its environs and provides an open promenade and ambulatory round the temple.
 On Jagati is the Jangha or wall portion with bands of sculptures.

Highly integrated, compact and unified structure.

Rectangular ground plan
This school of architecture developed most remarkable style of Nagara shikharas composed of several miniature shikharas, called the Urisingas.
The crowning Amalakas is compared to a lotus or a solar halo with rays signifying the way to heaven.
Most of the temples follow the “Panchayatana” system of temple architecture.

A temple is a Panchayatana one when the main shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines at four different corners.
For example: Lakshmana temple, Vishwanath temple, Chaturbhuj temple

All the compartments of the temples are interconnected internally as well as externally and are planned in one axis, running east-west.
In general, temple structure in its compact unified form consists of 4 parts in sequence:

‘mukha-mandapa’,
‘mandapa’,
‘antarala’ and
‘garbha-griha’.

In the larger temples, however, lateral transepts with balconied windows are added to the ‘mandapa’, turning it into a ‘maha-mandapa‘. Also
presence of pradakshinapatha and around the inner and outer pradakshina there are beautiful carvings.

The superstructure of Garbhagriha is curvilinear (Rekha Shikhara).

The structure of other parts are pyramidal.

All the parts have separate roof and they rise in order. Rise in order represents a kind of rythmic accentuation.
Shikhara has 4 parts: Jangha, Chhapra, Amalak and kalash.

In some cases, there are 2 amalakas: lower (bigger) and upper (smaller) amalakas.
Inside view of Shikhara ceiling shows symmetrical layout:
Temples are, in general, seven Rathas:

The sanctum is ‘saptaratha‘ on plan and in elevation, and the cubical portion below the ‘sikhara’ is divided into seven segments (saptanga-bada)
showing two series of mouldings of the basement and three sculptured registers on the ‘jangha’, separated by two sets of ‘bandhana’-mouldings.

Temples are not astylar i.e. have pillars and not piers.
Halls are open kind of halls.
The enormous appeal of the temples at Khajuraho lies in the beauty of their proportions and contours and the liveliness of the ornamental images all
over the temples.

About 10% of the carvings contain sexual themes and rest of the sculptures depict the everyday life of the common persons such as

women putting on makeup,

playing games,
dancing,
knotting and unknotting their girdles, and
others themes such as musicians, potters, farmers etc.

Thus, these massive platforms have ornately carved depictions of contemporary life.

Large scale depiction of horsemen on the sculptures at khajuraho shows disappearance of the horse-drawn chariot and growing emphasis on
cavalry. Few sculptures also show use of saddle.
Sculpture art is more refined, graceful, elegant and more profused in Khajuraho temple compared to Odisha temples.
Ornamentation on both exterior and interior walls.
 Most important among the surviving temples is the eleventh century Kandariya Mahadev temple of Lord Siva which is decorated with a profusion of
sculptures with intricate details, symbolism and expressiveness of ancient Indian art.

This temple stands on a high platform and consists of a porch, a mandapa, a maha-mandapa, a grabhagriha and a pradakshinapath.
The shikhara of the temple symbolizes Mount Kailash, abode of Shiva and consists of eighty-four smaller shikharas.

Temples, religious affiliations and consecration years:

Sequence Modern Temple name Religion Deity Completed by Imag

(CE)

1 Chausath Yogini Hinduism Devi, 64 Yoginis 885

2 Lalgun Mahadev Hinduism Shiva 900

3 Brahma Temple Hinduism Vishnu 925

4 Lakshmana Hinduism Vaikuntha Vishnu 939

5 Varaha Hinduism Vishnu 950

6 Parshvanatha Jainism Parshvanatha 954

7 Ghantai Jainism Adinatha 960

8 Mahishasuramardini Hinduism Mahishasuramardini 995

9 Vishvanatha Hinduism Shiva 999

10 Matangeshwar Hinduism Shiva 1000

11 Vishnu-Garuda Hinduism Vishnu 1000

12 Beejamandal Temple Hinduism Shiva 1000
ruins

13 Ganesha Hinduism Shiva 1000

14 Devi Jagadambi Hinduism Devi, Parvati 1023

15 Chitragupta Hinduism Sun, Chitragupta 1023

16 Adinath Temple Jainism Adinatha 1027

17 Shantinatha temple Jainism Shantinatha 1027

18 Kandariya Mahadeva (the Hinduism Shiva 1029

largest temple)

19 Vamana Hinduism Vamana 1062

 20 Javeri Hinduism Vishnu 1090

21 Chaturbhuja Hinduism Vishnu 1110

22 Duladeo (Duladeva) Hinduism Shiva 1125

Lakshaman temple:

Tri-headed Vishnu (main idol), Varaha sculpture, Mahisasuramardini, Ganesha, Narsimha and other sculptures:
Vishwanath temple:

Loving couple, Dancing Ganesha, Parvati, flute playing woman, Shiva Linga etcc.
Parswanath temple:

Jain deities, sculptures on wall, Apsaras with Vishnu-Lakshmi, Goddesses, Magic square inscription etc:
Kandariya Mahadev temple:

Main temple tower with 84 mini shikharas: