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India / Khajuraho / Attractions / The Temples / The Western Group

The Varaha Temple dates back to the 10th Century and is dedicated to the, third incarnation of Vishnu, the preserver in the form of a boar (Varaha Mythology relates that the Rat-Demon Hiranyaksha stole the earth, pulled it under the waters to his Abode and created 1000 replicas of himself to confuse his persuer. Vishnu, on the request of the other Gods, incarnated himself as a boar, and retrieved the earth from the clutches of the Demon and saved the world. The huge sand stone polished Vahara is shown, along with hundreds of deities flanked about him and the three worlds-water, earth and heaven, perched on the serpent Shesha, with the broken figure of Prithvi on his feet.

Opposite this, is one of the best-preserved Lakshmana Temple, which is the earliest of them (950) AD). The exterior is richly carved and a platform has frenzies of hunting and battle scenes showing, both man and animal apart from daily life and erotic depictions. The basements also have intricate carvings on the same lines. Two rows of sculptures have gods and goddesses With the Apsaras-in-waiting. All Figures have a relaxed expression and the rest on one leg. Inside, one enters through a simple Makara-Toran flanked on either side by gladiators. The circular ceiling of a Lotus in four or concentric circle. The raised platforms in the hall is used as a dance floor or for Tantric rituals. The pillars on each corner depict Apsaras on carved brackets. Among the finest of sculptures, these eight figures, on each column, represent each sect of the Tantras. The Panch-Ratha has three headed and four armed Vishnu as Vaikuntha, and four armed incarnations and 14 forms of Vishnu.

Dedicated to Shiva, the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is the largest and Tallest of all. The inner sanctum has a marble Linga and the roof rises in a series of seven bands, to a summit of the central 31 meters high Shikara. There are over 800 statues of god's goddesses, musicians and erotic poses carved onto its internal and external surfaces. Towards the North of these is the Devi Jagdambe Temple built around the early 11th Century. It has a standing Parvati image and is decorated with some of the best carvings of deities, especially Yama.

The Chitragupta Temple of early 11th Century is the only one dedicated to the Sun God, Surya. A lot of restoration work has been done here. The Garbha-Griha has Surya driving his chariot of seven horses and a statue of Vishnu with 11 heads showing 10 of his incarnations.

Matangesvara Temple stands next to the Laxmana Temple, outside the main complex. Even today it is visited which suggests that it is one of the oldest in Khajuraho. It has a statue of Ganesha just outside the temple where where people offer flower garlands in the mornings and inside is a 2.5 mtr. High polished linga of Lord Shiva.

Beyond the tank at some distance from the ruins of the Western Group of temples of Khajuraho, known as the Chausath (sixth four) Yogini, believed to have been built entirely of Granite, and is the only one not aligned East to West. Now in ruins, it once had sixty-five cells of which sixty-four belonged to each attendant of the goddess herself.

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