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The creators of
Khajuraho claimed descent from the moon. The name Khajuraho
derives from the khajur or date palm trees that once
surrounded the huge Khajurvahaka Tal.The legend that describes
the origin of this great dynasty is a fascinating one Hemavati, the beautiful young daughter of a Brahmin priest was
seduced by the moon god while bathing in the Rati one evening.
The child born of this union between a mortal and a god was a
son, Chandravarman. Harassed by society, the unwed mother
sought refuge in the dense forest of Central India where she
was both mother and guru to her young son. The boy grew up to
found the great Chandela dynasty.
When he was
established as a ruler, he had a dream-visitation from his
mother, who implored him to build temples that would reveal
human passions, and in doing so bring about a realization of
the emptiness of human desire.In order to atone for his
mother's lapse, he raised temples that celebrated the union of
Purush and Prakriti, man and nature, as the
source of all life and creation. Chandravarman began the
construction of the first of the temples, successive rulers
added to the fast growing complex.Chandela Rajputs rose to
power during the early 10th century AD in the land known as
Jajhauti, now Bundelkhand. From being local feudatories of the
Partiharas of Kannauj, they rose to become a major power in
northern India. They were great patrons of the arts and
equally great builders.
Temple
construction continued sporadically until the 12th century.
Far removed from the politcal centre of the kingdom, its
location minimised the danger of external attack, making
Khajuraho te Chandelas' spiritual homeland. In 1335 Ibn Batuta
talks about 'Kajarra' with a great pond, flanked by temples
containing idols and ascetics with matted locks living in
them.
It
is the amorous couples of Khajuraho, appearing mostly on the
panels of the sandhara temples, that have drawn maximum
attention. Their gestures and expressions pulsate with life
and exhibit great passion, sensitivity, joy and warmth.
Traditionally,
love or kama, symbols of life and creation, had
religious sanction as one of the aims of pursuits of life,
along with dharma or piety and artha or economic
pursuit. The full attainment of all three leads to moksha or
salvation. Depictions of mithuna or loving human
couples were seen as auspicious signs of fertility that would
ward off evil and bestow great merit on the builder when used
in architecture.
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