The spiritual and sensual worlds co-exist in the exquisite temples of Khajuraho built between the 10th and 12th century by the ruling Chandella Kings in Central India. A vigorous architectural movement swept through their reign dotting the landscape of Mahoba, Kalinjar and Ajaygarh with palaces, tanks and temples, but it was at Khajuraho that the Chandella kings reached the zenith of their creativity. Of the 85 glorious temples that they constructed, just 23 remain in various stages of preservation.
The spurt in temple construction coincided with the resurgence of Hinduism. Along with temples dedicated to Lord Vishu and Lord Shiva are shrines devoted to the Jain Tirthankaras. Constructed as per Vaastu Shastra, most temples face east and the first rays of the sun fall on the feet of the main deity in the sanctum sanctorum rousing deep feelings of divinity.

Though the erotic sculptures of Khajuraho overwhelm visitors, they account for just two per cent of the temple carvings. Most of the decorations are essentially religious. Erotic decorations feature mainly in the Shiva temples. The spine according to the tantric theories current in the Chandella period, was likened to the serpent of energy, kundalini, stretching from the base of the sacrum to the crown of the head, supporting the six stages (chakras) of spiritual evolution. Each of these stages must be awakened to transmute sexual energy into pure spirituality for attaining union with the divine.

About the Author

Raghu Rai (b. 1942), was the first photographer to have been honoured with Padma Shri in 1972 for his work on Bangladesh refugees and war. He was nominated to the world’s most prestigious photographers’ cooperative, Magnum Photos, in 1972 by legendry photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, which he joined later in 1977. He was picture editor with India Today from 1982–1991, working on special issues and designs, contributing trailblazing picture essays on social, political and cultural themes. In 1992, he was awarded ‘Photographer of the Year’ in the USA for his cover story on the Human Management of Wildlife in India for National Geographic. His works have appeared in international publications such as Time, The New York Times, Paris, Match, La Figaro, National Geographic, GEO and several others. For the last fourty years he has been exhibiting internationally in major cities thorughout the world and has won numerous awards. He has also been three time on the jury for the World Press Photo Contest. Rai’s grand array of books of photographs includes Raghu Rai’s India ( Reflections in Colour / BW), Mother Teresa, Indira Gandhi, Raghu Rai’s Delhi, The Sikhs, Calcutta, Khajuraho, Taj Mahal, Tibet in Exile, etc.