KHAJURAHO TEMPLES, "MAGNUM OPUS'"
As I further continue my quest for marvels of India, the next destination in my bucket list was Khajuraho .In recent times, with increasing disposable incomes, the average Indian is preferably choosing to travel abroad more .However, as I have experienced in my journeys within the country, geographically and historically we have more to offer . In the case of Khajuraho as i learnt from our knowledgeable guide , it is the foreigner who visit the place in maximum numbers during tourist season because it seems they are more appreciative of this architectural feat rather than the Indians who due to their conservative outlook fail to take pride in their own history.
Khajuraho group of temples occupy a place of pride in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complete historical facts and engineering skills employed in the construction of these spectacular works of art are already available in the public domain .Therefore, I would rather recount my personal observations and experience of the visit. Though, the temples of Khajuraho are spread over western, eastern and southern side of the town and its the western complex of temples which have been designated as UNESCO world heritage sites but all of them are similarly constructed and designed .
Interlocking construction of temples :an engineering marvel even in ancient and medieval India.
Alongwith the interesting narration of the history behind these temples by our enthusiastic guide , he also in between points to the different sculptures especially the erotic ones that are sometimes hidden between the outside protruding figures and can fail to catch the eyes .The most fascinating aspect of these masterpieces are the intricate carvings and the minute details which the sculptors had very beautifully captured in the emotions clearly seen on faces of the women figures. The erotic poses are just maybe 10% of the thousands of figures sculpted on the the outer walls of each temple and they are not just poses but seems an open book of the historical treatise Kamasutra showing the acts between the man and woman and it is intriguing to realise the fact that sexual awareness and knowledge was at its zenith in those times .In present India which ironically is the modern India , sex is such a taboo whereas when we observe the Khajuraho temples, its speaks volume of the sexual freedom and its significance in the life circle of human beings without therebeing any shame and secrecy surrounding them .
As the guide further illuminates us that the erotic imagery alongwith other life rituals depicted on the outer walls of temples emphasises that desire is as natural a part of life as other materialistic needs and rituals and this belief that it is only when humans achieve the satisfaction in all realms of desires and needs that they can reach the god ,is reinforced by the fact that inner sanctum of temples have no such sculptures.Infact these temples connnotes an essence of spirituality as well alongside religion.
Another noteworthy attribute of these erotic statuettes that strikes me most is the women being the central theme .She has been represented in almost all the models as full of desire and lust. There is no standalone or freestanding figure of man in state of sexual yearning as the women have been .I think that sensuality and amorousness of women in myraid forms points to the dominant role occupied by them in ancient and medieval India as well as art of sexual pleasure being their domain of expertise. Similarly, notable is the depiction of homosexuality as well as unnatural acts of sex with animals by the soldiers .Instead of feeling embarrassed or horrified at this candid display , I was infact in complete awe of the uninhibitive mindset of the artists who had the courage to show even the hidden aspects of society which as our guide told us was immoral and unaccepted.However i guess these are his personal interpretations, not authentically documented facts which only the creator behind these mindboggling pieces could have explained.
Similar are the other forms of daily lives of people , royals , soldiers etc etched in these sculptures..The tales of epic ramayana and various Indian gods dexterously carved. These figures in their variable forms and countless acts gives a very informative insight not just on the culture and society of that period, but the economy, science ,art forms , religion etc. For example when i see the adornments worn by the women sculptures it gives me an understanding of the fact that kind of jewellery, makeup or other embellisments which we are using today was actually invented and in prevalance thousands of years back .All this plethora of knowledge will only fill you with overwhelming emotions of admiration at the this rich heritage of our ancestorship. If you acutely listen and observe , it will definitely take you on a time travel of tales and give your imagination a vivid play of stories unravelling through the time.
Personally, after soaking in these wonders ,its unbelievable that most of the Indian mindsets fail to look beyond those erotic imagery ,feeling awkward or embarrased to appreciate khajuraho .I think just visiting the temples without understanding them also fails to do justice to the extraordinary skills and work of perfection of the thousands of sculptors and artists .Historians have woven the complete narratives and accounts from those observations only which i have mentioned presenting history of khajuraho and its times but I am sure that unless you visit and witness yourself the speaking legend of these temples, you can never truly understand and appreciate the marvel.
The words of versatile talented bollywood actor Vidya Balan , who redefined the very term sensuality and sexuality with her terrific performance in old movie Dirty picture , has aptly described khajuraho in a one liner,
"A painter once told me that I'm like the Khajuraho, which you see once but which remains with you forever.''
Though the comparability of actor with temples is not justifiable but the last line truly captures the exsistential reality of this historical wonder.
Khajuraho temples are a standing saga of perfection of science ,art and celebration of all life forms , the jewel of khajuraho being definitely the art of sexual pleasure and as a society and country we should take pride that we were thousand of years ahead of our western counterparts in our learning and knowledge .
Absolutely agree.
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