Kandariya Mahadeva temple

Infobox Mandir

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creator = Vidyadhara of the Chandelas
proper_name = "Kandariya Mahadeva"
date_built = "circa" 1050
primary_deity = Mahadeva
architecture = North Indian
location = Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

The Kandariya Mahadeva (Devanagari:कंदरिया महादेव, IAST:Kandariyā Mahādeva) temple is the largest and most ornate Hindu temple in the medieval temple group found at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is considered one of the best examples of temples preserved from the medieval period in India. [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99mar20/saturday/head1.htm The Tribune...Saturday Plus Head ] ] Khajuraho was once the religious capital of the Chandela Rajputs and today is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. The Kandariya Mahadeva temple is the largest of the Western group of temples and was built by VidyadharaFact|03-03-2008|date=March 2008, arguably one of the greatest Chandela kings. The temple was built around 1050 on Hindu beliefs dating back to 1000 BC; The main spire or "shikhara" rises 31 m to depict Mount Meru, the holy mountain of Shiva and is surrounded by 84 miniature spires. [http://www.ar.utexas.edu/AV/ARC318L/glossary/building/kandar.html] Inside the sanctum is a marble linga representing Shiva. [ [http://vegetarian-restaurants.net/India-Guide/IndianStates/Madhya-Pradesh/Khajuraho.htm Khajuraho Madhya Pradesh ] ] The Archaeological Survey of India protects the temple, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site at Khajuraho.Fact|date=August 2008

Features

The temple takes its name from "kandara" or cave and "Mahadeva," another name for Shiva. Like many other temples in the Khajuraho complex, it has a linear series of access-steps facing the east-west directions. Other features are columned halls with balconies, an entrance porch, and the inner sanctum. Decorating the sides of the temple are over 646 statues. At the top of the shikhara is the "amalaka," a circular ring motif common in North Indian temple architecture. Many of the side panels depict Shiva in the presence of "apsaras", consorts, and other divinities. These erotic figures do not span the whole temple and are not to be found among the 226 found inside.

Analysis

The Kandariya Mahadeva has been praised as the pinnacle of the tradition of medieval Hindu North Indian temple building ("vide" references). The appearance of the Kandariya is deceptive as it seems to be carved out of a solid piece of stone. Arguably, the complexity and ornateness of design gives one a sense of a closed dimension since the Kandariya can be entered through very few entrances. The sculptured figures are well-rounded yet supple and do not display significant musculature or tension despite numerous erotic implications. Most of the sculptures have economy of drapery but are effusively patterned with ornaments and flower motifs. The effect of height of the shikharas are advanced by the gradation of the rise. From the front, the various designs, many of which are erotic, are not visible to the worshipper. The east-west axis and this thrust, it is argued, focus the worshipper on the central point inside the temple, where the "linga" is kept

ee also

*Khajuraho

Notes

References

* [http://news-sv.aij.or.jp/jabs/s1/jabs0208-013.PDF#search=%22kandariya%20mahadeva%22 Article on Hindu temples of India by George Michell and Snehal Singh. This article has technical details on the temple.]
*Surface, Space and Intention: The Parthenon and the Kandariya Mahadeva. Gregory D. Alles. "History of Religions", Vol. 28, No.1, August 1988, pp. 1-36.

External links

* [http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1000_1099/kandariya/kandariya.html Wesbite with pictures of the Kandariya Mahadeva temple.]
* [http://www.mp.nic.in/culture/monument.htm The official Madhya Pradesh state webpage on monuments]
* [http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/khajuraho/kandariyaindex.htm Kandariya Temple]