Khajuraho / Temples of Ecstacy

The temples of Khajuraho are the legacy of the Chandellas, a Rajput dynasty that ruled in central India from the tenth to the twelfth centuries. Of the 85 temples constructed by the Chandella kings, only twenty have survived to astonish the world with their unearthly beauty and sometimes to shock it with their earthy sensuality. The uninhibited display of sexual scenes on the walls of Khajuraho temples has led to a lot of controversy all over the world. The commingling of sex and religion has a long history and it was not something which was peculiar to the Chandellas alone. These erotic representations were motivated by certain religious beliefs and practices. Sexual knowledge was considered an essential part of education. Numerous treatises were written dealing with coital postures, types of kisses and embracing poses, preparation of drugs for sexual vigour and many allied matters concerning sex. Extensive treatment was given to sexual themes even in the literary works of the period.

The tantric movement, at its height, spread to all parts of India. In central India, Kalinjar, a fortified town about 80 km from Khajuraho was the centre of Tantrism. The popularity of Tantrism was one of the major factors behind the depiction of sexual motifs on temple walls. Magic further endowed sexual representations with the power to bring prosperity, good health and ward off evil spirits and calamities. Once the sexual motif was accepted in the sculptural scheme of the temple and had been established in the canon, erotic art became a theme by itself. The profuse depiction of sexual motifs is also a reflection and extension of the social life of the period.

The sandstone temples are marvels of proportion and harmony and the sculptures, ebullient or tender, playful or even occasionally melancholy, have a grace in their uninhibited sensuality. The erotic sculptures capture the fine nuances of human emotion and sensitivity. The ecstasy on the faces of the couples symbolises the supreme bliss resulting from the union of the male and the female principles of the universe. It is interesting to note that the erotic figures have invariably been shown in standing poses with the intention that they should merge with the rising surge of the temple, a gesture representing a reaching out to the Absolute.

Abigail Sarah Bagraim, Email info@abigailsarah.co.za

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