{"chapterKey":"india-northern/khajuraho-2-details","title":"Khajuraho 2, Details","regionSlug":"india-northern","status":"published","photos":[{"sha":"931c9b8c772608c215e0a69444ba3c61c1bb2cd5a594da0dd66a91756c7159eb","caption":"The *shikara *of the Mahadeva. Tower and sanctuary together form the *vimana*.","width":666,"height":998,"aspect":0.6673,"orientation":"portrait","layoutHint":"narrow","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fbab3ea6c841c67531677f94cef61252","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/7a94af81c6d9adf02ef14b38442d6e76","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/7b780fcca6c7db2eafd34bf3aa6e6ce8","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/7b780fcca6c7db2eafd34bf3aa6e6ce8","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/7b780fcca6c7db2eafd34bf3aa6e6ce8","altText":"The shikara of the Mahadeva. Tower and sanctuary together form the vimana."},{"sha":"17c8a00c3645025ee56c42f9fe67b90eff54cfea4d60c9889176ccdb8811ddbc","caption":"The *shikara *is covered with miniature *shikaras* known as *kudus* or *candrashala; *each represents the home of a god.","width":666,"height":998,"aspect":0.6673,"orientation":"portrait","layoutHint":"narrow","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/13a14d8a32d25f464454f5c1a9508b1e","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/9646045ee1188582f1cac3901f7702c4","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/8dab704ec4bf3d17983821133358716a","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/8dab704ec4bf3d17983821133358716a","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/8dab704ec4bf3d17983821133358716a","altText":"The shikara is covered with miniature shikaras known as kudus or candrashala; each represents the home of a god."},{"sha":"e4dca5955f48acd2a6f12f6c6f982677d2fa68591e417b8c2ceb99ddede3f0cc","caption":"The large fluted disk laid horizontally near the summit represents *amalaks,* or Indian gooseberries, associated with Vishnu and regeneration. Above it is the *amritakalasha*, a vessel holding *amrita*, the nectar of immortality. The tip of the tower represents the intersection of the divine and human worlds.","width":998,"height":666,"aspect":1.4985,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/f020ff62c0b96d768b510da856ec32fc","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/d07f58fbc4e38de704cf99b299f512cc","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/d0ad3f90427ed2cda7cbd460284a3eeb","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/e977bd311126a1e785b0b606ef77a317","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/e977bd311126a1e785b0b606ef77a317","altText":"The large fluted disk laid horizontally near the summit represents amalaks, or Indian gooseberries, associated with Vishnu and regeneration."},{"sha":"2eccc4248b4fd059ba7f92d468cbc8abf99808e1dc04e80e4060093de3ebdb71","caption":"Close-up of the base of the Mahadeva *shikara.*","width":666,"height":998,"aspect":0.6673,"orientation":"portrait","layoutHint":"narrow","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6775f321413b5a043462290b29042c37","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6623085d55e887b7e18a7625fc9180f6","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/20d66532b1a1af35f58888c969b2a626","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/20d66532b1a1af35f58888c969b2a626","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/20d66532b1a1af35f58888c969b2a626","altText":"Close-up of the base of the Mahadeva shikara."},{"sha":"373fb8d799a1eb52ba0073da314fd181b8d358c5ccf965cc7e08e7478be8c352","caption":"The stylistic similarities between the temples is very great: this is the Lakshmana *shikara,* built a century earlier.","width":666,"height":998,"aspect":0.6673,"orientation":"portrait","layoutHint":"narrow","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/1e83c24f55f6088bde1a12553c5c5714","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/374ccf5a6a8a2e8189ae72bf275807c7","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6a8dddb83ae3bba8e3fbe66f36473038","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6a8dddb83ae3bba8e3fbe66f36473038","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6a8dddb83ae3bba8e3fbe66f36473038","altText":"The stylistic similarities between the temples is very great: this is the Lakshmana shikara, built a century earlier."},{"sha":"4037499342181c54d117e68936ad4098eae5e5bce84ea3225666fe1f534748b6","caption":"A close-up of the same.","width":998,"height":666,"aspect":1.4985,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/a451e5e940fa1847c9cebb55ab973407","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/faf70effcff277f71a95541400ffea40","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/1ce2d1552f4fee14828b041b9d19d51f","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6427e8219858166bc4f78eed1b0c453e","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6427e8219858166bc4f78eed1b0c453e","altText":"A close-up of the same."},{"sha":"893d22fb2507bc34d3668c8ea778fd96012141071e5ce824d33410e25a7fa011","caption":"Base of the Lakshmana *shikara.*","width":666,"height":998,"aspect":0.6673,"orientation":"portrait","layoutHint":"narrow","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/5c5b57e8cd19abd6eb90a86d127bc9ac","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/a1abf577c49c37f438818449165b6262","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/e24c54b809f70697cd5446acd73ca5a7","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/e24c54b809f70697cd5446acd73ca5a7","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/e24c54b809f70697cd5446acd73ca5a7","altText":"Base of the Lakshmana shikara."},{"sha":"266189f05c3dfc185705819064602ff04979dc445bbd368c1051de598007cbeb","caption":"Lakshmana has the most completely sculpted surface of any of the temples. Here, the common motif of a thorn being removed from a foot.","width":666,"height":998,"aspect":0.6673,"orientation":"portrait","layoutHint":"narrow","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/abceef41063a0aa563cf3b5b1d68a462","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/9a6206fa1e7196bbd9ad03cbdbc64a58","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/e7d83346913b312166b599e2e5088581","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/e7d83346913b312166b599e2e5088581","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/e7d83346913b312166b599e2e5088581","altText":"Lakshmana has the most completely sculpted surface of any of the temples. Here, the common motif of a thorn being removed from a foot."},{"sha":"8d8df35441e871548bc0d26f35aeb46751d1d5587d6cc6eff14a76032287331f","caption":"Another standard image: a *shardula *or leogryph, a horse-lion symbolizing the victory of knowledge over ignorance. This one comes from the Javari Temple, a mile east of the main compound.","width":666,"height":998,"aspect":0.6673,"orientation":"portrait","layoutHint":"narrow","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/0375438d866b083d467727f0beb5f816","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/b85eff2cb5ab5ad88c1c7c384ab6676b","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/67961cf0cc5cccc6cb5bc7de30d77ccd","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/67961cf0cc5cccc6cb5bc7de30d77ccd","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/67961cf0cc5cccc6cb5bc7de30d77ccd","altText":"Another standard image: a shardula or leogryph, a horse-lion symbolizing the victory of knowledge over ignorance. This one comes from the Ja"},{"sha":"1f6c2facfb6e2344129ddfd2a8027e4a2eeb1d98b08317278ec181944b0dd99e","caption":"Again from the Javari temple: a female figure in the stylized *tribhanga*, or \"three bends,\" posture.","width":666,"height":998,"aspect":0.6673,"orientation":"portrait","layoutHint":"narrow","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/a9ecedaef08d017b473132235940ba0e","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/5dbdf684f78728c6fe20cea150fdeb0f","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/8625ee719ef027cc6679a8f3300851d9","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/8625ee719ef027cc6679a8f3300851d9","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/8625ee719ef027cc6679a8f3300851d9","altText":"Again from the Javari temple: a female figure in the stylized tribhanga, or \"three bends,\" posture."},{"sha":"eaddd7b78961591a92ff7c6faa428e07b0d17b6fe7d72f1aad591714b8bd1ed6","caption":"Javari sculpture in context.","width":666,"height":998,"aspect":0.6673,"orientation":"portrait","layoutHint":"narrow","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/4301606455ea1d7dca26a9a460d6d863","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/1be2bbbc6ffdba41a27bd060445f9c2b","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/2ce7c413b94ce09c3922bcbe7560380a","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/2ce7c413b94ce09c3922bcbe7560380a","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/2ce7c413b94ce09c3922bcbe7560380a","altText":"Javari sculpture in context."},{"sha":"494a2401852da78d1025f72bb6a27b5c5620915407b7d22528bf4b062ef80e1f","caption":"The Mahadeva plinth has unfortunately been none-too-carefully restored and lacks its sculptural bands.","width":998,"height":666,"aspect":1.4985,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/8725c849800cff020525cc70a623531b","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/c29938eacbc19e8dd8c388ead1a33e7b","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/c4ebffbe14c8c0385cda1ecbb36a93ed","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/bb2da633c4148122e2da218e72c0ad24","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/bb2da633c4148122e2da218e72c0ad24","altText":"The Mahadeva plinth has unfortunately been none-too-carefully restored and lacks its sculptural bands."},{"sha":"71949dc267cfad331e2c1c1b5a0f3461cc495a058e37fa4e7bc323af271dde15","caption":"Not so Lakshmana, which is full of scenes from the all-too-temporal world. Here, elephants fighting and crushing human victims.","width":998,"height":666,"aspect":1.4985,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/64f838c53dfc9ef6ade0ccb207f1b032","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/5348fc9742124bbad887601e3724cacc","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6bca2875cb9eb571efa6d66d98466cae","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/682336872121144cc827b133bc07363a","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/682336872121144cc827b133bc07363a","altText":"Not so Lakshmana, which is full of scenes from the all-too-temporal world. Here, elephants fighting and crushing human victims."},{"sha":"b20f748d79e0729447b3acecd146bd84f7d1ec86adb97cf775885eb7e2c763d4","caption":"A comparable image, again from Lakshmana.","width":998,"height":666,"aspect":1.4985,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/a1155cdab7486131e83f12d007e87421","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdfb452367d24da12890c787d213f85d","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/eb16181b924e62550a462f5bf2316e06","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/7034b79fc088ca948507549bc938ceeb","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/7034b79fc088ca948507549bc938ceeb","altText":"A comparable image, again from Lakshmana."},{"sha":"025b6167cad9abc52d30f0d398cf2a2967330e3ed96d7e4f01bf64cd6832635e","caption":"Bloody combat on the Lakshmana plinth.","width":998,"height":666,"aspect":1.4985,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/f599ebbd9e728a428a9a32156e9bba93","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/3a062f820f0c6b5768b03f72a0bc2e10","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/ad709d724b6353d62918800d94ecf962","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/b2ae9b5eb925a717e06bdc90947c9db4","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/b2ae9b5eb925a717e06bdc90947c9db4","altText":"Bloody combat on the Lakshmana plinth."},{"sha":"2e81faf6498b5bef7d5b513d10903819a25b59cec33f8d1d151a99e06c51b428","caption":"Near the Lakshmana Temple is the tiny Varaha Temple. It's easy to overlook.","width":666,"height":998,"aspect":0.6673,"orientation":"portrait","layoutHint":"narrow","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/1f52649cae0532df38565e7aea4f10ee","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/86417e71bb99829851e944a1d6961452","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/f8a91a4d7dbc948eada6cd048a377a73","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/f8a91a4d7dbc948eada6cd048a377a73","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/f8a91a4d7dbc948eada6cd048a377a73","altText":"Near the Lakshmana Temple is the tiny Varaha Temple. It's easy to overlook."},{"sha":"b5c217e6b36e46ddb5b25f960ebba944bcde1a97292e23570fd524c37be3ba3a","caption":"Inside is this statue of a boar—but not any boar: this is Varaha, the boar that is an avatar of Vishnu the Sustainer.","width":998,"height":666,"aspect":1.4985,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/5bc42d8dec4ea436587133f0b20cfb65","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/20abe1f6377ae4e8cd71b9e320124fb8","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/4c45e4f45dbde24595dd77ab5fdfd394","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/8e7b769266b736a1b6e4ad756fa9587a","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/8e7b769266b736a1b6e4ad756fa9587a","altText":"Inside is this statue of a boar—but not any boar: this is Varaha, the boar that is an avatar of Vishnu the Sustainer."},{"sha":"3e7c302f75a5012762e631475b3cbfa3d746611f670e777492bc41ce3cad95db","caption":"His body is covered with tiny figures—human and divine—all of whom he carries.","width":666,"height":998,"aspect":0.6673,"orientation":"portrait","layoutHint":"narrow","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/cd6e55485b5d7a6b5663c2c8b63fa5ae","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/93df69ef6751d9f71ed01eabc1cdd533","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6351c3ab49bb6b65ea3dae13495cef40","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6351c3ab49bb6b65ea3dae13495cef40","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6351c3ab49bb6b65ea3dae13495cef40","altText":"His body is covered with tiny figures—human and divine—all of whom he carries."},{"sha":"41072c2c3e727c959f23fa780101d475181da7d9bc8b61218f8438384c4ad708","caption":"The Chandelas dynasty built Khajuraho. Here is one of their icons: a hapless man battles a lion. Guess which of the two represents the Chandelas.","width":998,"height":666,"aspect":1.4985,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/34e21b4d877a387f6f1d05f5fe446aef","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/253b7d9675c91e581e7816c4bab83095","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdf3b0c7a40ebacd4eb14ba9aee9e621","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/a39ab2767790cff7af2f41b640a7dfcb","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/a39ab2767790cff7af2f41b640a7dfcb","altText":"The Chandelas dynasty built Khajuraho. Here is one of their icons: a hapless man battles a lion. Guess which of the two represents the Chand"}],"createdAt":"2022-05-01T16:10:42.638Z","updatedAt":"2022-05-01T16:10:42.638Z","lead":"The Khajuraho temples are famous for their minutely sculpted exterior surfaces, explored here.","visitedDate":"2002","publishedDate":"2002-11-12T05:00:00.000Z","originalUrl":"https://www.greatmirror.com/index.cfm?countryid=563&chapterid=581&picturesize=medium","heroSha":"e4dca5955f48acd2a6f12f6c6f982677d2fa68591e417b8c2ceb99ddede3f0cc","authorLabel":"Bryan Wallach","_meta":{"sameAs":[]}}