2. One of the three largest temples of khajuraho and the
western froup and is considered to be the earlist (AD 954)
to have been built by the Chandella rulers.
3.
4. The temple faces the east and is dedicated to Vishnu, though it goes by a rather
inappropriate name of Lakshman, the brother of Lord Ram, the hero King of the
epic poem Ramayana. The temple is as tall as it is long, measuring approximately
25.9 metres in length. It is raised on a high platform which also has some
interesting sculptures (royal processions, court scenes) that you can see before
ascending the temple stairs. Moving always around a temple in a clockwise
direction (in pradakshina with the right shoulder nearest the temple wall), the
band of sculptures unfold like an never-ending picture scroll.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. Even the inner roofs of
the porch and mandap
are worthy of admiration
and are created like great
upside down pools with
flower and leaf motifs.
The doorway of the
sanctum is profusely
decorated with narrow
panels of images. The
central lintel carries the
seated figure of Shiva
holding trident and
snake,Vishnu is seated
to his left and Brahma to
the right. Within the
dark, unadorned garbha
griha or womb chamber
stands the creative
symbol of Shiva, the
linga.
