Just like that, one fine day I decided to visit one of the most interesting places in the country – Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. As repelling as it may sound to the orthodoxies in our country, it is the first evidence of our cultural principle Kamasutra. It is a place that stands proof for depths of knowledge and wisdom we have received and spread across the world for centuries. The right principle that one needs to bear in mind before visiting here is that Kamasutra is not just about intercourse, but it is about educating yourself using your yogic and tantric values.
Getting there
You could reach Khajuraho via Delhi (that seemed the most feasible option to me), there’s a train every day that starts from Nizamuddin station around 8:00 pm. You might even find buses from Delhi. However, you could get there by flight via Agra or Varanasi.
Getting Around
Khajuraho, the name is derived from the Sanskrit word Khajur, which means the Date fruit. It also indicates that the place was once a desert.
I started my sightseeing from the western group of monuments since they are the major and largest group of temples with all the popular sculptures. The western group complex mainly consists of Lakshman Temple, Devi Jagdambi temple and Kandariya Mahadev temple, listed in chronological order.
It is noticeable that as we move from the older temples to the recent ones, the sculptures get more modern, for example, the shape of a woman’s body is more slender in Kandariya Mahadev temple as compared to Lakshman temple, also one can spot differences in the detailing of the intricate artwork between each temple.
One might wonder why such erotica was presented on the walls of a temple, well it’s not just that, there is the depiction of war, wealth, and welfare. It basically means that the inner sanctums of each temple represent spiritual life, and as we move outside we get to see the materialistic life of a human being.
Gorakhnath, the ancient guru, is said to be a preacher of tantric values. In the picture on the right, he looks for the 81st erogenous zone in a woman’s body which is said to change position according to the moon, while the elephant looking at them finds it amusing.
In the picture on the left, a woman’s face turns red while engaging in coitus with a muscular man. While the embarrassed onlookers close their eyes or turn their heads away.
Although the guides might try to convince you that there was no homosexuality in the past, it is very much influenced by their personal beliefs than a factual representation of the statues. However, they do agree about the existence of orgy and bestiality, through the obvious sculptures. It is said that when men would be away for war, they and their female counterparts waiting at home would get involved with animals. But yeah when orgy can exist why not homosexuality? Anyway, to solve more mysteries like that, you could visit this former capital of the Chandelas and find out for yourself.
