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| Lakshman temple |
Lakshmana temple is one of the primary
developed temples of Khajuraho in Nagara style. Different
varieties of erotic motifs are seen on the Lakshmana
temple – Precoital
and Coital couples. The maithuna motif kept a place
of tremendous importance. It is present in manifold
forms on the noticeable as well as the recessed parts
of the temple, e.g. on the exterior of the temple on
its jangha, adhishthana, shikhara and in the interior
of the temple on its pillars, lintels, door-jambs, cornices
garbhagriha wall. It differ in size from about 6 inches
on the interior cornices to about one foot on the platform
friezes and 2.5 feet on the jangha.
Erotic groups are placed on the walls similar to antarala
of the temple. There is a accurate indication that the
shilpins were governed by canons in depicting erotic
groups on the antarala wall. The same custom has been
carried out on the Vishvanath and the Kandariya temples
also.
The uppermost tiers of the antarala of both southern
and northern walls of the Lakshmana temple have depictions
of a spiritual couple, attended by musicians. The lower
tiers depict orgiastic scenes on the southern and northern
walls. The scene involves royal person, ascetics and
female attendants who are touching their own private
parts. Ascetics in an ecstasy of dance are also portrayed
on another part of the jangha.
One of the most excited sensual scenes in Indian art
is seen on the south eastern side of the jagati of the
Lakshmana temple. A long frieze about one foot in height
depicts various couples involved in a wild orgy.
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