The famous 'Khajuraho' sculptures are located in

The correct answer is Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• The famous 'Khajuraho' sculptures are located in Madhya Pradesh.
• Khajuraho is a town located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is renowned worldwide for its magnificent group of temples and intricate sculptures.
• The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its exceptional artistic and architectural significance.
• Most of the Khajuraho temples were built between 950 and 1050 AD by the Chandela dynasty, Rajput rulers who controlled this region of central India.
• Historical records suggest that the Khajuraho temple site originally had around 85 temples, spread over an area of 20 square kilometers. However, only about 25 of these temples have survived the ravages of time and history.
• The surviving temples are spread across approximately 6 square kilometers and are grouped into three main complexes: the Western Group, the Eastern Group, and the Southern Group.
• The temples are dedicated to both Hindu deities, including Shiva, Vishnu, and Surya, and Jain Tirthankaras, reflecting a period of religious tolerance and coexistence.
• The architecture of the Khajuraho temples is in the Nagara style, characterized by their towering shikharas (spires), intricate carvings, and raised platforms (jagati).
• The sculptures adorning the temple walls are famous for their detailed depictions of various aspects of life, including gods and goddesses, mythical creatures, celestial beings (apsaras and surasundaris), humans engaged in daily activities, and amorous couples.
• While the erotic sculptures of Khajuraho are widely known and often highlighted, they constitute only a small percentage (around 10%) of the total carvings. The majority of the sculptures depict secular and religious themes.
• Some scholars interpret the erotic sculptures as representations of tantric sexual practices or as symbolic expressions of cosmic creation and union. Others view them as an open and accepted part of life during that era, reflecting the concept of 'kama' as one of the four aims of human life in Hinduism.
• The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is the largest and most ornate temple in Khajuraho, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is an impressive structure with numerous shikharas and a profusion of sculptures.
• Other notable temples in the Western Group include the Lakshmana Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and the Devi Jagdambi Temple, initially dedicated to Vishnu but later associated with Parvati and Kali.
• The Eastern Group of temples includes Jain temples like the Parshvanatha Temple and the Adinatha Temple, as well as Hindu temples like the Vamana Temple