Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Khajuraho

The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is the largest and most ornate Hindu temple in the medieval temple group found at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is considered one of the best examples of temples preserved from the medieval period in India. Khajuraho was once the religious capital of the Chandela Rajputs and today is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India.



This is without any doubt the largest and most magnificent temple in Khajuraho. The elegant proportions of this building and its sculptural detailing are the most refined examples of this artistice heritage of central India.
Kandariya Mahadev shares its high platform with the small Mahadev shrine and the medium - sized Devi jagdambi Temple, thereby accentuating its height and grandeur. As far as we know, after the Kandariya Mahaddev temple, the artist of khajuraho never again attempted to build a strcuture so high or ornate. The temple measures about 30 metres in lenght and 20 m width. The temple shikhara rises 35.3 metres in length.
 The temple shikhara rises 35.3 Detres above the ground. From the east side it looks like a huge mountain of stone with a dark cave-like opening set high above the ground. The temple measures about 30 metres in length and cave-like opening Set high above the ground. The name Kandaya Mahadev refers also to Shiva, the ascetic who dwells in a mountain cave, lost in meditation. In profile the pyramidal porch, mandap roofs and conical shikhara looks like a range of mountain staraining upwards till it meets the sky, or shiva. The shikhara of the kandariya Mahadev Temples is borad at the base and in graceful curve grow narrower as it reaches the pinnacle. It is built up of over righty replica shikharas that appear to be clambering up the central tower, giving it bothe force and momnetum on its skyward journey towards divinity.

The following stamp with Kandariya Mahadeva Temple was issued in 1949 (1st Definitives Series, 2nd Anniversary of Independence, Archealogical and Historical Monuments).

Text Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandariya_Mahadeva_Temple
http://www.khajuraho-india.org/kandariya-mahadev-temple.html

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http://education.asianart.org/explore-resources/background-information/kandariya-mahadeva-temple
http://www.khajuraho-india.org/kandariya-mahadev-temple.html
http://www.yatra2yatra.com/hinduism/shiv/kandariya-mahadev-khajuraho
http://www.khajurahomonuments.com/kandariya-mahadeva-temple-khajuraho.htm