Chitragupta Temple — Attraction in Khajuraho

The Chandela rulers believed in devotion and bravery. Poets and playwrights also had a proper place in their empire. That is, their boundless patronage for art and architecture is known to us as a world heritage. This site is a mirror of various traditions cultures and prosperity. Chitragupt Temple is one among the Western Group of temples dedicated to Lord Sun.

This temple is built on a raised platform and sand stone is used in its entire construction. It was built in 1020 to 1025 AD and some scholars think that it was built in the month of February 1023 on Shivaratri. And some have their opinions that it might have been built between Kandhariya Mahadev and Vishwanath temple. It's a well preserved Monument of National Importance and located in the Western Group. It's facing to the East. Two decorated niches at the entrance are empty and entrance porch whose roof is supported by stone pillars their capitals are having the Sculptures of Yakshas bearing the weight and considered the caretakers of this treasure. Main hall and transepts balconied windows in the North and South having stone balustrades a sort of railings, vestibule or Antarala the gape between the sanctum Sanctorum and hall and inner cirumambulatory and the sanctum Sanctorum houses the idol of Chief Deity that is Lord Sun on his significant ride a chariot with seven horses and a lotus flower in hand etc. Above the door frame lintel also confirm the principal deity. Interior is just marvelous and exterior walls are having the Sculptures of other Gods, Goddesses, including the eleven headed Vishnu, royal celebrations with musicians, fighting elephants, graceful beauties in very attractive erotic postures etc are the featuring Sculptures and excellent craftsmanship is spectacular. Roof is having the towers on entrance porch, hall, and above the balconied windows of round shape tiered which are retreating from the top. Notched stone discs and crowned with Kalash. Porch and South North spires are ornate with carvings and niches making more attractive fascades. Tower above the sanctum Sanctorum is the largest one and having subsidiary spires. It's having a notched stone disc and crowned by a Kalash. It's a classic Heritage and a masterpiece of Nagara Style Architecture as through the art works these temples displays the human desires, lust, wealth and salvation.

Essential features and motifs of the Architectural significance needs time to understand then only the real joy can be attained. Nearest attractions are Jagdambi temple and...

This is the only local temple dedicated to Surya and is situated about 91 m to the north of the Jagadambi temple and 183 m south-east of an ancient (Chandella) three storied stepped tank, known as the Chopra. In respect of plan, design, dimensions and decorative scheme this temple closely resembles the Jagadambi and consists of a sanctum without ambulatory, vestibule, maha-mandapa with lateral transepts and entrance-porch, the last being completely restored above the original plinth. The octagonal ceiling of its maha-mandapa marks an elaboration over the square plan and thus appears to be relatively more ornate and developed than Jagadambi and may consequently be slightly later in date. The main image enshrined in the sanctum represents an impressive sculpture of standing Surya driving in a chariot of seven horses. Three similar but smaller figures of Surya are depicted on the lintel of the ornate doorway. The temple walls are also carved with some of the finest figures of sura-sundaris, erotic couples and gods including an eleven-headed Vishnu. The sculptures on this temple. as on the Jagadambi, approximate those of the Visvanatha in style. The same affinity is visible with regard to the architectural and decorative motifs. The Jagdambi and the Chitragupta temples are, therefore, stylistically placed between the Visvanatha and the Kandariya and are assignable to circa 1000-25....

Chitragupta Temple (early 11th century) The Temple faces east and belong to western Group. This temple is dedicated to Surya and the only Sun temple at Khajuraho. The reason for calling as Chitragupta Temple is not known. The sanctum sanctorum, enshrines a 4' 10" high image of Surya, the Sun God. Though similar to the Devi Jagdambi Temple, it is more developed and more ornate. ARCHITECTURE The development of Chandella architecture can be seen as the ceiling has evolved from being a square to an elaborate octagon. Nothing original remains of the platform and almost the entire shikhara is a restored one. But the walls with its three rows of sculptures depict some unique images. The dashavatara Vishnu with his ten heads representing his ten Incarnations, the ashtavasus and the somber looking siddhi Vinayaka Ganesha are quite unique. Also, depiction of the trinity along with their Consorts, Brahma Saraswati, Shiva Parvati and Vishnu Lakshmi, are extremely interesting and few of the very well preserved images are on a much higher level. What is very noteworthy is that the divine couples frequently appear along the same vertical axis. HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS It is believed that this temple was constructed during the same period of Sri Viswanatha Temple of the...