Vamana Temple — Attraction in Khajuraho

The fascinating Vamana temple is a beautiful shrine dedicated to the Hindu Lord Vishnu’s incarnation, Lord Vamana, an avatar of the god Vishnu located amongst Eastern Group of Temples at Khajuraho, Chattarpur District, Madhya Pradesh. This ancient temple was built during Chandella dynasty between years 1050-75 AD. It forms part of UNESCO World Heritage Site.This temple is situated about 200 m. to the north-east of brahma temple.

The temple features an entrance-porch, maha-mandapa, vestibule and sanctum. It stands as a reminiscent of the bygone era and boasts of marvellous architecture that is symbolic of the fine stone craftsmanship.

The exterior walls of the temple are adorned with intricate sculptures of apsaras and celestial nymphs in sensuous postures. Other carvings that can be seen here exhibit varied facets of life like musicians, women in front of a mirror and dancers.

Archaeologically the temple is recognised as nirandhara (one without ambulatory) temple, consisting a sapta-ratha (seven-projectioned) sanctum, vestibule, maha-mandapa with lateral transepts and entrance-porch, of which only the plinth has survived. Its sikhara is unencumbered by any subsidiary sikharas and is embellished with a fret-work of chaitya-arches, contrast to the other developed local temples. It is also noteworthy for the maha-mandapa a peculiar roof known as samvarana which is characteristic of the medieval temples of western India.

The Vamana temple consist of a garbha graha and mandap which contains the dwarf images of Vamana, an incarnation of Vishnu. According to the myth, there was once a King (Maha Bali) and Vishnu assumed the form of dwarf or Vamana to teach him a lesson. He requested the proud king for just so much land as he could cover with three strides. The king granted the request and Vishnu took one step and covered the earth,...

The Path from the Brahma Temple leads north to the Vamana Temple enclosure. The temples looks out on the surrounding feilds and every season it has a different aspect, whether against a foreground of a ripening green crop or the golden - yellow harvest. The temples is of mediun size and the western group. Unfortunately the porch of the temple has collapsed, and without it tooks a little stunted. It measures 19.1 meters in lenght and 13.9 meters in breath ( while the Devi Jagadambi is 23.4 meters long and 14.9 meters wide)

The vamana temple consist of a mandap and garbha graha which contains the drawf images of vamana, an incarnation of vishnu. According to the myth, there was once a haughty king and vishnu assumed the form od dwarf or Vamana to teach him a lesson. He requested the proud (hence foolish) king for just so much land as he could cover with three strides. The king granted the request and vishnu took one step and covered the earth, with the second step he strode across the heavens and had nowhere to place his third step. The despotic king realized his mistake, begged forgiveness and requested vishnu - Vamana to place his third step on his head as a mark of his submission to god. Vamana Temple is dedicated to the dwarf incarnation of Vishnu.

Around the temple are two band of sculptures with almost 3000 figures, though this is only half the number to be found in any of the larger temples of the western Group. Here too the sculptural scheme continues with a blend of gods, their consorts, female figures and...

Vamana Temple (c. 1050-75 CE) The temple, faces east, dedicated to the Vamana incarnation of Vishnu. The temple is similar in plan to the Devi Jagdambi and Chitragupta Temples. ARCHITECTURE It is nirandhara temple consisting plan of a saptaratha sanctum, vestibule, maha- mandapa with lateral transepts and entrance porch. The sanctum enshrines an image of 4' 5" high four armed Vamana, fifth incarnation of Vishnu in the form of a dwarf, flanked by chakrapursha on the left and shankhapursha on the right. The sanctum entrance has seven bands decorated with stenciled scrolls, dancing ganas, mithuna, lotuspetals, and wavy scrolls terminating in a figure of naga, Ganga and Yamuna standing in tribhanga, flanked by female attendants on one side carrying puma-ghata and standing door keepers. The lintel contains a four armed standing Vishnu in centre and the side niches represents the Brahma and Shiva. The outer walls of the temple have two bands of sculptures which include graceful figures of sundaris and the sculptures of Varaha, Naga and Vamana adorn in the niches of sanctum. There are no erotic sculptures visible on its walls and the framed niches of the third row uniquely contain diamonds in place of sculptures, the only temple with such a trait. The shikhara is mono spired and the sanctum has no ambulatory HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS On the basis of the sculptural art and architectural of this temple it is believed that the temple was constructed between 1050 – 1075 CE, by the...