Vamana Temple

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, with the second