Journey of Khajuraho.

I visited Temples of Khajuraho with my three friends recently. We left Agra at 7:00 am on 11 July 2015. Khajuraho is 412 kms away and it is around 7 hrs drive. If you do not take brake. But we reached Khajuraho at 5:30 pm. We took few breaks on the way for photography, bathing in rain and lunch.

30 minutes break for photography.
1 hrs break for bathing in rain.
1 hrs break for lunch at Yadav restaurant at Orcha cut after Jhansi, MP.


My friend Kishan has I 20 car. No doubt it is a fabulous car.

This long ride was in itself was very interesting. I never wanted to end this journey. First time I realized the importance of the lines "Life is not about reaching destination, its about enjoying the journey". I really enjoyed the journey of Khajuraho.

Journey of Khajuraho.  

On the way after leaving Agra, I saw only green agriculture lands on left and right. Lots of greenery everywhere. Temperature  was about 23 only. These green fields brought calm feeling in me. I understood how much enriching is just seeing these green fields. As a human being we are attached to nature. As far as we will go from nature it creates loneliness.

All my friends they were busy on whatsapp. The one who was driving, he was busy in playing songs. Choose your music wisely when you are travelling long . The music can make your mood.

At 9:30 am - Rain had started. But life had not stopped. A cow was crossing road, trucks were speeding , bikers were on the swing. We decided to stop. We kept our mobile and cash in the car. And left car for taking bath in rain. This was our one of the best moment during tour. We enjoyed like anything during the rain.

1 :00 pm - we reached at Orcha cut. We stopped at Yadav restaurant. We reached late because we stopped at several places for photography and due to rain we could not drive fast. Yadav restaurant is on the right side of the road. We ordered a four thali(plate) of rs 110 each. It was delicious food. The daal had very good blend of spices.  After eating food we decided to see Orcha while coming back.

2:00 pm -  We headed straight to Khajuraho which was still 173 kms away. (3 hrs 15 minutes drive ).                   we reached Khajuraho at 5:30 pm. After Jhansi it is single lane road to Khajuraho.

When we reached Khajuraho. I was surprised by seeing the natural beauty and very less people. Being from Agra and studied in Delhi, I am habitual of seeing thousands of people around me. But Khajuraho is a small village with population of only 8,000 people (Approx).

 This was a very good feeling of joy after entering in Khajuraho. Till to this time I had nothing in my mind about Temples of Khajuraho, This Khajuraho road trip was so exciting that I did not want to end it.






We took room at hotel Lotus in Khajuraho. It was a budget hotel.
Rooms were clean, spacious and had split AC.  They do not have intercom so you will have to walk to reception everytime if you have some requirement.    
They had a restaurant at downstairs which was open for outsiders also.
We paid only Rs 700/night for the room. It was more than value of money. This hotel was arranged by a friend of mine otherwise they charge higher. But if you have budget of Rs 1500/night, then there are much better hotels.
In Rs 700/night this was best hotel for budget travelers like me.



Another day we went for sightseeing of Khajuraho Temple at 11:00 am. But you must visit Temples of Khajuraho early morning during summers. From any hotel of Khajuraho temples are on walking distance. Near the temple there are few good restaurants which you can choose according to your budget. Ticket was only Rs 10 for Indians. We hired a guide who explained us about the Temples of Khajuraho.

Khajuraho temples

He told us about the three aspects of Temples of Khajuraho which are Kamasutra (Science of Love), Tantra and  Yantra. These temples were built by Chandela Rajput dynasty during ninth to 12th century. There were 85 temples but now only 22 are left  rest were destroyed by Muslim invaders.

Ancient Indians have carved out our entire culture, knowledge and essence of our civilization in the stones of Khajuraho. All form of sculptures are living performance of drama, music, religion, philosophy, science,  literature and poetry as well. This is how ancient Indians left knowledge for future generations. Erotic scenes represent only 10% of the carvings. Those erotic sculptures give us message to leave or satisfy all sexual desire first then you can reach towards your soul(God) with in you.

First aspect -   Why they curved erotic sculptures on outer wall of Khajuraho temples ? 

 During that time youth was inspired by strict principles of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. They were becoming monks. But king wanted the more population in his kingdom. So he asked to carve the Kamasutra picture teachings on the outer wall of the temple  to seduce the monks for marriage. These  Kamasutra pictures tell us about union of male and female under marriage institution. How the maximum satisfaction can be achieved during union of male and female.

Ancient Indians wanted to give sexual education through art and literature. This was first time happened in the world. This temple of Khajuraho proves that India was not a prudish culture before the invasion of Islam and Victorian standard. Hinduism has never condemned the sexual desire. Kamasutra also explains about sexual satisfaction but under the institution of marriage. Kamasutra does not  advocates illicit sex. This is science of love for married couples. Youth was also taught about this science but advised to practice after marriage.
This is the first example of sexual education in the world.

Also Indian sages wanted to give the message to general public that until and unless you have not trained your sex desire you can not realize Concept of Ishwar.

The solitary figures are more than couples and female sculptures are more then males. This proves the huge presence of women with overflowing foliage and couples suggest women's association with fertility and growth.

Shilp shashtra, a 10th century art text from Orisa,India instructs the sculptures on the 16 types of women who best decorate a monument.

These 16 kinds of women include -

Darpana (looking into mirror)
Alsa        (relaxed and indolent)                                                      

Ketaki Bandha (adorn herself with ketki flower)
Nartika             (dancer)
Vinyasa            (Pensive)

few more.

These figures are of Devdasis, these women were given to temple for service of God at very early age of  their childhood. These devdasis learnt dance and music and performed for God. These women also wrote poems. The king and prince also used them for their sense gratification and kept on giving patronage to the temples for the glorification of Devdasis.

These women were also used for group sex of Tantrics and priest for rituals secretly.




Second aspect - Tantra 

During that time two cults were very famous - Kaula and Kapalika

a - Kaul - They worshiped the Shakti/devi (Goddess) in solitude and indulged in five activities -
                 Five activities -
                 1   - Mamsa (flesh)
                 2     Matsya (Fish)
                 3     Madya (wine)
                 4     Maithuna (sexual intercourse)
                 5     Mudra      (Mystical poses)

b - Kapalika - They worshiped Rudra Bhairav. They smeared their bodies with "ashes from a funeral                         pyre. " Strings of skulls around the neck, hair woven into a "matted braid".

As earlier we have discussed ancient Indians curved everything on the temple which existed in the society during 9 to 10 th century. The same tradition can be seen in other parts of India too. So they also carved the sculptures of few yogis of Kaul cult. Who used the body of women to receive the heat of her body during sexual intercourse. In Tantra intercourse they did not ejaculate.

Gyanmudra - see fingers

They came into particular mystic position with mudras (gyanmudra) into intercourse. Unlike common man they did not ejaculate.

So group sex was done for ritual purpose not for personal sense gratification in Tantra.

Third aspect - 

Yantras

Yantras means geometrical patterns which acts as transmitter to receive cosmic energy from celestial bodies. These symbols were curved on temples, houses and other places too. To keep thses symbols hidden ancient Indians also created some erotic postures which are not psychically possible.

Erotic position to keep yantra secret

Erotic position hiding Hexagram in hindi which is called Shatkone

Two are more then sufficient to see the temples. After that you can move to Jain temples for seeing eastern Jain temples. Here we came to know about  religion Jainism.
At 3 pm we came back to our hotel for taking rest of 1 hrs.

At 4:30 pm we left for raneh falls. We hired bullet for rs 800 only. The Raneh falls is only 25 kms away. The fees for entering into the park is Rs 50 for Bike and for car rs 400.

On the way to Raneh falls,Khajuraho

Thr road journey to this waterfall is amazing. Both sides are full of greenery. No crowd at all. like Delhi, Mumbai, newyork. Tourists also go to Raneh waterfall on bycycles. 

Road to Raneh fall, Khajuraho

This road side beauty impressed me a lot. I was dying to spend sometime for meditation under one green tree. In my crowded towns this opportunity is not available. Finally we reached Raneh water fall.

Raneh waterfalls

     Finally at 7:30 pm we reached back to our Hotel. And next day morning at 9 am we left Khajuraho for Agra.