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This
is a priceless gift, the Chandella princes of Rajaput clan presented
to our holy land. Among the countless temples built around the huge
lake called Ninora Tal, Yagini temple with wide court yards and
spacious mandapas for gods is the first and it was built around 900
A.D. Kandariya Mahadev temple, the centre of eternal attraction lies
adjacent to this. It was built by Vidhyadhara, the most powerful
ruler in 1017 A.D. This largest of the extant Khajuraho temples
typifies the style of architecture of the 10th century A.D. It has
certain unique features that makes it stand apart as the best and
foremost, both for veneration and approbation. This outstanding
specimen of a full-fledged Khajuraho temple, embodies all the
essential parts, like Ardhamandapa, Mahamandapa, Antarala,
Garbhagriha, Pradakshanapatha and pavilions for parivaradevathas.
All are distinctly designed and discreetly positioned. It is
dedicated to Lord Mahadeva and a marble Sivalinga is installed in
the garbha griha. Although it looks built for only one God, it is a
pachayatana temple having provision for four principal icons with
Maheswar in the centre. By quirk of fate, perhaps, the four corners
assigned for four gods are now devoid of worshipful deities. Built
on an elevated mound, with rising of spire upon ornate spire
culminating in shikara with a kumbha type of ornate object atop,
this shrine bears semblance to the mount Kailas, the eternal abode
of Lord Siva. This star attraction is drawing lakhs of aesthetes and
theists throughout the year. As Siva is the tutelary deity of Chand
ellas, it seems they emptied their inexhaustible treasure to making
it a rare art piece of universal esteem. At its extreme north,
there
is another one for Siva and is called Sambhu Marakateswara shrine,
for the prime reason the linga is made of emerald. It is king
Dhanga's gift to the theists. Another Siva temple, where a gigantic
eight-foot-high Sivalinga is installed on a large Gauripatta,
measuring twenty feet in diameter and four feet in height is worth
seeing. The enormity of its size together with the eminence of
position is praiseworthy. Though there are some more Siva shrines,
their pull is comparatively low.
It
lies in Khajuraho, which is accessible by air from Delhi and train
form Chatrapur station. From here all types of four wheelers are
available.
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