Lakshmana temple

Lakshmana temple is one of the primary developed temples of Khajuraho in Nagara style. Different varieties of erotic motifs are seen on the Lakshmana temple – Precoital
and Coital couples. The maithuna motif kept a place of tremendous importance. It is present in manifold forms on the noticeable as well as the recessed parts of the temple, e.g. on the exterior of the temple on its jangha, adhishthana, shikhara and in the interior of the temple on its pillars, lintels, door-jambs, cornices garbhagriha wall. It differ in size from about 6 inches on the interior cornices to about one foot on the platform friezes and 2.5 feet on the jangha.
Erotic groups are placed on the walls similar to antarala of the temple. There is a accurate indication that the shilpins were governed by canons in depicting erotic groups on the antarala wall. The same custom has been carried out on the Vishvanath and the Kandariya temples also.
The uppermost tiers of the antarala of both southern and northern walls of the Lakshmana temple have depictions of a spiritual couple, attended by musicians. The lower tiers depict orgiastic scenes on the southern and northern walls. The scene involves royal person, ascetics and female attendants who are touching their own private parts. Ascetics in an ecstasy of dance are also portrayed on another part of the jangha.

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