The Khajuraho Temples Analytical Essay by paroma

This paper describes the abundant erotic sculptures that adorn and embellish the twenty surviving temples of Khajuraho, which have fascinated scholars. In particular, the paper investigates the purpose for these voluminous, yet extremely refined and well sculpted, displays of the various Mithuna and more conspicuously the Maithuna couples, which are present not only on the outer walls of the complicated temple structures but also inside the temple space itself. The paper dismisses the notion of this erotic imagery simply being a public display of a private act but rather hypothesizes that the sculptures were used as part of the temples' architecture because they represent certain religious and cultural beliefs and practices, thus enhancing the worship of the respective deities.