Khajuraho,
once capital of the Chandela dynasty, is today known for its magnificent
temples. In 1910 W E Jardine, the then political agent ofBundelkhand,
displayed a collection of objects which he had gathered from the temple
complex, in an open air enclosure near the western group of temples. First
called the Jardine Museum, the name changed to Archaeological Museum in
1952.
Sculpture and architectural panels and friezes dating to
the 10th and 12th century correspond to the temple
styles and are mainly Brahmanical and Jain in influence. However, the
seated Buddha figure indicates the existence of a Buddhist shrine here
which has long since disappeared. Most of the 2000 objects are
masterpieces of Indian sculpture. The Nritta Gansha, a. colossal
image depicts the elephant headed god dancing while his attendants keep
the rhythm; a marvellous Hari-Haro representing the deity whose right half
is Shiva and left Vishnu manifests the perfectly conceived unity of the
two gods. Also o view is the Uma-Maheshwara, frozen in perpetual
embrace; the Jain goddess Ambika under a mango tree laden with fruit which
monkeys are eating; the lain sasana-devi Manovega holding a spiral
lotus stalk and the upright Adinatha, the first Jain tirthankara. An
unusual piece is the four-headed Vishnu, Vaikuntha. The central
head is human, while the other three are Narasimha (lion), Varaha
(boar) and Hayagrim (horse). There is also a bracket where an apsara
wrings her wet hair while a goose stands below drinking the drops of the
water. Other outstanding pieces are a huge Parvati, Shiva as Andhakasuravadhamurti
where the deity is shown weilding his trishul on a demon, a seated Bhairava
and Sadashiva.
Archaeological Museum
Khajuraho
Timing: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Open on all days.
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