A remarkable architectural movement had swept through their reign dotting the landscape of Mahoba, Kalinjar and Ajaygarh with palaces, tanks and temples. But It was at Khajuraho that the Chandella kings reached the zenith of their creativity.

Though its erotic sculptures overwhelm visitors, they account for just two per cent of the carvings, mostly in the Shiva temples. They embody the tantric philosophy of having to transmute sexual energy into pure spirituality, for attaining union with the divine.

Along with temples dedicated to Lord Vishu and Lord Shiva are shrines devoted to the Jain Tirthankaras. Constructed as per Vastu Shastra, most temples face east and the first rays of the sun fall on the feet of the main deity in the sanctum sanctorum rousing deep feelings of divinity.

About the Author
Raghu Rai has been a Magnum photographer since 1977, when he was nominated to the world's most prestigious photographers' cooperative by the legendary photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. For the last thirty years, he has been exhibiting in major cities throughout the world and has won numerous awards. Twenty-five of his photographs are in the permanent collection of the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, while he was the first ever photographer to be honored with the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian awards. Rai has also appeared on the jury for the World Press Photo Contest three times. His work has appeared in international publications such as Time, The New York Times, Sunday Times, National Geographic, GEO, The New Yorker and others.

Contents: The village; the temples; the sculptures; the monuments.