Ancient Temples

A view of part of the intricately ornate outer wall of the main temple at Halebidu

The ancient temples of India often made of soap stone or sandstone are a marvel of engineering and aesthetics. Hundreds of skilled sculptors and artisans under the patronage of the ruling dynasties worked over several decades and sometimes centuries to erect these monuments to the Gods. Often these temples were constructed in groups (For instance there were 80 temples at Khajuraho of which only 25 survive today) and featured hundreds and thousands of intricate carvings that depict tales from the puranas and from day to day life.

Almost every Hindu God has his Goddess or consort (Krisha and Radha, Shiva and Parvati, et al) and they are almost always depicted together. Many temples feature erotic sculpure (Khajuraho, also sometimes referred to as the Kamasutra temple being most famous for this) but these representations are always on the exterior walls of the temples never inside. One interpretation for this is that lust and eroticism is a part of life but when you enter the sanctity of a temple, you leave these thoughts behind you and concentrate on what is divine. The other is that the Gods and Goddesses themselves have ascended beyond such earthly bonds.