The world renowned temple town of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh designated by
UNESCO as a world heritage site for its archaeological and historical monuments.
The Creators of Khajuraho claimed descent from the moon and the legend behind
the founding of this great dynasty and the temples is a fascinating one. Hemwati,
the lovely young daughter of a Brahmin priest, was seduced by the moon-god while
bathing in a forest pool. The child born of this union was Chandravarman, founder
of the Chandela dynasty.
Brought up in the forests by his mother who sought refuge from a sensorious
society, Chandravarman, when established as a ruler, had a dream-visitation
from his mother. It is said that she implored him to build temples that would
reveal human passions, and in doing so, bring about a realization of the emptiness
of human desire.
It is also possible that the Chandelas were followers of the Tantric cult, which
believes that gratification of earthly desires is a step towards attaining the
infinite liberation of nirvana.
