Otherwise known as the Kama Sutra Temples... need I say more??
In Hindu religion there are various disciplines which are designed to engage your inner energy points and connect you with the spiritual world. Meditation is one example, however there is also Tantra...
DISCLAIMER: WARNING THE FOLLOWING IMAGES ARE OF A SEXUAL NATURE AND ARE NOT INTENDED FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE OFFENDED (No, they aren't really THAT bad... but I don't want to get sued)
Ok, so really there is a whole spiritual side.. working your way up to the top... no big bang though.. if you get my drift.. if not - I am NOT elaborating. As a side note: Sorry Grandma...
The temples aren't all about Tantra and the most of them are merely normal temples... there were a total of 85 temples built over a little 200 years (950 A.D. to 1150 A.D.) to help fulfill a prophecy told to a King... the King wanted to be remembered forever.. and building 85 temples was the answer he got back... and well, you gotta admit - it worked!
Here are some images of the temple grounds.. only a few remain that are in good condition and even less are even in enough pieces to be restored... The re-discovery of this site was in the 20th century as the jungle had covered the complex once it fell into disuse.
Note: the way you can tell a Tantra (spiritual sex) vs. Kama Sutra (manual for sex??) is by two things... First: There will always be the "Ohm" formation of the fingers to signify spirituality (forefinger and thumb together) and Second: In tantra there are always servants or 'helpers' to help steady the couple since some of the poses are a little gravity defying....
In Hindu religion there are various disciplines which are designed to engage your inner energy points and connect you with the spiritual world. Meditation is one example, however there is also Tantra...
DISCLAIMER: WARNING THE FOLLOWING IMAGES ARE OF A SEXUAL NATURE AND ARE NOT INTENDED FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE OFFENDED (No, they aren't really THAT bad... but I don't want to get sued)
Ok, so really there is a whole spiritual side.. working your way up to the top... no big bang though.. if you get my drift.. if not - I am NOT elaborating. As a side note: Sorry Grandma...
The temples aren't all about Tantra and the most of them are merely normal temples... there were a total of 85 temples built over a little 200 years (950 A.D. to 1150 A.D.) to help fulfill a prophecy told to a King... the King wanted to be remembered forever.. and building 85 temples was the answer he got back... and well, you gotta admit - it worked!
Here are some images of the temple grounds.. only a few remain that are in good condition and even less are even in enough pieces to be restored... The re-discovery of this site was in the 20th century as the jungle had covered the complex once it fell into disuse.
Note: the way you can tell a Tantra (spiritual sex) vs. Kama Sutra (manual for sex??) is by two things... First: There will always be the "Ohm" formation of the fingers to signify spirituality (forefinger and thumb together) and Second: In tantra there are always servants or 'helpers' to help steady the couple since some of the poses are a little gravity defying....
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| One of the restored temples (about 20 temples are now standing/remain) |
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| A photo showing some of the carving detail on the tower/spindles |
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| Inside one of the temples, central dome... again, lovely carving details |
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| And here, the larger lady in the middle must have been a favourite concubine or wife as all of the smaller women around her symbolize servants or slaves. *Interestingly enough, the ancient Egyptians also used size in this way to depict ranking on their hieroglyphics |
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| Now this shows some humour from the carver: There are TONS of elephant carvings around the temples showing the elephants being trained to stamp on a mans head (Indian Capital Punishment).. but in this carving, the elephant is laughing at the man beside him (the one to the right who is distracted by a lady) and the criminal sentenced to death is escaping from under the elephant's foot.... Can you see it? AND NOW: SERIOUSLY GRAPHIC HAVE TEENAGERS LEAVE THE ROOM!!! And.... |
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| Us trying out some new moves ;-) |
If you'd really like to see some of the carvings... please check out our Flickr page:
Bye Bye :)
M&M
M&M
OMG my eyes!! These photos are remind me 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'.... :::hmmm::: should I be disturbed? Or worried?
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