Relic of a time gone by: Khajuraho group of monuments.

 

Relic: something from a past time, place or culture.

I visited Khajuraho group of monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 2007.

The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its pinnacle between 950 and 1050. Only about 20 temples remain. They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture.

Some 10% of the carvings contain sexual themes and those reportedly do not depict deities but rather sexual activities between people. A common misconception is that, since the old structures with carvings in Khajuraho are temples, the carvings depict sex between deities.

Carvings depicting animals such as elephants, monkeys, dragons, lions, boar and others.

The Khajuraho temples were built over a span of 200 years, from 950 to 1150.

Greatly influenced by the Tantric school of thought, the Chandela kings promoted various Tantric doctrines through royal monuments, including temples. Sculptors of Khajuraho depicted all aspects of life. The society of the time believed in dealing frankly and openly with all aspects of life, including sex. In accordance with ancient treatises on architecture, erotic depictions were reserved for specific parts of the temples only. The rest of the temple was profusely covered with other aspects of life, secular and spiritual.

Sources:
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/240
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khajuraho_Group_of_Monuments