Iconography of Vishnu from Khajuraho

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About the Book Khajuraho is a small but modernised village situated in the Chhatarpur Dis trict of Madhya Pradesh in the Central India, played an important role as one of the capitals of the Chandellas, with its famous group of magnificent temple with sculptures, built between 9th and 12th century AD, became the religious city of Chandellas. The Chandellas were devoted worshipers of both Vishnu and Siva. Vishnu is variously worshipped as Vaikunthanatha, Vamana, Trivikrama, Lakshmana, Adimurti, Hayagriva, Lakshmi-Narayana, Surya-Narayana, Krishna, Visvarupa and so on. The Lakshmana, Vamana and Javari temples of Khajuraho are dedicated to Vishnu.

The Chapters I and II deal with location and general history of Chandel las and the Chapter III is written on the Characteristics of temples in general and Vishnu temples at Khajuraho. The Chap ter IV delt in details with worship of Vishnu, the Twenty- Four Forms of Vishnu and other forms of Vishnu namely Adimurti, Dattareya, Gajendra moksha, Hayagriva, Lakshmi-Narayana, Surya Narayana, Vaikunthanatha and Vish varupa. The Chapter V deals with Minor Divinities namely Gaja-Lakshmi, Garuda, Hanuman and Ayudhapurushas.

This work aims at presenting a detailed and systematic study of sculp tures and iconography of Vishnu in particular based on Puranas and other ancient texts. This is a comprehensive study on the iconography of Vishnu with all the relevant details including major and minor forms of Vishnu. Although some books on sculptures have been published but there prevailed a lacuna as far as comprehensive work on vaishnavite sculpture the iconographic point of view.

About the Author Dr. K.M. Suresh (1) 1952) presently working as Director (Museum) in the Kannada University, Hampi, Vidyaranya Kamalapura-583 221, obtained his Master's Degree in Ancient Indian His tory, Culture and Epigraphy from Kar nataka University, Dharwar in 1974 and Post-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology. Ar chaeological Survey of India, New Delhi in 1986. He obtained Ph.D., Degree from Utkal University, Vanivihar Bhubanes war (Orissa) in 1992 on 'Sculptural Art of Hampi Vijayanagar.

Since his inception in the Ar chaeological Survey of India in 1976, he has served in various capacities in the Archaeological Museum at Bijapur, Hampi, Khajuraho, Aihole and Badami. He has been active field worker in the Excavation Branch IV of Archaeological Survey of India, Bhubaneswar and activety participated in the major excava tions at Ramapuram, Banahalli, Khalkatapatna, Thakurani Tilla, Sham sunar Tilla, Udayagiri and Barabati Fort.

Dr. Suresh's other works are Saivite Sculptures of Khajuraho; Monograph on the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple at Khajuraho, Sculptural Art of Hamp;; The History of Chandellas; Early Western Chalukyan Sculptures from Aihole, Badami, Mahakuta and Pattadakallu; A guide book on Aihole Monuments; Megalithic Culture in Northern Kar nataka; Forts and Fortifications of Vijayanagar and Veerabhadra Temples and Sculptures from district Bellary in Karnataka. He has contributed several research papers for leading Journals and Felicitation Volumes on Iconography, sculptural art, epigraphy and proto-his tory. He is one of the chief Editor and Convenor for Shri C.T.M. Kotraiah's Felicitation Volume entitled 'Hemakuta Recent Researches in Archaeology and Museology. He is member of several learned bodies.

Foreword The word Khajuraho conjures up great feelings in the minds of art historians all over the world because of its group of magnificent temples and wonderland of erotic sculptures. The Khajuraho temples, are nothing but symbolic and symbolise the Yoga through the Bhoga, that is, divine unity and worldly pleasures.

Khajuraho is a small but modernised village situated in the Chhattarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. It played an important role as one of the capitals of the Chandellas. With its group of magnificent temples it became the religious city of the Chandellas. These temples were built between 9th and 12th century A.D., and are most exquisite specimens of Hindu architecture and sculpture in medieval Northern India. The Chandellas were great worshippers of both Vishnu and Siva. Vishnu is variously worshipped as Vaikunthanatha, Vamana, Trivik rama, Adimurti, Hayagriva, Lakshmi-Narayana, Surya-Narayana, Krish na, Visvarupa and so on. The Lakshmana, Vamana and Javari temples of Khajuraho are dedicated to Vishnu.

The credit of rediscovering Khajuraho goes to Mr. T.S. Burt, a British Engineer, whuo visited Khajuraho in 1838 and was struck by the sculptural and architectural excellence of its temples. Alexander Cunnin gham, visited this place between 1852 and 1885 and made a detailed survey of the temples and antiquities of the Chandellas.

Few scholars have worked on the temples and sculptures of Khajuraho. Dr. K.M. Suresh has done intensive study on Iconography of Vishnu sculptures of Khajuraho with thoroughness of documentation and clarity of interpretation. This is a good combination of critical analysis and descriptive details. I am glad that he has made an earnest study and has given an interesting account of iconography of Vishnu sculptures which has not been adequately studied from this point of view. Apart from studying the major and more popular forms of Vishnu, Dr. Suresh has included some of the lesser known forms also.

Preface During my service in the Archaeological Museum, Khajuraho from 1991 to 1993, Indeed, I was thrilled and fashionated to write a book on. Iconography of Vishnu. As a result I could write up on Vaishnavite: Sculptures of which were produced by the Sculptors of Chandellas between 9th and 12th century A.D.

In this study the Chapter I and II deal with location and general history of Chandellas and Chapter III is written the charactersticks of temples in general and Vishnu temples at Khajuraho. The Chapter IV delt in details with worship of Vishnu and Vishnu images, the Twenty-Four Forms of Vishnu and other Forms of Vishnu namely Adimurti; Dat tatreya; Gajendramoksha; Hayagriva; Lakshmi-Narayana; Surya Narayana; Vaikunthanatha and Visvarupa. The Chapter V deals with Minor Divinities namely Gaja- Lakshmi; Garuda; Hanuman and Ayud hapurushas are also included.

Few books on Khajuraho sculptures and monuments have been published but there prevailed a lacuna as far as some comprehensive literature of Vaishnavite sculptures from the iconographic points of view was concerned. This work aims at presenting a detailed and systematic study of sculptures and Iconography of Vishnu in particular based on Puranas and other ancient texts.

I am extremely grateful to Dr. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, Professor of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology (Retired), University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore, for contributing a foreword to this book and for his kind words of appreciation. My grateful thanks and gratitude to Shri C.T.M. Kotraiah of Mysore, who evinced keen interest and took immense pain in guiding and helping me at every stage to complete this work at the earliest.

**Contents and Sample Pages**