Recently during my visit to a temple nearby my residence, where I haven’t gone for last few months, put me in a strange thought on seeing a modification on the outer wall of the sanctum sanctorum decorated with new Blackstone made statues. Some of them were erotic.
The strange thought was that, I have visited many temples at different parts of India during my tours and seen statues and pictures of beautiful women with high breast and twisting, broad-hip there ,on walls etc., having a high esthetic value. Heard that Khajuraho temple is famous for erotic stone statues. But the same like or one step ahead statues in these temples of this century? I could not understand the philosophy behind these new age eroticism in temple art.
I searched internet and read many writings on the subject to clear my doubt, everyone have some vague ideas only on such erotic sculpture temple art, and my curiosity remain unsatisfied. Why such erotic sculptures on outer walls of temples?
The interpretations and theories I found in sites are many but all I feel preconceived ideas without much support. I am trying here to comprehend the interpretations of them, about placing erotic sculptures on outer walls of Hindu temples in India.
From all above in my view little bit convincing is the theory of “yantras”.
The strange thought was that, I have visited many temples at different parts of India during my tours and seen statues and pictures of beautiful women with high breast and twisting, broad-hip there ,on walls etc., having a high esthetic value. Heard that Khajuraho temple is famous for erotic stone statues. But the same like or one step ahead statues in these temples of this century? I could not understand the philosophy behind these new age eroticism in temple art.
I searched internet and read many writings on the subject to clear my doubt, everyone have some vague ideas only on such erotic sculpture temple art, and my curiosity remain unsatisfied. Why such erotic sculptures on outer walls of temples?
The interpretations and theories I found in sites are many but all I feel preconceived ideas without much support. I am trying here to comprehend the interpretations of them, about placing erotic sculptures on outer walls of Hindu temples in India.
- Placing erotic sculptures on outer wall of the temple is to signify the devotees to keep all kind of materialistic thought outside the temple and enter in sanctum sanctorum with a pure heart and mind.
- You can find many statues on outside wall of temples among it only a few are erotic because these erotic sculpture are strategically placed “yantras” or symbolical magical diagrams to appease the evil spirits.
- According to Hindu philosophy one has to practice four Ashrams to attain moksha (eternal peace from all bondages) that are "Brahmacharya" or the Bachelor student Stage,"Grihastha" or the Householder Stage,"Vanaprastha" or the Hermit Stage,"Sannyasa" or the Wandering Ascetic Stage. The sculptures are intended to prepare and teach the Brahmacharies who are living away in hermitages for a successful second ashrama,"Grihastha".
- Hinduism believes in the efficacy of all four paths to Moksha (Dharma, Artha, Yoga, and Kama), these erotic sculptures are to assist in the fourth one Kama to attain Moksha.
- The sculptures are constructed during the time of monastic Buddhism and people were losing interest in Grihastha (householder life). The erotic sculptures were built to attract and arouse interest in house holder life to strengthen Hinduism.
From all above in my view little bit convincing is the theory of “yantras”.
3 comments:
Interesting.
I wonder if erotic sex can be an act of worship too :) Just a thought.
My uncle had this interesting thought. He apparently had this published somewhere. Well he is no more and i forget the references where he may have published them too.
According to him, this was the Hindu ideology, trying to keep the Buddhist philosophy at bay. The paintings, carvings etc., were projected as a means to keep populace interested and active in sex and procreation. In stark opposition to the concept of a ascetic lifestyle and renunciation as proposed by Buddhism.
If everybody renounced and gave up their earthly life in pursuit to become a ascetic, the population would die and civilization would end.
I have not read or heard of this since his discourse on this to me long back. But i do find that an interesting theory.
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