https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Matangeshvara_Temple%2C_KhajurahoMatangeshvara Temple, Khajuraho - Revision history2026-08-20T02:39:11ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matangeshvara_Temple,_Khajuraho&diff=516766&oldid=prevLatonyaOconnor: added initial location more to come2026-02-05T09:19:51Z<p>added initial location more to come</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|10th-century Shiva temple}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}<br />
{{Infobox religious building<br />
| name = Matangeshvara temple<br />
| native_name = मतंगेश्वर मन्दिर<br />
| native_name_lang = sa<br />
| image = India-5633 - Flickr - archer10 (Dennis).jpg<br />
| map_type = India Madhya Pradesh#India<br />
| map_caption = Location in Madhya Pradesh, India<br />
| location = [[Khajuraho]]<br />
| coordinates = {{coord|24.8519316|79.9216873|region:IN|display=inline,title}}<br />
| religious_affiliation = [[Shaivism]]<br />
| deity = Matangeshvara (an aspect of [[Shiva]])<br />
| district = [[Chhatarpur district|Chhatarpur]]<br />
| state = [[Madhya Pradesh]]<br />
| country = [[India]]<br />
| established = 11th century CE<br />
}}<br />
The '''Matangeshvara temple''' ([[IAST]]: Matangeśvara Mandir) is a [[Shiva]] temple in the [[Khajuraho]] town of [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]]. Among the [[Chandela]]-era monuments of Khajuraho, it is the only Hindu temple that is still actively used for worship. As part of the [[Khajuraho Group of Monuments]], the temple was inscribed on the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage List]] in 1986 because of its art, architecture, and testimony to the [[Chandela]] culture.<ref name = "unesco">{{cite web|title=Khajuraho Group of Monuments |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/240 |website = UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher = United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization |access-date = 25 June 2023}}</ref><br />
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== History ==<br />
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The [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) assigns the Matangeshvara temple to 900-925 CE, because it has a plain design unlike the later temples of Khajuraho.{{sfn|ASI Bhopal Matangesvara|2016}} However, scholar Rana P. B. Singh assigned it to approximately 1000 CE.{{sfn|Rana P. B. Singh|2009|p=58}}<br />
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The temple has been classified as a [[Lists of Indian Monuments of National Importance|Monument of National Importance]] by the ASI.{{sfn|ASI MP List|2016}}<br />
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According to the history, a sage named Matanga manifested in form of a lingam, and controlled the god of love. His [[ashram|hermitages]] were located at Khajuraho, [[Kedarnath]], [[Varanasi]] and [[Gaya, Bihar|Gaya]]. These are now the sites of four ''Matangeshvara'' ("Lord of Matanga") temples. Another account states that the temple is named after an aspect of Shiva who controlled the god of love.{{sfn|Rana P. B. Singh|2009|pp=61-62}}<br />
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== Art and architecture ==<br />
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The Matangeshvara temple is a larger-scale version of the Brahma temple in terms of plan and design.{{sfn|ASI Bhopal Matangesvara|2016}} It has a square plan. It houses a 2.5 m high [[lingam]], which is 1.1 m in diameter. The base platform of the lingam is 1.2 m high and 7.6 m in diameter.{{sfn|Rana P. B. Singh|2009|p=61}} The lingam has [[Nagari script|Nagari]] and [[Persian script|Persian]] inscriptions.{{sfn|ASI Bhopal Matangesvara|2016}}<br />
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<gallery mode="packed"><br />
Matangesvara Temple 05.jpg | [[Ganesha]] statue at the entrance<br />
Matangesvara Temple 02.jpg | The interior of the temple<br />
Matangesvara Temple 04.jpg | Ceiling cusps<br />
</gallery><br />
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The Matangesvara temple is the plainest looking among the [[sandstone]] temples of Khajuraho.{{sfn|ASI Bhopal Matangesvara|2016}} It is not richly decorated: its interior walls, exterior walls and curvilinear tower are devoid of carvings.{{sfn|Ali Javid|Tabassum Javeed|2008|p=201}} The ceiling features elementary floral [[foil (architecture)|cusps]].{{sfn|ASI Bhopal Matangesvara|2016}}<br />
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== Present use ==<br />
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Among the Hindu temples of Khajuraho, the Matangeshvara temple is the only widely active site of worship.{{sfn|Rana P. B. Singh|2009|p=61}} Around [[Shivaratri]] in February or March, a three-day ceremony is organized here to celebrate Shiva's marriage. It is attended by around 25,000 people. The lingam is bathed, dressed and decorated like a human bridegroom during the ceremony.{{sfn|Rana P. B. Singh|2009|p=62}}<br />
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== References ==<br />
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{{reflist|30em}}<br />
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=== Bibliography ===<br />
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{{ref begin}}<br />
* {{cite book|author1=Ali Javid |author2=Tabassum Javeed |title=World Heritage Monuments and Related Edifices in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iXVNBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA209 |year=2008 |publisher=Algora |isbn=978-0-87586-482-2 }}<br />
* {{cite web |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India, Bhopal Circle |title=Matangesvara Temple |url=http://asibhopal.nic.in/monument/chhatarpur_khajuraho_matangesvaratemple.html |access-date=2016-11-16 |ref={{harvid|ASI Bhopal Matangesvara|2016}} }}<br />
* {{cite web |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India, Bhopal Circle |title=Alphabetical List of Monuments - Madhya Pradesh |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_mp.asp |access-date=2016-11-16 |ref={{harvid|ASI MP List|2016}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161102195954/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_mp.asp |archive-date=2 November 2016 |url-status=dead }}<br />
* {{cite book |author=Rana P. B. Singh |title=Cosmic Order and Cultural Astronomy |publisher=Cambridge Scholars |year=2009 |isbn=9781443816076 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YQoaBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA60 }}<br />
{{ref end}}<br />
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{{Khajuraho Group of Monuments}}<br />
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[[Category:Hindu temples in Khajuraho]]<br />
[[Category:Shiva temples in Madhya Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:11th-century Hindu temples]]<br />
[[Category:Sandstone buildings in India]]</div>LatonyaOconnor