The Kamasutra carvings that wrap
Khajuraho's temples are among the finest temple art in the world. Khajuraho's
temples are superb examples of Indo-Aryan architecture, but it's their liberally
embellished carvings that have made the place world famous. Around the temples
are bands of exceedingly artistic stonework showing a storyboard of life a
millennium ago: gods, goddesses, warriors, musicians, real and mythological
animals... But among them all two elements appear repeatedly: women and sex. The
mithuna, which are carved figures running through a whole Kamasutra of positions
and possibilities, are definitely eye catching, but the erotic, shocking content
should not prevent from admiring the great skill and beauty underlying the
sculptures. Sensuous heavenly nymphs (surasundaris), dancing surasundaris
(apsaras) and mortal women (nakiyas) have been carved with a half-twist and
slight sideways lean that make the playful figures dance and swirl out from the
flat stone. Khajuraho is one of the 27 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.
