KHAJURAHO EROTIC TEMPLES: Do Not Ban It – Understand It!

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu and Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh, India. The temples are famous for their nagara style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures. Most Khajuraho temples were built between 950 and 1050 CE by the Chandela dynasty. Historical records note that Khajuraho temple site had 85 temples by 12th century, spread over 20 square kilometres. Of these, only about 20 temples have survived, spread over 6 square kilometres. (more…)

100+1 SYMBOL: Rudraksha Beads & Flow of Shiva’s Seeds

The Tapasvin practises celibacy, refuses to have se with woman and father children. Thus he destroys his family tree voluntary. No other living creature can do this. Plants are bound by nature to bear fruit and seed. Animals are bound by nature to mate. Humans are the only creatures for whom reproduction is a choice. The male gender of Lakulesh is thus indicative of choice. Shiva strings the seeds of rudraksha around his neck, instead of sowing them under the ground. Thus he prevents germination. Chain of rudraksha beads represents celibacy. (more…)

100+1 SYMBOL: Tapa, Tapasya & Tapasvin

According to the alchemical principles of the body, the body’s energy is utilised whenever the mind engages with the material world around. To replenish tree, we need food, water and breath constantly. As the body is used to generate more energy, it ages and eventually dies. However, when the mind withdraws from material reality, it does not depend on nature anymore. It does not need to be fed. It generates heat autonomously without fuel. This is “tapa“, spiritual fire that does not need fuel, unlike “agni” that is material fire which needs fuel. (more…)

100+1 SYMBOL: Lakulesh & Phallus worth of adoration

Ancients Indian artists used the male body to represents mind. This is because the male genitalia, unlike female genitalia, shows dramatic visual transformation between state of non-arousal and arousal. A flaccid penis indicates an unstirred mind. An erected penis represents a stirred mind. The spurting of semen offers a very visual metaphor to show the submission of the mind to external stimulus. Eyes represent the senses. When the man’s eyes are shut and his penis is flaccid, it indicates a mind that refuses to submit to external stimulus.  (more…)

100+1 SYMBOL: Chandra – Moon on Shiva’s Head


100+1 SYMBOL: Ardhanarishvara

Ardhanarishvara symbolizes that the male and female principles are inseparable.The composite form conveys the unity of opposites in the universe. The male half of Ardhanarishvara stands for Purusha and female half is Prakriti. Purusha is the male principle and passive force of the universe, while Prakriti is the female active force; both are “constantly drawn to embrace and fuse with each other, though separated by the intervening axis”. The union of Purusha (Shiva) and Prikriti (Shiva’s energy, Shakti) generates the universe, an idea also manifested in the union of the Linga of Shiva and Yoni of Devi creating the cosmos. (more…)