Thursday, November 11, 2010

Erotic Sculptures And Indian Temples


                         In India one can view erotic carvings in almost all the temples in India, most particularly those of Khajuraho and Konark; clearly indicates that every human being is amorous and deeply fascinated by sexual desire.  Most of the other religious people raise questions in this matter, and doubted the need for these erotic sculptures in the temples?

                          Our religion has a high value on ascetic ideal and intrinsic worth of celibacy. There is a whole mythology around semen, male and female genital organs. In the Hindu presumption of sublimation, if the semen is retained within the male body himself, it can be transformed into a source of creativity and religious supremacy.

                           There are different opinions on why temples were decorated with sexually explicit sculptures. Some people says that the old kings lived in obscene luxury and the used these for thrill and some people argues it was part of sexual instruction in ancient India and few more argue Just like the Romans, ancient Indians could be or were ever as stanch in their pursuit of pleasure. Before concluding we have to see the historical background also. 
                               In the mediaeval period monastic Buddhism was prevalent and the people were  losing interest in the married house hold life, and hence the temple were built with erotic sculptures and attract the people towards sex and family life to renovate Hinduism.





                          What was the necessity to decorate a temple with erotic sculpture?  If one observes the worldly thoughts of Hinduism; there is nothing unnatural about them. Isn’t it?

11 comments:

  1. honestly, I think its kinda of naughty sculptures lol

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  2. There are a few sculptures like this at Pandavlena, Nasik (where I live). All the sculptures are beautifully carved. I would agree on your point of monastic Buddhism. Its true enough.

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  3. During my college days my friend told about such sculptures in temples. Couldn't believe that. He took me around the Srivlliputhur temple to show such sculptures.The practice of carving such sculptures is found in the wooden part of the temple cars also.Don't have any clue of why it was followed.

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  4. Indian literature in those times is full of eroticism..sculpture is just another form of expression..nice post!

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  5. Recently Dr. Kalyanbrata Chakraborty has worked out the mystery of the erotic sculptures depicted on the Hindu temples in his book 'Erotic sculptures on Hindu Temples-a fresh appraisal' which was highly appriciater by so many scholars. In the book he has told that the temples represent not only a man's whole body but also his three 'Guna's, which are 'SATYA, RAJA, @ KAAMA'. This all represent the 'KAAMA' Guna of a man. If you are realy interested about the topic, you may go through the book mentioned previously which has been published by 'RABINDRA BHARATI' The book will give you a clear knowledge.

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  6. I feel that they simply had a more natural attitude about sex and sexual energy being the source of every human and animal, they celebrated it as a natural expression of the life force that pervades and animates everything.

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  7. I feel that they simply had a more natural attitude about sex and sexual energy being the creative principle that allows plants, animals and humans to procreate, they celebrated sex as the expression of the life force that pervades and animates everything. Sex and spirituality are not opposites, but are both aspects of the whole and are therefore complementary and overlapping manifestations. Repress one and you kill both.

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  8. I feel that they simply had a more natural attitude about sex and sexual energy being the source of every human and animal, they celebrated it as a natural expression of the life force that pervades and animates everything.

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  9. very nice pica. did you click them?
    i did some sketches of shila balikas in Belur. Love the curves :-)

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  10. good support to my answer bcase it is truth.

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  11. good support to my post. because it is the truth. thanks.Kavignar Thanigai.

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