Notes on the Geography of Northern India: Khajuraho Details 2

The interior of the temples is ornately decorated except for the sanctuary, which, contrary to Western equivalents, is austere.

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This is the entrance to the Lakshmana vestibule, showing the temple's pyramidal roof (the jagamohan or phamsana) and a pair of flamboyant makaras. Makaras are aquatic monsters compounded of crocodile, fish, and elephant trunk but symbolizing water.

A close-up of the makara gate or torana.  The disgorging of vegetation suggests the riot of unconfined nature.

Inside the mandapa of the Lakshmana Temple, with the doorway (dvara-sakha) into the garbhagriya.

Vishnu as Vaikunt in the garbhagriya of the Lakshmana Temple. Vaikunt is another name of Vishnu but also the name of his heavenly domain.

The makara torana at Mahadeva.

A lotus or padma sill at Mahadeva.

Pillar in the mandapa.

Coffered ceiling of the mandapa of the Javari Temple.

Lotus steps to the Mahadeva sanctum.

The austere sanctuary, empty except for a Shiva lingam, of the Mahadeva Temple.

Closeup of the lingam or sign or emblem of Shiva--too potent to need ornament. It symbolizes not only the god but the energy driving creation.