DAY FOURTEEN
6.00am… we make an early morning visit to the western group of Khajuraho temples, to avoid the coach loads of sightseeing crowds who fill the “ticketed” main site. Khajuraho is famous for the elaborately carved 9th & 10th century temples, with erotic tantric carvings, although not as many as the guide books say. The erotic sculpture is all about the Hindu practice of “Kama”, where the senses, including sexual pleasure are used to find “out-of-body” experiences.
5.30pm… we head to the final group of temples, the Southern Jain temples, having visited the famous group this morning. The southern group had a resident teacher with monks, all as naked as the day they were born, not a shred of clothing to be seen, except on those monks whose urges were not entirely mastered. These had a small discreet cloth over the necessary bits. Naked monks were meditating around the complex, some white clad people were engaged in grass cutting the Jain way…. It looked like one blade at a time to avoid harm to life. The lawn was quite sizable……Very time consuming!
The complex was remarkably similar to others we’d seen, nymphettes with breasts only achieved in one’s dreams, or with the assistance of surgery adorning the walls. (were these an aid to learning for the novices?).
As we were leaving the complex there was a sudden rush of activity, a way was cleared and a totally naked man rushed from one building to another, followed in quick succession by some equally naked attendants. Prayers ensued, then a return to the original building for prayers, darshan and meditation. Some chanting, some ritual movement of fans… a very beautiful and special sight. We left as the sun was setting.
