Proper name Nandi Temple Country India Location Khajuraho Number of temples 1 | Devanagari नन्दी मंदिर State Madhya Pradesh Creator Chandela Rulers Primary deity Nandi | |
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District Khajuraho Group of Monuments Similar Parvati Temple - Khajuraho, Varaha Temple - Khajuraho, Javari Temple - Khajuraho, Vamana Temple - Khajuraho, Chitragupta temple - Khajuraho | ||
Nandi temple (Devanagari:नन्दी मंदिर) is dedicated to Nandi, the bull.
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Nandi or Nandin or Nandi Devar (Tamil: நந்தி Sanskrit: नंदी Devanagari:नन्दी,नंदी), is the name for the bull which serves as the mount (Sanskrit: vāhana) of Shiva and as the gate keeper of Shiva and Parvati, and in Hindu mythology. As a common architecture trend, temples of Shiva (and Parvati) display stone images of a seated Nandi facing Shiva. Following the trend, this temple is located opposite to one of Shiva Temple, The Vishvanath Temple.
This structure is one of the monument among Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a World Heritage Site in India.
Location
The temple is located in the Western Group of Temple Complex Khajuraho. Inside the temple complex, it is located opposite to Vishvanath Temple.
Khajuraho is a small village in Chhatarpur District of Madhya Pradesh, India.
Architecture
The temple stands on a rectangular modest (chabutara). The plan of the main structure is of the shape of cross quadrate (combination of cross and rectangle), where the rectangle form the sanctum and the cross edges form the four balconies (one on each side). The temples walls are like balcony walls and do not complete cover the sanctum completely. The roof rests on the pillars (one at each corner).
The border design is made of carvings depicting elephant (front view with head, trunk and two legs). Human figures are also depicted on both side of elephant.
Erotic sculpture of couples are also seen on the outer roof.
The sculpture of Shiva (with trishula on right shoulder ; and snake on left shoulder) can also be seen on outer roof and wall(along with border design).
Nandi Sculpture
The Nandi Sculpture (see image) is 2.2 m long and 1.8 m high.