Visvanatha temple
11.04.2010 / last updated: 19.11.2010
The Visvanatha temple
This temple is among the finest monuments of Khajuraho and is dedicated to
Lord Shiva. It was a Panchayatana shrine but of the four subsidiary shrines.
Only two in the northeast and southwest corners have survived. The temple shows
all the elements of the developed Khajuraho temples - entrance porch (Ardha Mandapa),
Mandapa, Maha Mandapa and sanctum enclosed by an ambulatory.
Architecturally the temple falls between the Lakshmana
and Kandariya Mahadeva Temples.
The inscriptions of the Mandapa refers to the dedications of two Lingas, one made
of emerald and the other of stone in a towering temple of Shiva Marakatesvara built
by the chandella king Dhanga in 1002 AD. There is no doubt that the inscription
refers to Visvanatha Temple.
[source: archaeological survey of india]