Sculptures in Ancient Indian temples

[Sridhara Srinivasa das]

Hare Krishna.

Dear Scholars,

As I have been raised in a decently traditional Sri Vaisnava family and have studied Dharma Sastras and Mahabharata to some extent I have a doubt in my mind which I want some of the traditional scholars of this esteemed forum answer.

In dharma sastras it is repeatedly prohibited for a man to see a naked woman (except one's wife), and especially so for a Brahmin. Same has also been found in our traditional practices wherein we always see women well-dressed in our culture; I remember that when the educated girls on our culture started accepting modern clothes it was not appreciated by our grandfathers.

However, I also see that many of the ancient Indian temples, even the Vishnu temples, have very picturesque depiction of forms of women (as well as men) naked and having sexual activities in different postures.

I wonder why such depictions are placed on the temples? It would be okay for a King's palace. But temples are visited by general public for spiritual purposes. The main point is that Brahmins visit them everyday (at least the pujaris) and especially for them seeing such forms of women are prohibited. So a natural question has arised in my mind—why such sexually provocative depictions are placed on the temples? Was it an ancient tradition or was it introduced later on? Or there is some other explanation?

It will be good if we limit ourselves to traditional explanations and not try to ourselves think why such depictions could be there.

Thank you in advance.

[Ajit Gargeshwari]

You may find several answers on this link

https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Hindu-temples-keep-vivid-sexual-figures-and-statues

Regards

Ajit Gargeshwari

[bk]

Respected Sir,

Are you looking for a scriptural references for the following understanding:

That temples are made to represent the structure of the cosmos/the universe and that the ground level is bhu-loka and the higher levels represent the upper planetary systems and among them Svarga mainly. And the ground plan in some what represents the Jambhudvipa and other dvipas.

So the statues of men and women seen on temples represent enjoyment on Svarga (as had by Apsaras, Gandharvas and devatās). Logically they cannot represent enjoyment on earth since they are often in contradiction to the rules of kāma as mentioned in dharma-śāstras, whereas the denizens of Svarga and higher lokas are beyond the rules of earthly dharma-śāstras...

The idea in depicting such figures is then to show the kind of enjoyment that is available on higher lokas and to instill that worship of the god in the temple will bestow in the next life such enjoyment if the desire is there (but their purpose is definitely not to encourage such enjoyment in this life).

https://www.ece.lsu.edu/kak/Time2.pdf

https://swarajyamag.com/culture/the-hindu-temple-is-a-representation-of-the-cosmos-and-the-mystery-of-time

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/explore/the-architectural-philisophy-behind-the-structure-of-temples/article28793588.ece

Or are you looking for some other explanation Sir?

regards

[kenp]

Here are some links.......

http://www.mahavidya.ca/2016/04/26/sexuality-in-hinduism/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexuality_in_India

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Hinduism_and_sexuality

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kama#:~:text=In%20Hindu%20philosophy%2C%20pleasure%20in,consideration%20of%20dharma%20and%20artha.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maithuna

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratirahasya

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamadeva

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Sexuality_and_religion

https://www.hinduwebsite.com/editorial/sex-and-gurus.asp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_sexuality

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_love_and_lust_deities

[bharat gupt]

Dear Friend 

I see that you are posting so many useful links, perhaps to many more forms other than this one.

I would Request you to visit my YouTube channel @Bharatgupt10, see the videos and post the link subject wise.

It would bring a vast amount of material to the watcher.

Regards 

Bharat Gupt

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Bharat Gupt
Former Faculty, Delhi University,
Trustee and Executive Member
INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL CENTER FOR THE ARTS
(Ministry of Culture), New Delhi

Vice Chairman,NATIONAL SCHOOL OF DRAMA

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[Sridhara Srinivasa das]

Respected members

Please accept my namaskarmas

Jaya Srila Prabhupada

I am getting some mails on my registered email and some are missing. 

The following is an interesting response that comes close to answering my original question:

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Sculptures in Ancient Indian temples

43 views

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Sridhara Srinivasa das

May 22

Hare Krishna. Dear Scholars, As I have been raised in a decently traditional Sri Vaisnava family and

Ajit Gargeshwari

May 23

You may find several answers on this link https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Hindu-temples-keep-vivid-

bk

May 24

to भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत्

Respected Sir,

Are you looking for a scriptural references for the following understanding:

That temples are made to represent the structure of the cosmos/the universe and that the ground level is bhu-loka and the higher levels represent the upper planetary systems and among them Svarga mainly. And the ground plan in some what represents the Jambhudvipa and other dvipas.

So the statues of men and women seen on temples represent enjoyment on Svarga (as had by Apsaras, Gandharvas and devatās). Logically they cannot represent enjoyment on earth since they are often in contradiction to the rules of kāma as mentioned in dharma-śāstras, whereas the denizens of Svarga and higher lokas are beyond the rules of earthly dharma-śāstras...

The idea in depicting such figures is then to show the kind of enjoyment that is available on higher lokas and to instill that worship of the god in the temple will bestow in the next life such enjoyment if the desire is there (but their purpose is definitely not to encourage such enjoyment in this life).

https://www.ece.lsu.edu/kak/Time2.pdf

https://swarajyamag.com/culture/the-hindu-temple-is-a-representation-of-the-cosmos-and-the-mystery-of-time

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/explore/the-architectural-philisophy-behind-the-structure-of-temples/article28793588.ece

Or are you looking for some other explanation Sir?

regards



============

My further question:

Thank you for your response.

Again, I have heard that the usual gopuram structure in most temples is 7 storied. The Srirangam Raja Gopuram is 14 storied. Are there any verses that we can refer to in shilpa sastram as to what different levels in a Gopuram signify and specifically what should be depicted in those Gopurams. For example the dome that is right above the sanctum sanctorum is referred to as "Vimanam." Which means the air plane.

 As I said before, it will be better if you or anyone else in this forum can give specific sastric references to support the understanding that you have mentioned in your kind response.

Looking forward to know more on the details of the traditional sources supporting this idea of temple structures.

Humbly yours

Sridhara Srinivasa dasa 

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[G S S Murthy]

My reply to the question of eroticism in temple sculpture is totally based on my imagination: If the king or the chieftain of the area is inclined towards eroticism, he will order such sculptures perhaps paying more to the sculptor. The sculptor subduing his personal inclinations agrees and as a sort of a middle path restricts it to the outer walls.

Thanks and Regards,

Murthy 

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[bharat gupt]

Dear Friends,

The modern Hindu raised on small minded notions of Enlightenment filtered through a hotch pitch document called the Indian Constitution, is far removed from the classical Hindu notions of four purushaarthas and four varna ashram dharma. Modern Hindu thinks about sex like a modern Christian. He overdoes it all the time ridden with guilt. Kama in its four fold divisions of daihik, grihastha, rasik and paarlaukika

is no longer understood as part of a healthy life. The Hindu temple or vaastu purusha contained and portrayed it all. Hence all manuals of vastu shastra show mithunas in maithun. 

But those who call Gandhi, the father of the nation will never understand it.

Please find my latest lecture series on KAMASUTRA.

Kamasutra which has been trivialized by Doniger or castigated by Aryasamajis. I read original sutras and give a genuine picture of the ancient Indian society which fulfilled the purushartha of Kama in harmony with Artha & Dharma.

Reactions are most welcome.

https://youtu.be/b0AkXTnQ2fY

https://youtu.be/2AL2b8WFKdk

https://youtu.be/WX4IlRBji_U

https://youtu.be/7MYqmbZGxio

https://youtu.be/k1AO0eLtXm8

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[Nagaraj Paturi]

Dear Sri G S S Murty avare,

I am appalled by such a trivializing guess in a field such as Hindu temple architecture and the sub-field of Hindu temple sculptures that has been deservedly  paid serious professional  attention to by professionals in the fields of Archeology, Ancient Indian Architectural Studies, Sthaapatya shaastra  etc. 

No one among these serious scholars has ever come up with any theory of the 'king's' (donor's ? ) fancy and his bribing the sculptor for this fancy etc., as the basis for any aspect of architecture or sculpture of temples, leave alone the 'erotic' ones. 

Please let us keep the discussion not trivialized. 

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--

Nagaraj Paturi

 

Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.

Senior Director, IndicA

BoS, MIT School of Vedic Sciences, Pune, Maharashtra

BoS Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, Ramtek, Maharashtra

BoS Veda Vijnana Gurukula, Bengaluru.

Member, Advisory Council, Veda Vijnana Shodha Samsthanam, Bengaluru

BoS Rashtram School of Public Leadership

Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Studies in Public Leadership

Former Senior Professor of Cultural Studies, 

FLAME School of Communication and FLAME School of  Liberal Education, 

Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.

 

 

 

[Nagaraj Paturi]

An example of a systematic study devoted to this subject is 

https://indianculture.gov.in/ebooks/erotic-sculpture-india-socio-cultural-study

Erotic sculpture of India : a socio-cultural study

Author: Desai, Devangana

The book is readable as a flip book online
Description: The book is a study of sexual representation in Indian art. It begins with an introduction to the prominence of erotic sculptures in medieval Hindu temples such as Khajuraho and Konark. The succeeding chapters have been divided into different periods in history that elaborate on the evolution of erotic sculptures and their representation in various monumental structures over the years. The book is based on the study of various disciplines such as anthropology, history, art history, religion, sociology of art and religion, and discusses them at length.

[Nagaraj Paturi]

https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30160729.ece

Beyond the erotic

Published : Jan 10, 1998 00:00 IST

R. CHAMPAKALAKSHMI

This is a review of a book by Dr Devangana Desai, the author of the book in the previous post .

The Religious Imagery of Khajuraho by Dr. Devangana Desai, Franco-Indian Research Private Ltd., Mumbai, 1997.

She demonstrates that Khajuraho has erroneously become synonymous with erotic sculpture.

 Erotic sculpture, in fact, constitutes not even one-tenth of its imagery and indeed belongs, 

as in the case of other medieval temples, to a different tradition in which both religious and 

worldly interests merge. The religious imagery of Khajuraho far outweighs the erotic in numbers 

and importance, and iconology is the key to the understanding of the conceptual basis and the architectural 

and iconographic scheme of the temples.

Another misconception that is refuted is the suggested association 

of the hedonistic Kaula-Kapalika sect with the erotic sculptures as representing 

their extreme ritual practices. Dr. Desai also demolishes the more recent and somewhat

 novel and fanciful interpretation that the different groups of temples dedicated to Siva, 

Vishnu and other deities (including the Jaina?) represent a divine audience at Siva's marriage to Parvati, 

celebrated on Sivaratri at the Matangesvara temple, and that the erotic sculptures 

mark the consummation of the marriage.

[Nagaraj Paturi]

Iconology of Indian Art and Sculpture: In Conversation with Dr Devangana Desai

https://youtu.be/cTWfM5g7EqI

Khajuraho: The Wonder That it Was! by Dr. Devangana Desai

https://youtu.be/7485zxB9IGs

https://youtu.be/s-2NhXqyGTg

https://youtu.be/DJgeCPLKbHM

[G S S Murthy]

I did not trivialize, Sir. It is a serious view held by me. Lots of books and papers can be published on a matter which is indeed trivial from a particular point of view..

Thanks and regards,

Murthy

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[Nagaraj Paturi]

The book 

Erotic sculpture of India : a socio-cultural study

by

 

Desai, Devangana

is available for download at Archive.org

https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25721

https://archive.org/download/dli.ministry.25721/ignca-855-rb.pdf