Today, the Khajuraho temples are instantly associated with erotic sculptures. And yet, these sculptures constitute less than 10 per cent of the imagery depicted at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, says Sundeep Verma, author and creative director of Cobalt Blue Foundation, an organisation specialising in mythological studies, storytelling and art therapy. “In fact, the largely sexual perception of these temples was perpetuated by the British, who discovered them after they had been abandoned following the Mughal invasion. Located deep in the forests of central India, it was difficult for the locals to access the temples. They remained forgotten until the British stumbled upon them. At the time, Queen Victoria was ruling over the British Empire. She was known for her conservatism. In fact, not many know that the tablecloth was invented during her rein, because of her aversion for any kind of exposure, including the legs of tables!” Verma explains.  

This conservative outlook was in stark contrast to India’s much more open attitude towards sexuality, at the time. “The element of shame that shrouds sexuality is, in fact, a relic of the Colonial times. The sculptures in the temples are based on the Vedic concept of Mimansa, which is the philosophical equivalent of the Western ideal of ‘I think therefore I am’. In that, it is an exploration of the truth through two approaches: Dharmshastra, which our existing legal system is based on, and Kamashastra, or the study of love and relationships. The builders wanted to depict this through the four ashrams of life,” he adds.