Hanuman Temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Hanuman Temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Hanuman Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Anjaneya located at Khajuraho town in Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh, India. This temple is considered as part of the eastern group at Khajuraho. The temple has been classified as a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India. It is situated on the Jain Mandir Road on the way to Jain Temples from Gol Market.

The Temple

This Temple is a newly built shrine to house the colossal idol of Hanuman. The Idol is about 2.5 meters high. The idol is completely coated with red paint. It has short dedicatory inscription of 316 of possibly Harsha era (AD 922), the oldest inscription of Khajuraho. Thus, making this idol as one of the earliest inscribed idols of Hanuman to be found anywhere in India.

Inscription

There is an inscription at the base of the idol and dated to the 10^th century CE. The inscription was first noticed by Alexander Cunningham in the 19^th century CE. D. R. Bhandarkar revisited the inscription in 1904 and published a new reading, in addition to a fresh interpretation of the date. The inscription gives a date of 316 of Harsha Era. Thus, dated to 922 CE. The inscription is written in Sanskrit in three lines. The inscription reads as follows Gollaka, the son of Gahila, having beheld the unmanifest Hari, afterward made this religious work, the glorious Hanuman, the son of the wind.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 1.5 Kms from Khajuraho Bus Stand, 6 Kms from Khajuraho Airport, 7 Kms from Rajnagar, 10 Kms from Khajuraho Railway Station, 13 Kms from Bamitha, 41 Kms from Chhatarpur, 47 Kms from Panna and 379 Kms from Bhopal. Khajuraho is situated on Bamitha to Rajnagar route. Khajuraho railway station connects the town by a daily train to Delhi via Mahoba, Jhansi and Gwalior. It provides a daily train connecting to Agra, Jaipur, Bhopal and Udaipur. A local daily train also connects to Kanpur, whilst Varanasi is connected three times a week. Khajuraho Airport has flights to Delhi, Agra, Varanasi and Mumbai.

Location