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The Lakshmana Temple at Khajuraho is dedicated to:
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Answer: Option C — Lord Vishnu
Detailed Solution
The Lakshmana Temple at Khajuraho is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, in his form as "Vaikuntha" Vishnu (with three heads: human, boar and lion).
About the Lakshmana Temple:
- It was built around 930-950 CE by the Chandela king Yashovarman (also called Lakshavarman), after whom it is named; it was completed during the reign of his son Dhanga (954 CE, according to an inscription).
- Despite its name, it is not dedicated to Lakshmana, the brother of Rama.
- It is one of the oldest and best-preserved temples at Khajuraho.
- It is built of sandstone on a high platform (jagati).
- It is a "Panchayatana" temple: the main shrine has four subsidiary shrines at the four corners of the platform.
- Its sanctum has a three-headed image of Vaikuntha Vishnu, said to have been obtained from the Pratihara king Devapala.
- Its outer walls have beautifully carved sculptures, including gods, celestial maidens (apsaras), musicians, warriors, hunting scenes, and erotic sculptures.
- Its platform has a frieze showing processions of elephants, horses, soldiers and scenes of daily life.
About the Khajuraho temples:
- They belong to the "Western", "Eastern" and "Southern" groups.
- They include Hindu temples (dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and the Sun) and Jain temples (such as the Parshvanath and Adinath temples in the Eastern group).
- The "Khajuraho Group of Monuments" was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
- Their erotic sculptures are said to make up less than 10 per cent of the carvings; most show everyday life, gods and goddesses.
Other temples at Khajuraho:
- The largest temple there is dedicated to Shiva.
- Chausath Yogini Temple: one of the oldest; built of granite; dedicated to the 64 yoginis.
- Chitragupta Temple: dedicated to Surya (the Sun God).
- Vishvanatha Temple: Shiva (999 CE).
- Duladeo Temple: Shiva; one of the last temples built.
- Parshvanath Temple: Jain.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Lord Shiva is worshipped at the Kandariya Mahadeva and Vishvanatha temples.
- ✗Lord Lakshmana is not the deity; the temple is named after King Lakshavarman (Yashovarman).
- ✗Goddess Durga is not the deity of this temple.
Quick tip
Remember: Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho = Lord Vishnu (Vaikuntha form; built by Chandela king Yashovarman/Lakshavarman, about 950 CE; Panchayatana plan); Kandariya Mahadeva = Shiva; Chitragupta = Sun; Chausath Yogini = granite.
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Monuments & Religious Places — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Monuments & Religious Places, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's important monuments, temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras and pilgrimage sites, who built them and when, their architectural styles, and India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Questions ask who built a monument, where it is located, or which dynasty or style it belongs to. For example, the Qutub Minar was begun by Qutbuddin Aibak, and the Sun Temple at Konark was built by the Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I. Revise the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as a list, noting the most recent additions. Practise the monuments and religious places questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.