Article | The message of biodiversity conservation in Khajuraho sculpture | Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh | Central Chronicle

Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh

⛳Friends ! Today my article "The message of biodiversity conservation in Khajuraho sculpture" has been published in the Sunday edition of #CentralChronicle. Please read it. 
🌷Hearty thanks Central Chronicle🙏
-------------------------------------

Article | The message of biodiversity conservation in Khajuraho sculpture | Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh | MP Chronicle

Article | The message of biodiversity conservation in Khajuraho sculpture

-    Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh
Writer, Author & Social Activist
Blogger - "Climate Diary Of Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh"

The sculpture of Khajuraho, a world famous tourist destination called Kalatirth, is unique. The temples of Khajuraho are famous for their Mithun idols but in fact the entire life has been carved in those idols. Looking at the sculptures of Khajuraho, it is known that the people of Chandela were very much aware of nature and biodiversity. The temple walls of Khajuraho have more biodiversity than the Mithun sculptures. We must understand a message that has been left for us by the Chandelas. In this message, showing the presence of biodiversity in life, it has been told that every living being is important for human life.

Today, when we talk about the environment and biodiversity, we feel that awareness has arisen within us about biodiversity, that is, our ancestors had not noticed this before us, this is our illusion because from the hymns of the Vedas to the There is a special mention and display of biodiversity till the sculptures of Khajuraho. Particularly in the sense that we have seen nature and its elements as mere biotic or non-living components whereas our ancestors revered them as an integral part of life, giving them divinity and giving by divinity a strong sense of protection. This is the reason that at the time of our ancestors, neither the forests were cut wildly nor nature was treated ruthlessly.

The
Chandelas built about 85 temples in Khajuraho. Presently there are about 25
temples out of them. The remains of another grand temple were found in the
excavation work done by the Archeological Survey of India in 1998-99. According
to scholars, the construction period of all these temples is between 950 to
1050 A.D. It is a pleasant feeling to see that the artists of the Chandela era
have beautifully displayed the creative and destructive emotions of humans as
well as biodiversity in these sculptures. This display of biodiversity on the
temple walls attests to the fact that there was an awareness of the environment
and biodiversity during the Chandela period. Khajuraho itself was named on a
botanical basis. Although two types of opinions are prevalent regarding the
naming of Khajuraho, but, in both the views it is believed that Khajuraho was
named because of Kharjoor i.e. date palm trees. According to the first opinion,
there were two golden palm trees at the gate of Khajuraho village. Hence the
name of the village was 'Kharjur' which means the one who wears dates, that is,
Khajuraho. According to the second opinion, this name was given due to the abundance of date trees in Khajuraho village where it was settled.

Due to the dense forest area around Khajuraho located in Bundelkhand, it was natural for the Chandel citizens to have awareness about the environment and biodiversity. Chandela sculptors have established their importance and their utility towards human life by giving humanized form to animals, birds, aquatics, vegetation, air, sun, moon etc. Along with this, the mutual relations of human beings with nature and various creatures have also been demonstrated minutely. The biodiversity displayed in the sculptures of Khajuraho can be mainly divided into two categories - 1. Original form and 2. Symbolic form.

The original form of biodiversity is depicted everywhere in the sculptures carved on the outer walls of the temple. Tree branches have been carved at the entrances of the temples. These branches have three types, Tri Shakha (three branches) , Pancha Shakha (five branches) and Sapta Shakha (seven branches). On these branches shown vines, flowers and motifs. Along with this, Kalpavriksha (divine tree)has also been carved. There are seven branches at the sanctum sanctorum of the Kandariya Mahadev temple. While most of the temples have Panch Shakhas. Flowers, leaves, erotic idols and ascetics absorbed in meditation have been made on these gate branches. On the lower end of these gate branches are the statues of Makar Vahini Ganga (River Goddess Ganga riding on a crocodile) and Kurma Vahini Yamuna (River Goddess Yamuna riding on a turtle) on the other side.

Apart from flowers, leaves, creepers, trees, trees have also been given a place. In the Lakshmana temple, a woman is shown standing under the shade of a mango tree. It signifies the mutual relationship between human and plant. Tree branches are inscribed near the woman painting in the Vamana temple, indicating that the woman is painting trees and plants on her canvas. Along with plants, animals and birds have also been given place in the sculptures of Khajuraho. The Nari idol, stored in the Khajuraho Museum, depicts a bird on the right palm. The Vishwanath temple has two female idols, one of which depicts a bird sitting on the wrist and the other one is shown munching on grains. Sarika bird in Jagdamba temple, parrot in Kandariya Mahadev, Maina in Vamana temple and Uluk (owl) in Lakshman temple are carved as pet birds. Birds like peacock, swan, and owl are also depicted as vehicle symbols. wild boar have been engraved. Apart from these, small animals like mice and mongooses have also been inscribed. Among the aquatic creatures, Fish, Shell, Turtle and Crocodile have been engraved as vehicle symbols. The uniqueness with which biodiversity is presented in the sculpture of Khajuraho is amazing. Venomous creatures have also been given place in these idols. The marking of different types of snakes and scorpions proves that the Chandela society gave equal importance to all forms of living beings. Every form of biodiversity has been presented by molding it in stone craft, whether it is the organic world or the non-living world.

The biodiversity inscribed in the sculpture of Khajuraho also gives a message that if the present life is to be made for worth living for many generations to come like the sculpture of Khajuraho, then all the elements necessary for life will have to be conserved. They will have to be saved from extinction, whether it is forest Be it wildlife or all kinds of animals and plants, all have to be protected. These must be saved from extinction. Understanding the importance of biodiversity, like the sculptures of Khajuraho, we have to save our present and future and in this direction, the sculpture art of the biodiversity present in the sculptures of Khajuraho is a source of inspiration for us.

(The author of this article is Doctorate on Khajuraho Sculpture.)
---------------------------
(20.02.2022)
#ClimateCahnge  #MyClimateDiary
#KnowYourClimate
#KnowYourEnvironment
#unclimatechange
#nature #Environment #ClimateCrisis #thinkaboutit  #talkaboutit #khajuraho #khajurahosculptures
#BiodiversityOnSculptures
#DrMissSharadSingh