Beauty and the Beast

@rajendra: Thanks for okaying the image technically...I attempted to shoot a subject with strong back light and result is before u. About the subject, I m not sure if I'll agree wth u.The question of value judgement in any art form is difficult to understand. The issue of sacred and profane make sense only when we take an idealist postion of how things should be. The above image to me is an interesting manifestation of gendered identities in early medieval times. My colleagues working on gender history feel the very same way.

@Saeed: Thanks Saeed!
Khajuraho is a UNESCO world heritage site, located in the district of Madhya Pradesh in India. Khajuraho is usually known for erotic sculpture that adorn its temple walls. There are various theories regarding this eroticism. It has been suggested that Khajuraho may have been a centre of Tantricism in early medieval India. Sex played an important role in Tantric belief system. Some scholars suggest that in order to win back followers from under the influence of Buddhism, this kind of erotic sculture was promoted. No theory is completely acceptable. Art historians suggest that eroticism served a variety of purposes including beautification of architecture. Hence a number of sculptural motifs deal with maithuna or sexual intercourse. However, it would be erroneous to assume that Khajuraho temples are all about erotic sculture. A large number of representations deal with miscellaneous acivities of celestial nymphs- hair dressing, looking in to a mirror, removing thorn from foot etc. Some sculptures show Hindu deities in their various incarnations. One sculptural masterpiece deals with Vishnu's incarnation as Varaha. The above image depicts a kneeling figure before a sardula( mythical lion). Different art historians interpret this sculptural masterpiece differently. Some see it as a figure resisting lion's attack , others feel that lion is being caressed. What is certain is that it represents gendered identities in early medieval times.

Chandela rulers who ruled from the 9th to 11th centuries CE patronised the construction of a complex of 85 temples dedicated to Hindu deities like Shiva and Vishnu and Jain patriarchs. These temples were located in dense forests and hence are in a well preserved state today. T S Burt, a captain of British army rediscovered this complex in 1838.

Today at least 20 of these temples, mostly constructed of hard river sand stone are visited by tourist in large numbers from all over the world.