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Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho
Vishnu • Khajuraho, Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
The Lakshmana Temple at Khajuraho is a Vishnu temple completed around 954 under the Chandela king Yashovarman. The earliest of the fully developed Western Group temples, it survives with all four corner shrines intact as a rare complete panchayatana.
The earliest of the developed group
Among the mature Khajuraho temples, Lakshmana is the oldest, completed around 954 under Yashovarman, also called Lakshavarman. A foundation inscription records that the king set up an image of Vaikuntha Vishnu, and the temple is sometimes called Vaikuntha after that deity.
Because it comes early in the sequence, it shows the Chandela style arriving at full form just before the still-larger Kandariya Mahadev took the type to its limit.
A three-headed Vishnu
The sanctum enshrines a form of Vishnu as Vaikuntha — a three-headed image with a central human face flanked by the heads of a lion (Narasimha) and a boar (Varaha), expressing his combined powers. This iconography is the temple’s defining feature and distinguishes it sharply from the Shaiva Kandariya Mahadev nearby.
The main shrine is set on a high platform with a hall, vestibule and sanctum carried under a clustered Nagara tower.
A complete panchayatana
Lakshmana is laid out as a panchayatana — a main shrine with four smaller subsidiary shrines, one at each corner of the platform — and unusually all four corner shrines survive. This makes it one of the most complete temple compounds at Khajuraho.
The platform itself is worth circling for its base friezes, which run with processions of soldiers and elephants, hunting scenes, dancers, musicians and rows of everyday life, alongside the erotic panels for which the site is widely known.
- Central Vishnu (Vaikuntha) shrine on a high platform
- Four subsidiary corner shrines, all surviving
- Base friezes of armies, hunts, dancers and daily life
Visiting Lakshmana
The temple stands in the same Western Group enclosure as Kandariya Mahadev and Vishvanatha, so the three are seen together on one ticket. A small Varaha pavilion with a large monolithic boar figure sits opposite the Lakshmana steps.
Khajuraho is reached by air, rail and road in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, and the Western Group is the natural starting point for a visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which deity is the Lakshmana Temple dedicated to?
The Lakshmana Temple is dedicated to Vishnu, specifically in his Vaikuntha form. The sanctum holds a three-headed image with a central human face flanked by lion and boar heads. Despite the name Lakshmana, it is a Vishnu temple, not a Rama-cycle shrine.
When was the Lakshmana Temple built?
It was completed around 954 CE under the Chandela king Yashovarman, also known as Lakshavarman. This makes it the earliest of the fully developed Western Group temples at Khajuraho. A foundation inscription records the installation of a Vaikuntha Vishnu image.
What is a panchayatana plan?
A panchayatana is a temple with one main shrine surrounded by four smaller subsidiary shrines, set at the corners of its platform. The Lakshmana Temple is a complete example because all four corner shrines survive. This is rare among the Khajuraho temples.
How is Lakshmana different from Kandariya Mahadev?
Lakshmana is a Vishnu temple dedicated to the Vaikuntha form, while Kandariya Mahadev is dedicated to Shiva. Lakshmana is older, completed around 954, and is a complete panchayatana with corner shrines. Kandariya Mahadev, built around 1030, is larger and taller but does not have surviving corner shrines.
What is the three-headed Vishnu image?
It is the Vaikuntha form of Vishnu, with a central human face and the side faces of a lion (Narasimha) and a boar (Varaha). The three heads together express Vishnu’s protective and cosmic powers. This image is the defining feature of the Lakshmana sanctum.
Is the Lakshmana Temple part of the UNESCO site?
Yes. It is part of the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, inscribed by UNESCO in 1986. Lakshmana belongs to the Western Group, alongside Kandariya Mahadev and Vishvanatha.
॥ जय श्रीमन्नारायण ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Primary Deity | Vishnu (Vaikuntha) |
| Completed | c. 954 CE |
| Dynasty | Chandela |
| Patron | King Yashovarman |
| Plan | Panchayatana (five shrines) |
| Icon | Three-headed Vaikuntha |
| UNESCO | Inscribed 1986 |
| Location | Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh |