Question

The Kandariya Mahadev temple is dedicated to lord ____________.
A. Ganesha
B. Vishnu
C. Lord shiva
D. Only B and C

Answer 1

Hint:
- In Trimurti, the Hindu-trinity which includes Brahma and Vishnu, he(lord) is known as “The Destroyer".
- He is one of Hinduism's main deities.

Complete solution:
Kandariya Mahadev temple:
What?
- The temple of the Mahadeva Kandariya is the biggest and most ornate Hindu temple in the mediaeval temple community and is called the "Great God of the Grotto."
- It is one of the best examples of temples preserved in India from the mediaeval era.

Where?
- Temple in central India is situated in Madhya Pradesh district in Chhatarpur.
- It is in the village of Khajuraho and the complex is around 6 kilometres (2.3 sq mi) in size.
- It is located to the west of the village to the west of the temple of Vishnu.

When?
- During the rule of Vidyadhara (around 1003-1035 CE), the Kandariya Mahadev temple was founded.
- By constructing the temple dedicated to his family god Shiva, Vidhyadhara celebrated his victory over Mahmoud and other rulers.
- The construction is dated from 1025 AD to 1050 AD.

Architectural characteristics of the temple:
- The outside framework of the tower (shikhara), which symbolised Mount Kailash, Shiva's Himalayan Mountain Building, is founded in Kandariya Mahadev's main structural tower.
- 84 smaller spires (urushringas) surround this main tower.
- The entire structure consists of a sandstone base made of granite.

Lastly, This temple has a marbelly Siva Linga as its sanctuary and is dedicated to the Hindu Lord Shiva. Inwardly, the deity of Lord Shiva with the deity of Vishnu and Brahma carries a snake and a trident.

Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Note:
- The plan of this temple, both of which have rooms from eastern to west and balconies to the north and the south, is some bit similar to Lakshman and Vishwanath Temple.
- During the Chandella Dynasty that reached its height between 950 and 1050, temples at Khajuraho were constructed. Just approximately twenty temples remain; they form three separate communities and belong to two distinct sects – Hindu and Jainism.