Matangeshwar Temple

Matangeshwar Temple is a ninth century temple and a famous temple in Madhya Pradesh. Chandra Dev of the Chandela dynasty built the temple. The king was a devotee of lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is considered as the venerated sage Matang and that’s how the name of the Shiva Lingam was Matangeswarar.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated outside the ASI compound it boasts of an eight-feet-high lingam and draws large crowds during Mahashivratri. It has one of the largest lingams in North India, made in highly polished yellow sandstone. Morning and evening aarti hours are a good time to visit this temple. The Matangeshvara or Mrityunjaya Mahadeo (The great Lord who has conquered death) is one of the earliest temples to be built at Khajuraho. The exterior and interior of the temple, as well as the pillars, are without carvings but the ceilings are formed of overlapping concentric courses. The matangeshvara is one of the holiest temples of Khajuraho. Standing next to the Lakshmana Temple, this temple is not within the fenced enclosure because it is still in everyday use, unlike all the other old Khajuraho temples. It may be the plainest temple here but inside it sports a polished lingam, 2.5m high.

A large number of devotees flock the Matangeshwar Temple and worship throughout the night on the occasion of Shivaratri. There is the 10-day-long fair that witness the participation of traders, peddlers and gypsies from other parts of the state. Varieties of handicrafts, rural circus show, magic shows and folk theatre are exhibited.