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Interested in the sexual images at Khajuraho? || AP Neem Candies
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Khajuraho
Sexuality
Misinterpretation
Perspective
Spirituality
Love
Restraint
Temples
Description

Acharya Prashant advises against using the Khajuraho temple to make it mean much more than what it actually was or represented. He explains that often, votaries of unrestrained physical activity, untamed bodily consumption, or those obsessed with sex, refer back to Khajuraho to validate their own self-centered motives and claims. They argue that if their ancestors' actions were considered pious enough to be placed in a temple, then they too should not have to adopt the path of restraint or renunciation. The speaker cautions against this approach. The speaker points out that while there are millions of temples in India, people specifically choose to highlight Khajuraho. He questions whether this choice reveals something about the temple or about the person making the choice. He notes that India has been a land of temples, with one found every few hundred meters, yet the Khajuraho temple has received greatly disproportionate attention. While affirming that the temple is wonderful and not meaning to disparage it, he stresses the importance of putting things in perspective and being mindful of the bigger picture, rather than getting focused on one little thing and discounting everything else. He illustrates this with the example of Valentine's Day, where people invoke Khajuraho as a defense against those who oppose the celebration, claiming India is the land of Khajuraho and questioning how one can be against love. The speaker challenges this by asking how Khajuraho specifically represents love, and why other temples like Kashi Vishwanath, Kedarnath, or the Golden Temple are not considered representations of love. He suggests that being reminded only of Khajuraho when discussing love indicates that one's concept of love is purely physical. In truth, every temple is a temple of love, representing the mind's loving aspiration to unite with the ultimate. The true message of the Khajuraho temple, he explains, is that even when one is going through the physical and sexual phase of life, one must remain centered. It teaches one to observe and understand the body even in that phase, so that the onward spiritual journey can continue. Even sexual behavior, which normally pulls a person down, can be a period in which the onward journey continues. He concludes that things must have importance, but only as much importance as they deserve.