Veludharan
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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The monumental group of Khajuraho was brought to light by T.S Burt, a British engineer in 1838, and then work was carried out in detail by the study of Alexander Cunningham, between 1852 and 1863. It is believed that the nomenclature of Khajuraho is due to one of its gate which was ornamented with two golden Khajur trees (date palm) as per one tradition. A recent study highlight that celestial nymph has a scorpion (Khajur) on her thigh which mark the passion, possibly therefore the place was named Khajur-Vahaka or Khajuraho.
During the Janapada time, the region was part of the Vatsa kingdom and then it came under the Mauryan supremacy which is known from Asokan rock edict at Gujjara in Datia district. However prior to Chandella the region has witnessed the rule of Kushanas, Nagas, Vakatakas, Imperial Guptas, and the Pratiharas. According to Chandellas and other contemporary records, the land was known as jejakbhukti or jejakabhukti, with a few derivative variants like jejahuti, jajhauti and jijhauti in Chandellas times. Mahoba inscription delineate the genealogy of Chandella dynasty and refers that the kingdom has been named after king Jeja. The earliest inscription of king Dhanga dated to 954 CE suggests the occupation of Khajuraho by the Chandella rulers. Alberuni in 1022 CE speak of the region as Jajahuti. The Madanpur inscription dated to 1182 CE refers the territory as Jajakabhukti or Jajakamandala.
THE MUSEUM
With keen interest and initiative of W.E. Jardine, the then political agent of Bundelkhand, the loose sculptures and other cultural edifices were collected from the ruined temples and preserved in an enclosure by means of which laid the foundation of museum in the year 1910. This thoughtful collection confined to be known as Jardine Museum. However, the present museum was conceptualized in 1952 after the Archaeological Survey of India took over charge and named it as Archaeological Museum.
The preserved and display antiquities are primarily associated with the Chandella's, a powerful medieval dynasty who predominantly ruled over the region around Khajuraho anciently known as Kharjura-Vahaka and was religious capital city.
The nucleus of the museum was a large collection of Brahmanical, Hindu, Jaina, and Buddhist sculptures and architectural parts of the temples. A good number of well carved sculptures are exhibited in the present museum, in a modern display concept.
The New museum building is constructed near circuit house to display more number of antiquities. It consists of six galleries proposed for sculptures and architectural member. The antiquities are ranging from 9th to 12th Century CE, and throws significant light on social-cultural aspect of the region.