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.
The Matangeshwar Temple is a larger-scale version of the Brahma Temple in terms of plan and design. It has a square plan. Also known as Mrityunjaya Mahadeo Temple, the exterior and interior of this temple is not decorated with sculptures like other Khajuraho Temples but the ceiling is overlapped with sculptures. There is an open air archaeological museum to the south of the temple that has a vast collection of statues and friezes.
Lord Shiva is worshiped by following a daily ritual of bathing the Linga with milk, bilwa leaves and flowers. Maha Shivaratri is observed in this temple with great fervor. The lingam is bathed, dressed and decorated like a human bridegroom during the marriage ceremony on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri. People from distant lands gather in this temple to offer prayers and seek blessings of the almighty.
