Ellora india on the map. The temple complex of the Caves of Ellora in India: a description of how to get there. Caves of Ellora: a small reminder to the tourist
The ancient rock temples of Ellora are one of the most amazing creations of mankind, a monument to the creative imagination and skill of the ancient builders. In terms of its scale and beauty, Ellora is not inferior to the most famous religious buildings planet and is an example of religious tolerance of the Indians, where the three main Indian religions peacefully coexist - Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. Ellora has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
The rock-cut temples of Ellora are magnificent examples of the art of ancient India, combining the artistic styles of southern and northern India and the influence of foreign cultures.
History and religions
Ellora is located in the central part of India, in the state of Maharashtra, away from the popular tourist routes and the legendary treasures of the Golden Triangle. In the same area is the Ajanta cave complex, known throughout the world for its magnificent frescoes.
Ellora is a shortened form of the old name Elapur. In ancient times, Elapura was an important shopping center Dakkana, a trade route to Dakshinapatha, the southern regions of modern India, passed through it.
The temples of Ellora were erected in a mountainous area located on the plateau of the Deccan, which is called the Deccan traps. Traps appeared as a result of a large volcanic activity and are huge basalt formations, which are characterized by sheer cliffs and cliffs. Such rocky slopes have become perfect place for secluded cave monasteries Buddhist communities. Over time, the monasteries grew, the flow of pilgrims increased, and with it the donations, on which new temples, cells of monks and temporary shelters for pilgrims were built.
The first temples of Ellora appeared during the reign of the Vakataka dynasty, whose kings were known as patrons of the arts, literature and architecture. Although the Vakatakas were adherents of Hinduism, they sponsored works in the Buddhist Ajanta for several centuries. According to another version, Ellora owes the first temples to the rulers of two Hindu dynasties - the oldest of the Hindu caves were built by the Kalachuri kings, and the Buddhist ones by the Chalukyas.
In general, little is known about the history of the early cave temples of Ellora, since after the decline of the Vakataka dynasty, religious complexes for some time lost serious support from the rulers. They owe their appearance more to nameless merchants and ignoble people who made feasible donations for the construction of temples, without leaving any records about it.
In the 7th-8th centuries Buddhism gradually lost its importance in the region. The revival of Hinduism began, and this is clearly seen in the example of Ellora, where Hindu caves were actively built, and some Buddhist sanctuaries were converted into Hindu temples.
Among the followers of Hinduism in Ellora, the cult of Shiva dominated, so in many caves you can see lingas and numerous images of Shiva-Maheshvara. The most significant cave of Ellora at number 16 is also dedicated to Shiva. The entire pantheon of gods and numerous scenes from the Mahabharata, Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita are presented on its walls. Also in Ellora, another branch of Hinduism is represented - Vaishnavism, a feature of which is the worship of Krishna, Rama and other incarnations of the god Vishnu. In cave 26 you can see amazing sculptural images of Krishna, Subhadra, Balarama.
In the 9th century, Jain caves also appeared in Ellora. Jainism found in Ellora a favorable atmosphere of religious tolerance and prosperity. The Ellora Jains were followers of the Tirthankaras (enlightened spiritual teachers) Sumatinatha, Parshvanatha and Gomateshwara.
The builders of the Jain temples of Ellora created their own style, which absorbed character traits Buddhist and Hindu architectural traditions.
According to contemporaries, Ellora was actively used until the 13th century, until the conquest of the Deccan by the Delhi Sultanate. Buddhist monks lived here until the 10th century, and work in the Jain temples continued until the middle of the 13th century. Although since then Ellora has not been used as religious center, she was not forgotten, like Machu Picchu or others famous buildings antiquities. There were Arab and European travelers who left descriptions of Ellora in their travel notes.
In XV-XVII, the caves were repeatedly desecrated by Muslim fanatics, and many statues, bas-reliefs and architectural elements were seriously damaged, but in general the monument was well preserved. Now Ellora is under the protection of UNESCO and the Archaeological Survey of India and, together with Ajanta, is the main attraction of the Maharashtra region.
Timeline of construction of the temples of Ellora
Despite the undoubted artistic and religious significance of Ellora, there is practically no accurate information about its history. With a few exceptions, not only the exact dates of the creation of most temples, but even the centuries during which they were created, remain a mystery. Only in three caves (15, 21 and 31) were inscriptions found that give researchers at least some clue to this mystery.
It is believed that the temples of Ellora were created in the period from the 5th to the 13th century AD. In the course of research, historians and archaeologists found that most of the caves are located in separate groups: 1-12, 14-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-28, 32-34, and there are large separate monuments - caves 29 and 30 The numbers were assigned to the caves in accordance with the approximate chronology of construction and are divided into three groups according to the religion to which they were dedicated - Buddhist (1-12), Hindu (13-29) and Jain (30-34).
Researchers identify three important periods in the history of the complex:
- the early Hindu period (VI century), when the construction of the first caves was carried out under the auspices of the Hindu dynasties Vakataka and Kalachuri;
- the Buddhist period (VI century - early VIII century) under the rule of the Hindu Chalukya dynasty;
- late Hindu and Jain period (beginning of the 8th century - 10th century), when temples were built by the Hindu dynasties Rashtrakuta, later - Yadava.
Of the twelve Buddhist temples, caves 1-10 form a separate group. Caves 1-3 and 5 are rather simple and most likely belong to the earliest period. Judging by the style of individual elements, caves 2 and 3 can be dated to the 6th century, while caves 1 and 5 were built even earlier. Judging by the inscription on the base of one of the statues in cave 12, caves 4, 6-9 were created in the 6th-7th centuries. Cave 10 was built much later, in the 8th-9th centuries, as evidenced by a short inscription on one of its columns.
The group of Hindu temples is divided into several subgroups. Caves 17-19, 21,25-29 were presumably built in the 6th-7th centuries. Cave 15 was probably originally Buddhist, judging by several Buddha-like figures adorning the frieze above the first row of columns on the second floor. This cave contains an illegible inscription from the time of the Rashtrakuta king Dantidurga (circa 733-757) and a copper offering bowl that belonged to this king. However, historically, this temple dates back to the reign of Krishna I (757-773), and its parts, such as the shrines of Lankeshvara and Nadidevatas, date back to an even later period.
In architecture famous cave 16 one can feel the influence of styles belonging to different periods. Thus, the main temple can be attributed to the middle of the 8th century, while the shrines of Lankeshvara and Nadidevatas and the sculptural bas-reliefs at the back of the monument appeared in the 8th-9th centuries.
The inscription in cave 21 is written in the letters of the ancient Kannada alphabet, which was in use in the 6th-7th centuries, and serves as indirect evidence that work on this temple began in the era of the formation of the Chalukya dynasty. This temple is considered the oldest among all the Hindu caves of Ellora.
The earliest of the Jain temples is Cave 30, which dates back to the first half of the 9th century. Cave 32 was being worked on around the same time, or just a few years later. Caves 31 and 33 date back to the 9th-10th centuries. Other small temples were built much later, for example, on a steep hillside above the Jain caves, a huge image of Parsvanatha was carved, which was made by a nobleman named Chakreshvara in 1234.
Architecture of cave temples
All the cave temples of Ellora, from the facade to the elements of interior decoration, are hollowed out in a basalt rock cliff and, in fact, are huge monolithic sculptures. The Ellora complex includes 34 caves located on the slopes of the Chamadiri cliff for 2.4 kilometers. Buddhist temples (caves 1-12) are located in the south, Jain temples (caves 30-34) are located in the northern part at some distance, and Hindu temples (caves 13-29) are located in the center. In the center of the complex is architectural gem India and the most significant temple of Ellora is Cave 16, or Kailasnatha.
The caves were carved in two ways: in the direction from the cliff wall deep into the rock and vertically, from top to bottom. In the first case, a hole was cut through the rock wall, through which the builders, gouging the rock, descended to the floor level and expanded the room, leaving pieces of rock in places, from which sculptures, friezes and columns were later carved.
The second method was that the rock was hollowed out from top to bottom, giving the shape of buildings, columns, sculptures and other architectural elements. With this method, the builders had no right to make a mistake, and the efforts spent on the work were truly colossal. So, it is estimated that during the construction of the Kailash temple, about 400 thousand tons of solid rock, and the period of work exceeded one hundred years.
Buddhist temples of Ellora
After the decline of Pitalkhora, Nasik and other Buddhist cave complexes of the Deccan, the Buddhist community moved to the vicinity of Aurangabad and settled near the village of Ellora (in those days - Elapura). In the 5th-7th centuries, Buddhists had a huge influence in this region. IN VIII-X centuries under the onslaught of the resurgent Hinduism, Buddhism gradually lost ground, and by the twelfth century came to a final decline.
Basically, the Buddhist caves of Ellora are viharas - rooms where the monks slept and ate, and spent time in meditation and prayer. The exception is cave 10, which is made in the form of a chaitya - a huge prayer hall. Caves 1-5, which until recently were considered the oldest in Ellora, are typical examples of the early Buddhist style, ascetic, without unnecessary details, sometimes even without statues and decorations. Over time, the architecture became more and more complex, the decoration became more luxurious, the temples included residential and office premises located on several floors.
The last of the Buddhist temples, Caves 11 and 12 are the largest Buddhist caves in India. These monasteries testify to the flourishing of the Mahayana teachings, in particular his Vajrayana tantric direction, which gained great popularity in this region by the 8th century.
In the Indian state of Maharashtra, there is the village of Ellora with 34 amazing caves carved into the vertical face of Mount Charanandri. Ellora is an official UNESCO World Heritage Site. The caves consist of 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain temples and monasteries built between the 6th and 10th centuries.
These caves are a sign of the religious harmony that prevailed in India during this period. The Ellora Caves are the state's most popular ancient sites and a must-see for every tourist.
(Total 25 photos)
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1. Buddhist caves (Vishvakarma) - the earliest of all the caves of Ellora (500-750 AD). All but one of them are viharas (monasteries). (girl in the rain)
2. Viharas were used for teachings, meditation, social rituals, dinners and overnight stays. (Raj Photography)
4. (Kareem Mayan)
5. The earliest Hindu caves date back to 600 AD, right in the middle of the heyday of Buddhism. (Xinoda)
6. In the photo: the Buddhist caves of Ellora. (Koshi Koshy)
7. Created during the prosperity and renaissance of Hinduism, Hindu caves represent a completely different style of creative vision and skill than Buddhist caves. (Jon Baldock)
8. Hindu temples were carved from top to bottom, and it took generations to give them shape. (A Lip Rim Toke)
10. Contrasting with the peaceful and gloomy early Buddhist caves, the walls of the Hindu caves are covered with living bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the sacred Hindu scriptures. (Priya Sivaraman)
12. Jain temples dating from the late 800s-900s descend 2km down a paved road (where rickshaws can pass). (gui stafford)
13. They reflect the characteristics of Jain philosophy and tradition, including a sense of strict asceticism combined with exquisite jewelry. (girl in the rain)
14. These caves are small compared to others, but they have very detailed decorations. (Xinoda)
15. In many Jain caves there were rich paintings on the ceilings, fragments of which are still visible. (Sonal Vaz)
16. Jane Caves of Ellora. (Emy Lou)
17. All Jain caves belong to the Digambara sect. (Mskadu)
18. This ensemble of sanctuaries of the three major religions of India is one of the best works of art in India of the Middle Ages. (Xinoda)
Address: India, from 30 km. from the city of Aurangabad, the village of Ellora
Creation: 6th to 9th century AD
Number of caves: 34 pcs.
Coordinates: 20°01"21.5"N 75°10"45.1"E
Mysterious and, one might even say, mystical India with its huge number of unique monuments history and architecture, interesting culture and numerous religious cults in ancient times attracted the attention of travelers and merchants.
Any scientist who tries to highlight the most interesting and significant sights of this densely populated country will face a rather difficult task: this ancient state of our planet is too diverse and even many-sided. One of the most interesting places (“one of”, but not the most) of India is, of course, the Ellora caves. They are located in the state of Maharashtra, and along with such monuments as the Egyptian pyramids, Mayan sanctuaries and Stonehenge are still the subject of controversy among scientists. Even in our time, it is almost impossible to explain how such huge complexes were built in ancient times.
This mystery, as well as stunning sculptures, temples, a mysterious atmosphere that pervades all of this slightly gloomy and even frightening place, made the caves of Ellora a kind of " calling card» India . One has only to imagine that dark caves there are 34 temples belonging to three religious cults, the question immediately arises: how the ancient masters, without having ultra-modern tools at hand, could create such a magnificent and huge miracle. It is worth noting that there are quite a lot of miracles in the caves of Ellora, it is simply accepted that all 17 Hindu, 12 Buddhist and 5 Janai temples are one complex. The UNESCO World Heritage List describes the caves of Ellora, and not each individual temple.
By the way, on the top of the Kailash mountains there is another huge Shaivite temple, it is called Kailasanatha. It is also assigned to the Ellora cave complex. So, according to the legends of the ancient Hindus, it is believed that it is this temple that leads to heaven, and it is in it that Shiva himself lives. This sanctuary is carved from a monolithic rock and decorated with carvings, the beauty of which is almost impossible to describe in words: perhaps even a huge construction company with the most cutting-edge tools will not dare to repeat the work of the ancient masters.
By the way, Kailasanatha was made under the guidance of a person, not a god or a representative alien civilization. This is evidenced by a copper tablet found in one of the caches of the Shaivite temple. It reads something like this: “Oh, Great Shiva, how did I manage to build such a miracle without magic?” After deciphering the master's appeal to the god Shiva, it becomes clear that Kailasanatha was built by the most ordinary people. How then, in ancient times, was it possible to literally carve out this temple? Unfortunately, there is no answer to this question yet: there are assumptions of archaeologists, builders and architects, but they remain only theories that have yet to be explained to our descendants. At the moment, one can only marvel at the work of the ancient masters, who revealed to the world one of the most significant wonders of India - mysterious caves Ellora.
Caves of Ellora: construction and history
At the beginning of this section, it should be emphasized once again that no confirmed versions of how exactly the Ellora caves were built have yet been put forward by scientists. There are only theories and very few facts that indicate at what time 34 temples were carved into the rock. According to some ancient manuscripts and copper tablets, it can be argued that the legendary Indian caves of Ellora began to decorate and build temples in them around the middle of the 6th century AD. All works were completed only in the 9th century.
Most scientists studying the history and culture of India insist that the temples in this place were not built by chance: it was here that the largest trade route passed in ancient times. What do religious cults have to do with trade? The answer to this question may seem too simple and even banal: “The most direct!”. The thing is that India in ancient times conducted uninterrupted trade: its goods were unusually highly valued in other countries. Many merchants and maharajas were extraordinarily wealthy people. They donated a certain part of their income to the construction of religious temples and the erection of sculptures in the caves of Ellora. It was not necessary to send gold, which paid for the work of ancient skilled craftsmen, far. Temples were built right next to trade route, in the place where most of the transactions were concluded.
If you carefully study the history of India, you can understand why Hindu temples predominate in the caves of Ellora. From the middle of the 6th century AD, in most of the country, Buddhism began to be supplanted by Hinduism. The excavations of archaeologists and the study of the age of the temples in the Ellora cave complex only once again prove that Buddhist temples were carved first, and only then Hindu ones. In the 8th century, the huge Kailasanatha temple was built, and by the end of the 10th century, five Jain temples were carved. By and large, the caves of Ellora are a kind of history textbook, telling with the help of temples and sculptures about religious cults that arose in India at one time or another.
For the convenience of scientists, guides and tourists, all the caves of Ellora are numbered in the order of their construction.. A little lower in the material will be described the most interesting temples and the most interesting sculptures of one of the main attractions of India. Naturally, it will be most convenient to describe them by numbers, but first of all, nevertheless, one should stop at the monolithic (!) Kailasanatha temple, located on the top of the Kailash mountains. The thing is that this is the largest and most interesting temple, so it will be discussed first of all. True, as mentioned above, it was carved into the basalt rock already in the 8th century, after the appearance of Buddhist temples in the caves of Ellora.
Kailasanatha temple: "top of the world"
The highest cave temple of Kailasanath was created by craftsmen at the direction of the Indian rajah, who is part of the legendary Rashtrakut family. Modern architects claim that this sanctuary was built according to a plan verified to the smallest detail. Historians who have studied ancient documents that have survived to this day say: “The Kailasanath temple had essential: he was the gate to heaven and was an intermediate link between man and higher powers. It began to be carved into the rock from top to bottom, gradually shaping it from the sides. This method in construction is unique and has not been used anywhere else. At the top, workers dug the deepest trench in the stone, which would allow carvers from all sides to create passages into the huge halls. In parallel with this, the craftsmen carved the roof of the “top of the world” from above. From this we can conclude that a kind of well was originally dug, and only then all the work was carried out in it.
If you look at the architectural elements of the Kailasanath temple, you can even assume that its style is reminiscent of Dravidian. True, it only reminds ... The huge sanctuary, whose height is 30 meters, width 33 meters, and length 61 meters, is unique in its kind. Its plan and construction method are both unique. At the very beginning of the material, it was said that so far it has not been possible to explain thanks to what technologies it was possible to carve Kailasanatha in the rock. The calculations of modern experts shed light on what difficulties the ancient workers had to face in the 8th century. In order to complete the construction of the temple, which was dedicated to Shiva, more than 400,000 tons (!) Of rock had to be hollowed out and removed from the object. It is even impossible to imagine how many people were employed in the construction of the “top of the world”.
Kailasanatha, according to the plan of the architect, was divided into three parts. In addition to these three parts, one can count a huge number of additional rooms, each of which is dedicated to a particular deity. In the temple you can see a sculpture of Shiva himself, a multi-armed demon named Ravan, who, according to the cult, was the master of all dark forces. If you carefully examine the entire sanctuary, which, by the way, can take several hours, then you can even conclude without the help of a guide: the temple was built for a long time and to last. Not a single smooth surface: all the walls in Kailasanath are covered with patterns that, upon closer inspection, seem to be three-dimensional. What are the figures of sacred lions and elephants, made by sculptors with the smallest details.
The Indian temple of Kailasanath, even if you look at its facade, fascinates and introduces the traveler who was brought to India into a state of silent stupor. It is especially magical at sunset. As soon as the sun goes down to the horizon and many shadows appear from the carved figures, it seems that they are about to come to life and begin to offer prayers to Shiva. This visual effect is not accidental: most likely it was carefully thought out and brought to life by an unknown architect. The fact that it was one person has already been proven thanks to a copper tablet found in an ancient cache. But his name is still reliably hidden by the veil of time. It will not be possible to describe in words all the decorative elements of the temple in one material: moreover, it is even almost impossible to collect photos of Kailasanath on one page, which would give a complete picture of all the splendor of this Shaivite sanctuary.
Buddhist temples in the caves of Ellora
Buddhist caves are numbered 1-12 in many guidebooks. Each number of caves is, as mentioned above, a kind of temple. However, if you carefully study all of them in order, then the conclusion suggests itself that these are not separate sanctuaries, but a temple complex. Eg, Ellora caves at numbers 1 and 5 are the most common cells for monks, where they rested after a hard day of work, prayer and meditation. Buddhist cave number 2, in which you can still see sculptures of the guardian of earthly treasures and the patroness of children, most likely, the monks used for long meditations. If we try to single out one of the most interesting caves where the Buddha was worshiped, then this will probably be cave number 6. It is in it that the figures of the Buddha and his disciples, Tara and the goddess Mahamayuri, who patronizes learning in Buddhism, are best preserved to this day.
Cave number 11 is also of particular interest. Until 1876, no one knew that it also had a third tier, which, for some unknown reason, was skillfully disguised by builders or Buddhist monks. The fact that the "eleventh" cave was subjected to reconstruction, no one doubts. After the Buddhists left it, they tried to convert the cave into a Hindu temple. However, for unknown reasons, the statues of Buddha remained in their places, only images of the deities Ganesha and Durga were made on the back wall. It is these two representatives of higher powers that belong to the Hindu religion.
Caves of Ellora: Hindu temples
There are the most Hindu caves in the Ellora temple complex: 17. They are numbered from 13 to 29. They are surprisingly similar to Buddhist caves, among them there are cells for monks, halls for meditation, communication with the god Shiva and refectories. The main difference is that among the numerous sculptures you will not meet the Buddha: most often in the Hindu caves of Ellora there are images of Shiva and other deities belonging to this cult. It is simply not possible to describe all the caves built before the end of the 8th century, each of which is unique in its own way. The main thing that will be interesting to know for a tourist who is going to visit the largest and most interesting temple complex on our planet is that the legendary "roof of the world" Kailasanatha is among the Hindu temples. She, like all the caves of Ellora, has its own number - 16. Most of the tourists who come to this mysterious and mysterious place, are immediately sent to the "sixteenth number".
The "roof of the world" in India was described in more or less detail in the middle of the material. However, in this subsection, I would like to add that, according to the assurances local guides, who do not know where they get their information from, the construction of cave No. 16 lasted a century and a half, and more than 7,000 people took part in its cutting. This statement cannot be taken seriously, the thing is that 7,000 people (three generations) simply could not have had time to cut and carry out 400,000 tons of rock in a century and a half: and this is not counting the huge number of patterns and sculptures that the whole world is famous for. the world of Kailasanatha.
Jain caves of Ellora
Five caves numbered from 30 to 34, in which the Jain cult flourished for a short period of time, fade before the grandeur of Hindu and Buddhist temples. Only cave number 32 can arouse interest in a tourist. In it, one can get an idea of Gomateshwara, a Jain religious cult, and how important meditation was given to it. It preserved a completely naked sculpture of a deity in a state of deep meditation. So deep that time has no power over him: hanging legs are entangled in vines, and under the sculpture itself, images of scorpions, snakes and even animals are visible.
All other caves related to the Jain cult remained unfinished. True, it is worth noting that the ministers of this religion at one time tried to create something similar to Kailasanatha. A miniature copy of the Shaivite temple, which was never fully completed, is located in cave number 30. If you count the number of Ellora Jain caves and examine their interior, it can be said with certainty that Gomateshwara, Parshvanatha and Jina Mahavira were worshiped in India for a very short time.
Caves of Ellora: a small reminder to the tourist
Before visiting the caves of Ellora, it should be remembered that they are all included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and are constantly under protection. All that is allowed on the territory of the cave temple complex is excursions, during which you can take amazing photos of the caves of Ellora. It is strictly forbidden to take “pebbles” from this mystical place as a souvenir: almost everywhere tourists are accompanied by security guards, who, by the way, are quite difficult to distinguish from local tourists or guides. They reveal themselves only when an unlucky traveler tries to break the rules of staying in the caves of Ellora.
The cave complex, which consists of 34 temples and a huge number of sculptures, is open from sunrise to sunset. There are no time limits. As soon as the first rays of the sun illuminate the attraction, which is almost on par with the Golden Temple and the temple in Bodhgaya, it is considered the most visited place in India by tourists, entry to its territory is allowed. After sunset, according to the current rules, only their caretakers have the right to be in the caves of Ellora.
The cost of the tour is only 250 rupees, which is quite a bit, considering how much the Indian government spends on preserving the largest cave temple complex in the world. “How to get to the caves of Ellora?” - such a question can be asked by a tourist who only learned about this amazing place in India. The easiest way to get to the temple complex is from a city called Aurangabad, located 40 kilometers from the caves. By the way, this city has an airport, so even if the traveler arrives in Delhi, he will be able to cover the distance between the capital of India and Aurangabad in a short period of time.
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India is a country with amazing rich history And original culture, its spiritual and material wealth found its reflection, in particular, in the cave temple complexes of Ajanta and Ellora. Throughout the year, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to the central Indian state of Maharashtra to look at the temples of unsurpassed beauty, carved into huge rocks and lavishly decorated with wall frescoes, carved columns and numerous sculptures.
If Ajanta is famous for its extraordinary painting, which tells about secular life India, then Ellora is a treasure trove of unique bas-reliefs carved into the rocks, which conceal the centuries-old wisdom of Indian mythology.
How to get there
You can get to Ellora by regular bus from Aurangabad, the journey will take no more than an hour. Entrance to each temple is paid separately, the most expensive entrance ticket costs about five US dollars. The complex is closed to visitors on Tuesdays.
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A bit of history
Ellora is a whole complex of cave temples of the three most popular religious and philosophical movements in India: Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. They were created in the 6th-11th centuries AD, there is an opinion that the monks who left Ajanta moved here. Unlike the latter, Ellora has a more advantageous location, routes of national importance pass in the immediate vicinity, the most noble persons and representatives of the ruling dynasty of India often came here for a visit.
Since the temples of Ellora were erected in a completely different historical era, already under the rule of the Rashtrakutas, who had no small influence on the world political arena and possessed truly untold wealth, they can boast of a more complex structure and indescribable beauty of decorative design.
Kailasanath Temple
The most impressive of all the temples of Ellora is undoubtedly Kailasanatha. It took a whole century and a half to create it, because the temple is completely carved into the rock, and its total area is about two thousand square meters. Kailasanatha, as it were, rises above all other temples, and symbolizes one of the Himalayan peaks sacred to many religions - Kailash, which is considered the spiritual center of the entire universe. It was on this mountain that the supreme god in Hinduism, Shiva, sat, therefore Kailasanatha is dedicated to him. There are many statues of deities, images from Indian mythology, skillfully carved in stone.
The facade and inner walls of the temple are generously decorated with bas-reliefs depicting plots of Indian myths; they are, as it were, protected from outside influences by a huge wall, completely covered with relief images. The scene of Shiva's battle with the personification of the forces of evil - Ravana is simply mesmerizing.
The sculptor so accurately conveyed all the features of the characters that even an uninitiated person can easily interpret the events captured in stone. These bas-reliefs look especially grandiose in the rays of the setting sun.
Due to the special composition of the rock, the temple has been perfectly preserved to this day, moreover, in some places you can find the remains of white paint, which once covered the walls, which gave Kailasanath a special resemblance to a snow-capped peak. At its foot, statues of lions and elephants are carved, and the elephants are placed in such a way that only three elephants are visible from the side of the facade, on the backs of which, according to mythology, the world is kept.
Caves of Ellora and Ajanta
Tin Thal Temple
Kailasanatha is considered the largest monolithic stone sculpture. But still, the central temple of Ellora is usually called Tin Thal, it has three floors and is one of the largest cave temples in the world. Concerning architectural features Tin-Thala. Here everything is done extremely simply and restrainedly. The sixteen-meter facade is decorated only with powerful square columns arranged in three rows, followed by a small rectangular courtyard, the entrance to which, crowned with a pretty narrow gate carved into the rock. A stone staircase leads directly to the huge halls, the vaults of which are supported by massive square columns. In the depths of each of them are grandiose statues, covered in twilight. All this ascetic simplicity and monumentality makes an indelible impression on those present.
rameshwara temple
The Rameshvara temple is somewhat inferior in size, but it can compete in the richness of the interior design. Here, every centimeter of the walls is decorated with elegant stone carvings, and massive columns are decorated in the same way. When you get here, you find yourself in the mysterious and all-consuming world of Indian mythology, from the walls looking at you are mythical creatures carved from stone, masterfully inscribed in scenes from the most important legends of Ancient India. It is easy to recognize the Rameshvara temple by its unusual facade with elegant carvings and columns in the form of standing girls.
Jain cave temples
It is also interesting to visit the Jain cave temples, there are only three of them, but they are also decorated with carvings and skillful bas-reliefs depicting Mahavir, the founder of Jain philosophy, as well as majestic lions and lotuses.
Showing you this object, once again I am amazed and once again I can’t even believe that such majestic structures could have been built a long time ago. How much labor, effort and energy was invested in these rocks!
Most visited ancient monument Maharashtra - the Ellora caves, which are located 29 km northwest of Aurangabad, may not be located in such impressive location, like their older sisters at Ajanta, but the astonishing richness of their sculpture makes up for this, and they are by no means to be missed if you are on your way to or from Mumbai, which is 400 km to the southwest.
A total of 34 Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves - some of which were created at the same time, competing with each other - encircle the foot of the Chamadiri cliff, which stretches for two kilometers, where it merges into open plains.
The main attraction of this territory - the gargantuan-sized temple of Kailash - rises up from a huge, sheer-walled depression in the hillside. The largest monolith in the world, this incredibly huge piece of solid basalt has been transformed into a picturesque cluster of intersecting colonnaded halls, galleries and sacred altars. But let's talk about everything in more detail ...
The temples of Ellora arose in the era of the state of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, which in the 8th century united the western part of India under their rule. In the Middle Ages, many considered the Rashtrakut state to be the greatest state, it was compared with such powerful powers as the Arab Caliphate, Byzantium and China. The most powerful Indian rulers at that time were the Rashtrakutas.
The caves were created between the 6th and 9th century AD. In total, there are 34 temples and monasteries in Ellora. The interior decoration of the temples is not as dramatic and rich as in the Ajanta caves. However, there are refined sculptures of a more beautiful form here, a complex plan is observed and the sizes of the temples themselves are larger. And all the memos are much better preserved to this day. Long galleries were created in the rocks, and the area of one hall sometimes reached 40x40 meters. The walls are skillfully decorated with reliefs and stone sculptures. Temples and monasteries were created in the basalt hills for half a millennium (6-10 century AD). It is also characteristic that the construction of the caves of Ellora began around the time when the holy places of Ajanta were abandoned and lost sight of.
In the XIII century, by order of Raja Krishna, the cave temple of Kailasantha was created. According to quite specific treatises on construction, a temple was erected, everything was stated in them to the smallest detail. Between heavenly and earthly temples, Kailasantha was to become an intermediate one. Kind of a gate.
Kailasantha measures 61 meters by 33 meters. 30 meters height of the whole temple. Kailasantha was created gradually, they began to cut down the temple from the top. First, they dug a trench around the boulder, which eventually turned into a temple. Holes were cut in it, later these will be galleries and halls.
By gouging about 400,000 tons of rock, the Kailasantha temple at Ellora was created. From this it can be judged that those who created the plan of this temple had an extraordinary imagination. Features of the Dravidian style are demonstrated by Kailasantha. This can be seen both in the gate in front of the Nandin entrance, and in the very outline of the temple, which gradually narrows towards the top, and along the facade with miniature sculptures in the form of decoration.
All Hindu buildings are located around the most prominent Kailash temple, which personifies the sacred mountain of Tibet. In contrast to the calm and more ascetic decoration of Buddhist caves, Hindu temples are decorated with catchy and bright carvings, which is very characteristic of Indian architecture.
Near Chennai in Tamil Nanda is the temple of Mamallapuram, with its towers the tower of the Kailasantha temple resembles. They were built around the same time.
Incredible effort has been put into the construction of the temple. This temple stands in a well 100 meters long and 50 meters wide. At Kailasanath, the foundation is not only a three-tiered monument, but also a huge complex with a courtyard near the temple, porticos, galleries, halls, statues.
The lower part ends with a plinth of 8 meters, it is girded with figures of sacred animals of elephants and lions from all sides. The figures protect and at the same time support the temple.
The original reason it's enough remote place became the center of such an active religious and artistic activity, became a lively caravan route, which ran here, connecting flourishing cities in the north and ports west coast. Profits from profitable trade went to the construction of the sanctuaries of this complex, hollowed out in stone for five hundred years, begun in the middle of the 6th century. n. e., about the same time that Ajanta, located 100 km to the northeast, was abandoned. This was the end of the Buddhist era in central India: by the end of the 7th c. Hinduism began to rise again. The revival of Brahmanism gained momentum over the next three centuries under the patronage of the Chalukya and Rashtrakuta kings, two powerful dynasties, thanks to which much of the work in Ellora was completed, including the construction of the Kailash temple in the 8th century. The third and last stage of the take-off of construction activity in this area came at the end of the first millennium of a new era, when the local rulers turned from Shaivism to Digambara Jainism. A small cluster of less prominent caves to the north of the main group stands as a reminder of this era.
Unlike the secluded Ajanta, Ellora did not escape the consequences of the fanatical struggle with other religions that accompanies the coming to power of the Muslims in the 13th century. The worst extremes were taken during the reign of Aurangzeb, who, in a fit of piety, ordered the systematic destruction of "pagan idols." Although Ellora still bears the scars of that time, most of her sculpture has remained miraculously intact. The fact that the caves were carved into solid rock, out of the monsoon rains, has kept them in remarkably good condition.
All caves are numbered, approximately according to the chronology of their creation. Numbers 1 to 12 in the southern part of the complex are the oldest and date from the Buddhist Vajrayana era (500-750 AD). The Hindu caves, numbered 17 to 29, were built at the same time as the later Buddhist caves and date back to between 600 and 870 BC. new era. Further north, the Jain caves - numbers 30 to 34 - were gouged from 800 AD to the end of the 11th century. Due to the sloping nature of the hillside, most of the cave entrances are set back from ground level and behind open courtyards and large pillared verandas or porticos. Entrance to all caves except the Kailash temple is free.
To see the oldest caves first, turn right from the car park where the buses arrive and walk along the main path to Cave 1. From here, gradually work your way further north, resisting the temptation to go to Cave 16, a Kailash temple that is best left for later. when everyone leaves at the end of the day tourist groups while the long shadows cast by the setting sun bring his striking stone sculpture to life.
Man-made rock caves dotted across the volcanic hills of the northwestern Deccan are among the most amazing religious monuments in Asia, if not the world. Ranging from tiny monastic cells to colossal, elaborate temples, they are remarkable for being hand-cut into hard stone. Early caves of the 3rd c. BC BC, seem to have been temporary shelters for Buddhist monks when torrential monsoon rains interrupted their wanderings. They copied earlier wooden buildings and were financed by merchants, for whom the castless new faith was an attractive alternative to the old, discriminatory social order. Gradually, inspired by the example of Maurya emperor Ashoka, local ruling dynasties also began to convert to Buddhism. Under their patronage, during the 2nd c. BC e., in Karli, Bhaja and Ajanta, the first large cave monasteries were created.
At this time, the ascetic Theravada Buddhist school predominated in India. Closed monastic communities had little interaction with the outside world. The caves created during this era were mostly simple "prayer halls" (chaityas) - long, rectangular apsidal chambers with cylindrical vaulted roofs and two low pillared passages curving gently around the back of a monolithic stupa. As symbols of Buddha's enlightenment, these hemispherical burial mounds were the main centers of worship and meditation, around which communities of monks made their ritual detours.
The methods used in creating caves have changed little over the centuries. Initially, the main dimensions of the decorative facade were applied to the front of the rock. Groups of masons then cut a rough hole (which later became an elegant horseshoe-shaped chaitya window) through which they cut further into the depths of the rock. As workers reached floor level, using heavy iron picks, they left chunks of untouched rock, which skillful sculptors then turned into columns, prayer friezes and stupas.
By the 4th c. n. e. the Hinayana school began to give way to the more luxurious Mahayana or "Great Vehicle" school. The greater emphasis of this school on the ever-increasing pantheon of deities and bodhisattvas (merciful saints who put off their own attainment of Nirvana in order to assist humanity in its progress towards Enlightenment) was also reflected in the change architectural styles. The chaityas were supplanted by the richly decorated monastic halls, or viharas, in which the monks both lived and prayed, and the image of the Buddha assumed greater prominence. Taking the place where the stupa used to stand at the end of the hall, around which ritual detours were made, a colossal image appeared, which carried 32 characteristics (lakshanas), including long hanging earlobes, a bulging skull, curls of hair that distinguish the Buddha from other beings. Mahayana art reached its peak at the end of the Buddhist era. The creation of an extensive catalog of themes and imagery contained in ancient manuscripts such as the Jatakas (legends about previous incarnations of the Buddha) as well as those displayed in the marvelous, awe-inspiring wall paintings at Ajanta may have been partly due to an attempt to stir up interest in a faith that By that time, it had already begun to fade in this region.
The desire of Buddhism to compete with the resurgent Hinduism, which took shape in the 6th century, eventually led to the creation of a new, more esoteric religious movement within the Mahayana. The direction of the Vajrayana, or "Thunder Chariot", emphasizing and affirming the creative principle of the feminine, shakti; in secret rituals, spells and magic formulas were used here. Ultimately, however, such modifications proved powerless in India in the face of the revived appeal of Brahmanism.
The subsequent transfer of royal and popular patronage to the new faith is best seen in the example of Ellora, where during the 8th century. many of the old viharas have been converted into temples, and polished shivalings have been installed in their shrines instead of stupas or Buddha statues. Hindu cave architecture, with its affinity for dramatic mythological sculpture, reached its highest expression in the 10th century, when majestic temple Kailash is a giant copy of structures on the surface of the earth, which have already begun to replace caves carved into the rocks. It was Hinduism that bore the brunt of the fanatical medieval persecution of other religions by Islam, which reigned in the Deccan, and Buddhism by that time had long since moved to the relatively safe Himalayas, where it flourishes to this day.
Buddhist caves are located on the sides of a gentle recess in the slope of the Chamadiri cliff. All but Cave 10 are viharas, or monastic halls, which the monks originally used for study, secluded meditation and communal prayers, and mundane activities such as eating and sleeping. As you walk through them, the halls will gradually become more and more impressive in size and style. Scholars attribute this to the rise of Hinduism and the need for rivalry in seeking the patronage of rulers with the more reverent Saivite cave temples that have been excavated so close in the neighborhood.
Caves 1 to 5
Cave 1, which may have been a granary, as its largest hall is a simple, unadorned vihara that houses eight small cells and almost no sculpture. In the much more impressive Cave 2, the large central chamber is supported by twelve massive square-based columns, and Buddha statues sit along the side walls. The entrance leading to the altar room is flanked by the figures of two giant dvarapalas, or gate guards: the unusually muscular Padmapani, the bodhisattva of compassion with a lotus in his hand, on the left, and the richly jeweled Maitreya, the “Buddha of the Future”, on the right. Both are accompanied by their spouses. Inside the shrine itself, a majestic Buddha sits on a lion-shaped throne, looking stronger and more determined than his serene predecessors in Ajanta. Caves 3 and 4, which are slightly older and similar in design to Cave 2, are in rather poor condition.
Known as the Maharwada (because the local Mahar tribe hid there during the monsoon), Cave 5 is Ellora's largest one-story vihara. Its huge, 36 m long, rectangular meeting room is said to have been used by the monks as a refectory, with two rows of benches carved into the stone. At the far end of the hall, the entrance to the central shrine is guarded by two beautiful statues of bodhisattvas - Padmapani and Vajrapani ("Thunder Holder"). Inside sits the Buddha, this time on a dais; his right hand touches the ground making a gesture indicating “Miracle Thousand Buddhas”, which Master did to confuse a group of heretics.
The next four caves were dug at about the same time in the 7th century. and are just a repetition of their predecessors. On the walls of the vestibule at the far end of the central hall in Cave 6 are the most famous and beautifully executed statues. Tara, the wife of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, stands on the left, with an expressive, friendly face. On the opposite side is the Buddhist goddess of teaching Mahamayuri (Mahamayuri), depicted with a symbol in the form of a peacock, in front of her at the table sits a diligent student. There is an obvious parallel between Mahajuri and Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge and wisdom corresponding to her (the mythological vehicle of the latter, however, was a goose), which clearly shows to what extent Indian Buddhism of the 7th century. borrowed elements from a rival religion in an attempt to revive his own waning popularity.
Caves 10, 11 and 12
Dug out at the beginning of the 8th c. Cave 10 is one of the last and most magnificent chaitya halls in the Deccan Caves. To the left of its large veranda, steps begin, rising to the upper balcony, from where a triple passage leads to the inner balcony, with flying horsemen, celestial nymphs and a frieze decorated with playful dwarfs. From here you have a beautiful view of the hall with its octagonal columns and vaulted roof. From the stone "rafters" carved into the ceiling, imitation beams that were present in earlier wooden structures, comes the popular name of this cave - "Sutar Jhopadi" - "Carpenter's Workshop". At the far end of the hall, on a throne, in front of a votive stupa, sits the Buddha - this group represents central location worship.
Despite the discovery in 1876 of its previously hidden subterranean floor, Cave 11 is still referred to as "Dho Tal", or "two-tiered" cave. Its top floor is a long pillared assembly hall with a shrine to the Buddha, and images on its back wall of Durga and Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva, indicate that the cave was converted into a Hindu temple after it was abandoned by the Buddhists.
Neighboring cave 12 - "Tin Tal" or "three-tiered" - is another three-tiered vihara, the entrance to which leads through a large open courtyard. Once again, the main attractions are on the top floor, which was once used for learning and meditation. On the sides of the altar room at the end of the hall, along the walls of which five large figures of bodhisattvas are located, there are statues of five Buddhas, each of which depicts one of his previous incarnations of the Teacher. The figures on the left are shown in a state of deep meditation, and those on the right are again in the “Miracle of a Thousand Buddhas” position.
Seventeen Hindu caves of Ellora are grouped around the middle of the cliff, where the majestic Kailash temple is located. Carved out at the start of the Deccan Brahmin renaissance, during a time of relative stability, the cave temples have a sense of life that their discreet Buddhist predecessors lacked. There are no longer rows of big-eyed, soft-faced Buddhas and bodhisattvas. Instead, huge bas-reliefs stretch along the walls, depicting dynamic scenes from Hindu legends. Most of them are associated with the name of Shiva, the god of destruction and rebirth (and the main deity of all the Hindu caves of the complex), although you will also find numerous images of Vishnu, the guardian of the universe, and his many incarnations.
The same patterns are repeated over and over again, which gave the artisans of Ellora an excellent opportunity to hone their technique over the centuries, the crown and greatest achievement of which was the Kailash temple (Cave 16). The temple described separately is an attraction that you must definitely visit while in Ellora. However, you can better appreciate its fine sculpture if you first visit the earlier Hindu caves. If you don't have too much time, keep in mind that numbers 14 and 15, located directly to the south, are the most interesting of the group.
Dating from the beginning of the 7th century, one of the last caves of the early period - Cave 14 - was a Buddhist vihara converted into a Hindu temple. Its plan is similar to Cave 8, with the altar room separated from the back wall and surrounded by a circular passageway. The entrance to the sanctuary is guarded by two imposing statues of the river goddesses Ganges and Yamuna, and in the alcove behind and to the right, the seven goddesses of fertility "Sapta Matrika" rock well-fed babies on their knees. The son of Shiva - Ganesha with the head of an elephant - sits to their right next to two terrifying images of Kala and Kali, the goddesses of death. Beautiful friezes adorn the long walls of the cave. Starting from the front, the friezes on the left (when facing the altar) depict Durga killing the buffalo demon Mahisha; Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, sits on a lotus throne, while her elephant servants pour water from their trunks on her; Vishnu in the form of the boar Varaha, saving the earth goddess Prithvi from the flood; and finally Vishnu with his wives. The panels on the opposite wall are dedicated exclusively to Shiva. The second one from the front shows him playing dice with his wife Parvati; then he performs the dance of the creation of the Universe in the form of Nataraja; and on the fourth frieze, he nonchalantly ignores the futile attempts of the demon Ravana to throw him and his wife off their earthly dwelling - Mount Kailash.
Like the neighboring cave, the two-story Cave 15, which leads to the entrance long staircase, began its existence as a Buddhist vihara, but was occupied by the Hindus and turned into a Shiva sanctuary. You can skip the generally not particularly interesting first floor and go straight up, where there are several examples of Ellora's most majestic sculpture. The name of the cave - "Das Avatara" ("Ten Avatars") - comes from a series of panels located along the right wall, which represent five of the ten incarnations - avatars - Vishnu. On the panel closest to the entrance, Vishnu is shown in his fourth image of the Lion-Man - Narasimha, which he adopted in order to destroy the demon, which "neither man nor beast could kill, neither day nor night, neither inside the palace nor outside" ( Vishnu overcame him, hiding at dawn on the threshold of the palace). Pay attention to the serene expression on the face of the demon before death, which is confident and calm, because he knows that, being killed by a god, he will receive salvation. On the second frieze from the entrance, the Guardian is depicted in the incarnation of the sleeping “Primal Dreamer”, reclining on the rings of Ananda - the cosmic serpent of Infinity. From his navel, a lotus flower shoot is about to grow, and Brahma will emerge from it and begin the creation of the world.
The carved panel in the recess to the right of the vestibule shows Shiva emerging from the lingam. His rivals - Brahma and Vishnu, stand before his vision humbly and begging, symbolizing the predominance of Shaivism in this region. And finally, in the middle of the left wall of the room, if you stand facing the sanctuary, the most elegant sculpture of the cave depicts Shiva in the form of Nataraja, frozen in a dancing pose.
Caves 17 to 29
Only three of the Hindu caves located on the hillside north of the Kailash temple are worthy of inspection. Cave 21 - "Ramesvara" (Ramesvara) - was created at the end of the 6th century. Believed to be the oldest Hindu cave in Ellora, it contains several marvelously executed examples of sculpture, including a pair of beautiful river goddesses flanking the veranda, two wonderful gatekeeper statues, and several sensual amorous couples (mithunas) adorning the balcony walls. Note also the magnificent panel depicting Shiva and Parvati. In Cave 25, located further away, there is a striking image of the Sun God - Surya, driving his chariot towards the dawn.
From here, the path leads past two more caves, and then abruptly descends along the surface of a steep cliff to its foot, where a small river gorge is located. Crossing a seasonal stream with a waterfall, the path climbs up the other side of the crevice and leads to Cave 29 - Dhumar Lena. This one dates from the end of the 6th c. the cave is distinguished by an unusual ground plan in the form of a cross, similar to Elephanta cave in Mumbai harbor. Its three staircases are guarded by pairs of rearing lions, and the walls inside are decorated with huge friezes. To the left of the entrance, Shiva pierces the demon Andhaka; in the adjacent panel, it reflects the attempts of the many-armed Ravana to shake him and Parvati off the top of Mount Kailash (note the fat-cheeked dwarf teasing an evil demon). The south side depicts a dice game scene in which Shiva teases Parvati by holding her hand as she prepares to throw.
Kailash Temple (Cave 16)
Cave 16, the colossal temple of Kailash (daily 6am to 6pm; Rs 5) is Ellora's masterpiece. In this case, the term "cave" is erroneous. Although the temple, like all caves, was carved into solid rock, it is strikingly similar to the usual structures on the surface of the earth - in Pattadakal and Kanchipuram in South India, on the model of which it was built. This monolith is believed to have been conceived by the Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna I (756-773). However, a hundred years passed, and four generations of kings, architects and artisans passed, until this project was completed. Climb up the path that leads along the northern cliff face of the complex to the landing above the squat main tower and you'll see why.
The size of the building alone is amazing. Work began by digging three deep trenches at the top of the hill, using picks, hoes, and pieces of wood, which, soaked in water and inserted into narrow cracks, expanded and crumbled the basalt. When a huge piece of raw rock stood out in this way, the royal sculptors set to work. It is estimated that a total of a quarter of a million tons of fragments and crumbs were cut down from the hillside, it was impossible to improvise or make mistakes. The temple was conceived as a gigantic copy of the Himalayan dwelling of Shiva and Parvati - the pyramidal Mount Kailash (Kailash) - the Tibetan peak, which is said to be the "divine axis" between heaven and earth. Today, almost all of the thick layer of white lime plaster that gave the temple the appearance of a snowy mountaintop has fallen away, revealing carefully crafted surfaces of grey-brown stone. At the back of the tower, these protrusions have been eroded by centuries and faded and blurred, as if a gigantic sculpture was slowly melting from the brutal Deccan heat.
The main entrance to the temple leads through a high stone partition, which is designed to delimit the transition from the mundane to the sacred realm. Passing between the two river goddesses guarding the entrance, Ganga and Yamuna, you find yourself in a narrow passage that opens into the main forecourt, opposite the panel depicting Lakshmi - the Goddess of Wealth - being showered by a pair of elephants - this scene is known to the Hindus under the name "Gajalakshmi". Custom requires pilgrims to circumnavigate Mount Kailash in a clockwise direction, so descend the steps on the left and walk across the front of the patio to the nearest corner.
From the top of the concrete staircase in the corner, all three main sections of the complex are visible. The first is the entrance with the Nandi buffalo statue - vehicle Shiva lying in front of the altar; the next, the intricately decorated walls of the main assembly hall, or mandapa, recessed into stone, which still retain traces of the colored plaster that originally covered the entire interior of the structure; and finally, the sanctuary itself, with a short and thick 29-meter pyramidal tower, or shikhara (which is best viewed from above). These three components rest on an appropriately sized raised platform supported by dozens of lotus-gathering elephants. In addition to symbolizing the sacred mountain of Shiva, the temple also depicts a giant chariot. The transepts protruding from the side of the main hall are its wheels, the Nandi shrine is its yoke, and the two life-size trunkless elephants in front of the courtyard (mutilated by marauding Muslims) are draft animals.
Most of the main attractions of the temple itself are limited to its side walls, which are covered with expressive sculpture. The long panel along the stairs leading to the northern part of the mandapa vividly depicts scenes from the Mahabharata. It shows some scenes from Krishna's life, including the one shown in the lower right corner of the baby god suckling the poisoned breast of a wet nurse sent by his evil uncle to kill him. Krishna survived, but the poison dyed his skin a characteristic blue color. If you continue to look around the temple clockwise, you will see that most of the panels of the lower sections of the temple are dedicated to Shiva. In the southern part of the mandapa, in an alcove carved from the most prominent part of it, you will find a bas-relief, which is generally considered the most beautiful example of sculpture in the complex. It shows how Shiva and Parvati are disturbed by the many-headed demon Ravana, who was imprisoned inside the sacred mountain and is now rocking the walls of his prison with his many hands. Shiva is about to assert his supremacy by calming the earthquake with the movement of his big toe. Parvati, meanwhile, watches him nonchalantly, leaning on her elbow, while one of her maids flees in a panic.
At this point, make a slight detour and climb the stairs in the lower (southwest) corner of the courtyard to the “Hall of Sacrifices” with its striking frieze of the seven mother goddesses, the Sapta Matrika, and their terrifying companions Kala and Kali (represented standing on top of mountains of corpses), or head straight up the steps of the main assembly hall, past the energetic battle scenes of the spectacular frieze of the Ramayana, and into the altar room. The sixteen-columned assembly hall is shrouded in a gloomy half-light, which is designed to focus the attention of the worshipers on the presence within the deity. Using a portable electric flashlight, the choukidar will illuminate fragments of the ceiling painting, where Shiva in the form of Nataraja performs the dance of the birth of the Universe, and numerous erotic mithuna couples are also presented. The shrine itself is no longer a functioning altar, although it still houses a large stone lingam mounted on a yoni pedestal, symbolizing the dual aspect of Shiva's generative energy.
It is remarkable that after so many years, the cultural, historical and architectural heritage of the planet has been imprinted on our earth forever. And one of them is the caves of Ellora. The caves and temples of Ellora are listed by UNESCO as monuments that are world heritage humanity.
one of the questions that interests me is this: there must have been a lot of people living or coming here. And how were the water pipes arranged here? Yes, at least the same Sewerage topas there. - How? It would seem an ordinary thing, but it must be organized somehow!
Be sure to visit the virtual tour of the temple. Click on the picture below...
