This the second part on The Early Rock-cut temples of India: History And Architecture -Maharashtra State
1. The Kailasa rock-cut temple:
Considered to be the most amazing rock-cu temple among the 34 temples and monasteries known collectively as Ellora caves, the entire sites extend over more than 2km, and were dug side by side in a wall of a high basalt cliff in the complex located at Ellora. The Kailasa (Cave – 16) is a fine piece of example of Dravidian architecture owing to its striking proportion, elaborated workmanship, architectural features and sculptural ornamentation of rock-cut architecture.Though details are not available, it is generally believed that the builder was "the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I (r. 756–773 CE), based on two epigraphs that link the temple to "Krishnaraja." However, this conclusion is subject to
debate.
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| Down ward excavation Kailasa rock-cut temple Ellora Cave temple 15 Maharashtra en.wikipedia.org |
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| Inside the excavated mandapa (hall) Kailasa temple tripoto.com |
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| 100 ft tall Free standing monolith pillar,Kailasa temple tripoto.com |
The freestanding pillar (see the image)was excavated by removing the rocks around.
Unlike many rock-cut temples the main construction feature of Kailasa temple is its vertical excavation—carvers started at the top of the original rock and excavated downward rigidly following the long held traditional methods by the architect which could not have been achieved by excavating from the front.It is stated that an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 tons of solid rock had been carefully excavated. A single mistake in carving every each of the temple could not be "undone" or patched up.This kind of downward cutting in a rocky terrain requires not only proper preplanning but also tremendous skill. The large part of excavated heavy rock was never found or seen by anyone in and around the site. Where was it used or dumped is a puzzle,notyet properly answered.
The Reason for the southern influence on the temple architecture could be due to the major involvement of Chalukya and Pallava artists in its construction while the indigenous Deccan artisans seemed to have played lesser role in the temple's planning and construction.
According to Historical the unpopular Mogul ruler Aurangzeb,being an iconoclast (hater of idol worship) employed about 1,000 men to destroy the temple in the 17th century. The concerted efforts ended in failure but for only minor breakage to the sculptures.
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| two story structure excavated by downward cutting Kailasa temple tripoto.com |
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| Downward excavated Kailasa rock-cut temple Ellora Cave temple 15 Maharashtra en.wikipedia.org |
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| Kailasha temple(behind) (Ellora cave) image: Amit balani en.wikipedia.org |
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| Carved Kalasha temple Gopura (tower) image: sanket 901 en.wikipedia.org |
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| Kalasha temple Mandapa (hall) with flat roof image: Y.Shishido en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: The Kailasa (Sanskrit:Kailasanatha) Temple is one of the largest rock-cut ancient Hindu temples located in Ellora, Maharashtra, India. It is a major attraction in Marathwada region of Maharashtra..........
It was built in the 8th century by the Rashtrakuta King Krishna -1 as attested in Kannada inscriptions. The flat-roofed mandapa (as in the image) is supported by 16 pillars, and a Dravidian style shikhara with a small cupola at top.. The shrine – complete with pillars, windows, inner and outer rooms, gathering halls, and an enormous stone lingam at its heart – is carved with niches, plasters
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| Pillared mandapa, Kailasa temple Ellora image: Akshay Prakash en.wikipedia.org |
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| Ramayana panel in the base of the hall (mandapa) Kailasa temple, Ellora, speakzeasy.wordpress.com |
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| Kailasa rock-cut temple, Ellora, MH speakzeasy.wordpress.com |
Above image" A rock bridge connecting the Nandi Mandapa to the porch of the temple, the structure itself resembles a tall South Indian temple tower (gopura). The top of the carved structure over the sanctuary is 32.6 metres (107 ft) above the level of the court below..............
The shrine with a large Lingam at its center is complete with pillars, windows, inner and outer rooms, gathering halls, etc. Site is has carved niches, plasters, windows as well as images of Deities, Mithunas (erotic male and female figures) and other figures. Most of the Deities on the left of the entrance are Shala. About the Deities on the left of the entrance are Shaalaite (followers of Lord Shiva), while on the right side the Deities are Vaishnavites (followers of Lord Vishnu).
Kailasa temple pillar architecture
There are two Dwajasthambam (pillar with flagstaff) in the courtyard. The grand sculpture of Ravana attempting to lift Mount Kailasa, with his full might is a landmark in Indian art. The Ellora complex is a unique artistic creation and a technological exploit, but with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the “spirit of tolerance” that was characteristic of ancient India.
Kailasa-Temple-Ellora -One of India’s most important archaeological sites from the Gupta period, it is currently a tourist site under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Kailasa temple pillar architecture
There are two Dwajasthambam (pillar with flagstaff) in the courtyard. The grand sculpture of Ravana attempting to lift Mount Kailasa, with his full might is a landmark in Indian art. The Ellora complex is a unique artistic creation and a technological exploit, but with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the “spirit of tolerance” that was characteristic of ancient India.
Kailasa-Temple-Ellora -One of India’s most important archaeological sites from the Gupta period, it is currently a tourist site under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India.
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2. Karla Caves, Maharashtra:
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| View of hermitage,Karla caves Sahyadri mountain Maharashtra en.wikipedia.org |
One of the older and smaller of the many rock-cut Buddhist sites in the state of Maharashtra, this site is quite popular and well known for the famous "Grand Chaitya" (Cave 8). The distinctive aspect is it is the largest and most completely preserved chaitya hall of the period, comprising a large number of well-carved sculpture on a large scale. Karla Caves in Lonavala area contain a blend of Hindu and Buddhists style of rock-carved caves architecture. The group includes 16 rock cut excavations of which cave 8 is the chaitya griha which was carved during Satavahanas dynasty (271 BCE to 30 BCE).The caves were excavated with support from many traders of Western Satraps of Saka origin and also grants from Satavahana rulers. They were excavated in the Sahyadri Hills in the early 1st millennium CE
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| Great Chaitya hall (worship) in the Karla Caves, MH. en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: Normally grand and solemn, a chaitya hall, chaitya-griha, (Sanskrit: Caitya) is simply a prayer hall in a shrine invariably in Buddhist places of worship. It refers to a space with a stupa and a rounded apse at the end opposite the entrance, with a arched high roof;
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| Row of capital Chaiya hall Karla caves en.wikipedia.org |
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| Right row of columns,Chaiya hall en.wikipedia.org |
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| Chaiya hall Section in perspective Karla caves 120 Ceimage:Percy Brown (1872- 1955) en.wikipedia.org |
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| Chaiya hall right verandah panel en.wikipedia.org |
A religious architectural term in India, the chaitya is the stupa itself and in Jainism and Hinduism it is a temple, sanctuary or any sacred monument. But in Buddhism practiced outside India, in countries like Cambodia, Nepal, etc it refers to the small stupa-like monuments. The curved ceiling with ribs imitate timber construction. The halls are commonly tall with curved roof , but narrow in width and the far end is the focus of attention parikrama. Going round the place of worship is part of worship ritual called prathashna . This is done around the Stupa or around the passage between columns on the sides. The same pradakshina path or corridor in found in countless historical Hindu temples of South India,in particular,Tamil Nadu.
In the case of interior part, the advantage is the horse-shoe shaped windows over the porch or the entrance itself allow enough light indoors. In some places the hall is designed in such a way the opening overhead will allow the light to fall on the holy object or dagoba, but the rest is left in obscurity. As there are no openings on the sides the view between the columns that divide the aisles from the nave is unlimited. These caves are some of the largest rock-cut Buddhist shrines in India. The monasteries may belong to 60-40 B.C. and 4th century A.D.
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| partially obscured Great Chaitya,Karla caves MH en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: The Karla Caves, Karli Caves, near Lonavala, Maharashtra. were developed from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD. The oldest is dated back to 160 BC, located on the major ancient trade route, running eastward from the Arabian Sea into the Deccan. The famous "Grand Chaitya" (Cave 8;120 CE), which is "the largest and most completely preserved" one with numerous fine medium-sized sculptures.
The caves at karli, near Lonavala and other places were developed through grants from Satavahana rulers and traveling traders. Buddhist chose the sites close to the trade route through their association with traders and knowledge of the mountainous terrains in this region.
A protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India, the complex is being visited by lots of tourists. Further, such caves are located in picturesque hilly regions of Western Ghats.
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| Lenyadri caves, Maharashtra en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: Known as one of the eight revered Ashtavinayak temples, the cave 7 of the Lenyadri caves is dedicated to Lord Ganesha in his child form, worshipped here as Girijatmaj—the son of Goddess Parvati...........
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| cave no 7 inside Lenyadri caves, MH image: Kevin standage en.wikipedia.org |
Located about 4.8 kilometres north of Junnar town in Pune district of Maharashtra state, the Lenyadri caves cut into natural rock cliff, are dated between the 1st and 3rd century AD. Some had later been adapted to Hindu use. Other caves surrounding the city of Junnar are: Manmodi Caves, Shivneri Caves and Tulja Caves.
Caves 6 and 14 have Chaitya Griha(akin to chapel) and the rest are viharas- resting place for Buddhist monks.
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| Approach to Ganesha temple (cave 7) en.wikipedia.org |
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| cave 7 Ganesha temple Lenyadri caves image:kevin Standage en.wikipedia.org |
Cave 7. The Ganesha temple is located in Cave 7, the largest excavation around Junnar, about 30 metres (98 ft) above the plains. It is actually a Buddhist Vihara meant for monks to dwell and meditate.
The meditation hall with no pillars has 20 cells of varying dimensions; 7 on either side and 6 on the rear wall. The hall is accessed by a large central door, under a pillared veranda. The meditation hall measures 57.0 ft long; 51.0 ft wide and 11.1 ft high. There are 2 windows on either side of the entrance for light and ventilation. Presently the hall serves as a sabha-mandapa ("assembly hall") of the Ganesha temple.
This Ganesha Lena vihara, one of the Ashtavinayak shrines contains a set of the eight prominent Ganesha shrines in Western Maharashtra. According to the local mythology, it is the Girijatmaj cave where God ganesha was born and the consort of God Shiva goddess Parvati wanted be his mother.
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| Cave 6 main Chaitya (hall) Lenyadri image: Kevin standage en.wikipedia.org |
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| cave 6 Lenyadri caves Front of main Chaiya en.wikipedia.org |
These caves have been created in the 1st – 3rd century AD as a Buddhist monastery. Later one of the Buddhist dwellings was turned into a popular shrine of Hindu god Ganesh. Lenyadri caves have preserved traces of ancient cave paintings and inscriptions.
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| Cave 14 Lenyadri caves Chitja Dagoba en.wikipedia.org |
In Cave 14 the flat-roofed chaitya-griha, has no pillars in the hall that measures 22.1 ft in length;12.9 ft in width and 13.6 ft in height. It has a pillared The veranda is supported by octogonal shaped pillars.
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4. Jogeshwari Caves, Maharashtra
The Jogeshwari Cave temples of Maharashtra though considered a God Shiva's shrine, it also includes other deities like Lord Hanuman, Lord Ganesha, and Goddess Jogeshwari’ s footprints. Found here are well executed sculptures and pillars that date back to the Mahayana Buddhist architecture. A Well-known ancient abode of deities, the the Jogeshwari Caves are being visited by lots of tourists.
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| Jogeshwari caves MH newsbharati.com |
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| Cave 2 Jogeshwari Caves /indianexpress.com |
Located in Jogeshwari in Mumbai, the Caves are around 1,500 years old, and were excavated during the Ajanta and Elephanta caves excavation. One of the finest and popular Indian caves, the Jogeshwari Caves are known for deities, and people come from all over India for worship. They are thought to be the work of Buddhist monks and Hindu priests, and they contain ornate sculptures.
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| 520 to 550 CE Jogeshwari caves Mumbai photography.wordpress.com |
The size of the cave complex rivals several UNESCO World Heritage sites nearby, such as the cave temples of Ajanta, Elephanta, and Ellora.
https://www.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2022/5/23/Jogeshwari-Caves-salvaging-the-beauty-lost-in-time-.html
K. N. Jayaraman (Author: navrangindia.blogspot.com )
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