KAILASH TEMPLE.

KAILASH TEMPLE.

Ø     LOCATIONà ELLORA CAVES,  AURANGABAD, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA.

Ø     Kailash Temple is one of the 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, that were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff in the complex located at Ellora, Maharashtra, India, and represents the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture.

Ø     It is designed to recall Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. While it exhibits typical Dravidian features, it was carved out of one single rock.

Ø     It was built in the 8th century by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I.

Ø     The Kailash Temple is notable for its vertical excavation carvers started at the top of the original rock, and excavated downward, exhuming the temple out of the existing rock.

Ø     The traditional methods were rigidly followed by the master architect which could not have been achieved by excavating from the front.

Ø     The architects found to design this temple were from the southern Pallava kingdom.

Ø     It is estimated that about 200,000 tons of rocks was scooped out over hundreds of years to construct this monolithic structure.

Ø     From the chisel marks on walls of this temple, archeologists could conclude that three types of chisels were used to carve this temple.

Ø     All the carvings are done in more than one level. A two-storied gateway opens to reveal a U-shaped courtyard. The courtyard is edged by a columned arcade three stories high. The arcades are punctuated by huge sculpted panels, and alcoves containing enormous sculptures of a variety of deities.

Ø     Originally flying bridges of stone connected these galleries to central temple structures, but these have fallen.

Ø     Within the courtyard are two structures. As is traditional in Shiva temples, an image of the sacred bull Nandi fronts the central temple housing the lingam.

Ø     In Cave 16, the Nandi Mandap and main Shiva temple are each about 7 meters high, and built on two stories.

Ø     The lower stories of the Nandi Mandap are both solid structures, decorated with elaborate illustrative carvings. The base of the temple has been carved to suggest that elephants are holding the structure aloft.

Ø     A living rock bridge connects the Nandi Mandap to the porch of the temple. The temple itself is tall pyramidic structure reminiscent of a South Indian temple.

Ø     The shrine – complete with pillars, windows, inner and outer rooms, gathering halls, and an enormous lingam at its heart – carved from stone, is carved with niches, plasters, windows as well as images of deities, mithunas (erotic male and female figures) and other figures.

Ø     Most of the deities at the left of the entrance are Shaivaite (followers of Lord Shiva) while on the right hand side the deities are Vaishnavaites (followers of Lord Vishnu).

Ø     There are two Dhvajastambhas (pillars with the flagstaff) in the courtyard. The grand sculpture of Ravana attempting to lift Mount Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva, with his full might is a landmark in Indian art.

Ø     Representing Shiva's Himalayan home, the temple is exquisitely sculpted with scenes from Hindus mythology, each pulsing with drama, energy and passion..

Ø     It is considered as one of the most astonishing 'buildings' in the history of architecture.

Ø     This temple is the world's largest monolithic structure carved from one piece of rock and the rock - hewn temples and monasteries of Ellora that lies just 30 kms from Aurangabad.

Ø     Kailash Temple at cave 16, were a big Shiva-linga (form of Lord Shiva) is worshiped. It is the biggest building carved in a stone in the whole world is a part of Ellora Cave Complex.

Ø     Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a giant lingam in the garba griha. Beautiful sculptures from Ramayana and Mahabharatha are carved on the walls of this cave temple.

History

Ø     The depiction of the demon Ravana shaking Mount Kailash is a masterpiece contain the scenes of semi-mythological history, the royal court and popular life of the ancient times, as told in romances and plays.

Ø     Some pictures recall the Greek and Roman compositions and proportions, few late resemble to Chinese manners to some extent. But majority belongs to a phase which is purely Indian as they are found no where else.

Ø     These monuments were constructed during two different periods of time separated by a long interval of four centuries.

Ø     The older ones were the product of last two centuries before Christ and belong to Hinayana period of Buddhism in later part of 2nd century AD when Buddhism was divided into two sections, after the conduct of the fourth general council under another great king, Kanishka.

Ø     By the time king Ashoka, their cult was widespread and was patronized by Ashoka. Later, when the stupas were constructed and beautified, the carvings were executed in a symbolic way.

Ø     An inspired sculptor began to carve images of Buddha himself and within the few generations, all the Buddhist sects took to worshipping images.  

Architeure

Ø     It is believed that work on the Kailasha temple was begun in the mid-8th century and under the direction of King Krishna I (757-775) of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, the rulers of the western Deccan area.

Ø     One of the India's greatest architectural treasures was hewn out of the solid rock of the hillside to form a free-standing temple consisting of a gateway, two-storied halls and the main shrine within.

Ø     The most majestic creation is the Kailash Temple, a full-sized freestanding temple flanked by huge elephants all carved from solid rock, pillars and pondiums. The result is an awe-inspiring representation of Shiva's Himalayan abode.

Ø     Nearby caves are alive with stone murals depicting divine struggles and victories.

Ø     With these caves before us, it is clear that India far surpasses the rest of the world in the glory of its rock-cut architecture

Ø     Every December, the Ellora festival of music and dance at the Kailasha Temple, which is attended by large number of people