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Standing tall in front of the awe-inspiring Kailasa Temple at Ellora, the Victory Pillar (Dhwajastambha) is more than just an architectural element—it is a symbol of spiritual conquest and imperial devotion. Carved from a single rock in the 8th century under the patronage of Rashtrakuta king Krishna I, the Kailasa Temple is one of the greatest monolithic structures in the world. The Victory Pillar marks the sacred threshold to this grand temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, celebrating not just military victories, but also the triumph of dharma (righteousness) over chaos.
Location: Ellora Caves, India
India - Grotte di Ellora
Le grotte di Ellora sono un complesso di 34 templi Buddisti, Hindu e Jainisti scavatii nel lato verticale del Charanandri tra il VI e il X secolo., vicino all’antico villaggio di Ellora, a 26 Km da Aurangabad.
La montagna è stata interamente scavata per ricavarne dei templi finemente scolpiti, in cui viene rappresentata tutta la storia religiosa dell'India.
Le colonne non sono state costuite da scolpite direttamente nella roccia
Nel 1983 sono state dichiarate dall’UNESCO Patrimonio dell’Umanità
The Ellora Caves are a complex of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples carved out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hill between the 6th and 10th centuries AD near the ancient Indian village of Ellora, 26 kms. north of Aurangabad.
Declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.
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Kailash cave (#16), Ellora, Maharashtra, India
Ellora caves are rock-cut hindu temples, excavated from the basalt cliffs in the Charanandri Hills. Cave #16 is the largest of approx. 100 caves, among which 34 can be visited. It has been carved out of a single rock.
This photo depicts the back part of the cave.
Kailasa Temple was meant to serve as Lord Shiva's, "Himalayan abode." Furthermore, the entire temple was carved out of a single piece of rock.
Ellora Cave 16: the Kailasanatha Temple. 8th century.
Conceptualizing an idea that would take 200 years to complete, take 7500 people to finish, with buy-in from 10 generations of stake holders, detailing it to the T (a house of god cannot have a wrong cut), excavating 400000 tonnes of rock, all of these could only have been possible because of the sheer brilliance, love and devotion of those involved.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kailasa_temple,_Ellora
Ellora Caves Album:
An early morning visit to Ellora caves,UNESCO World Heritage Site,Maharashtra - India. Taken last year :-)
Ellora Cave 16: the Kailasanatha Temple. 8th century.
Conceptualizing an idea that would take 200 years to complete, take 7500 people to finish, with buy-in from 10 generations of stake holders, detailing it to the T (a house of god cannot have a wrong cut), excavating 400000 tonnes of rock, all of these could only have been possible because of the sheer brilliance, love and devotion of those involved.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kailasa_temple,_Ellora
Ellora Caves Album:
Ellora Cave 16: the Kailasanatha Temple. 8th century.
The pillared hall in the Kailasanatha temple leading to the sanctum sanctorum. This entire hall was scooped inside out from a block of rock. At some places, paintings on the roof still survive.
Ellora Caves Album:
At Sita Kund, carving depicting Ravana trying to shake Mount Kailash and Shiva tackling the force with just the tip of his toes.
Beginning with the 2nd century B.C., and continuing into the 6th century A.D., the paintings and sculptures in the caves of Ajanta and Ellora, inspired by Buddhism and its compassionate ethos, unleashed a surge of artistic excellence unmatched in human history. These Buddhist and Jain caves are ornately carved, yet seem quiet and meditative and exude a divine energy and power.
About 107 km from the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, are the rock-out caves of Ajanta nestled in a panoramic gorge, in the form of a gigantic horseshoe. A set of 29 caves, Ajanta is among the finest examples of some of the earliest Buddhist architecture, cave paintings and sculptures. These caves comprise Chaitya halls or shrines, dedicated to Lord Buddha and Viharas or monasteries, used by Buddhist monks for meditation and the study of Buddhist teachings. The paintings that adorn the walls and ceilings of the caves depict incidents from the life of lord Buddha and various Buddhist divinities. Among the most interesting paintings are the Jataka tales, illustrating diverse stories relating to the previous incarnations of the Buddha as Bodhisattava, a saintly being who is destined to become the Buddha. These elaborate sculptures and paintings stand in impressive grandeur in spite of withstanding the ravages of time. Amid the beautiful images and paintings are sculptures of Buddha, calm and serene in contemplation.
The cave temples and monasteries at Ellora, excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment, are 26 km north of Aurangabad. Sculptors, inspired by Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, created elaborate rock carvings. Extending in a linear arrangement, the 34 caves contain Buddhist Chaityas or halls of worship, Viharas or monasteries and Hindu and Jain temples. Spanning a period of about 600 years between the 5th and 11th century A.D., the earliest excavation here is of the Dhumar Lena (Cave 29). The most imposing excavation is, without doubt, that of the magnificent Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) which is the largest monolithic structure in the world. Known as Verul in ancient times, it has continuously attracted pilgrims through the centuries to the present day.
Declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO since 1983, the paintings and sculptures of Ajanta and Ellora, considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a great influence in the development of art in India. The creative use of colour and freedom of expression used in depicting human and animal forms makes the cave paintings at Ajanta one of the high watermarks of artistic creativity. The Ellora preserved as an artistic legacy that will continue to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to come. Not only is this cave complex a unique artistic creation and an excellent example of technological exploit but also, with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.
Ellora represents the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture. The 34 "caves" are actually structures excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills. Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rock-cut temples and viharas and mathas were built between the 5th century and 10th century.
Ellora is known for Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cave temples built during (6th and 9th centuries) the rule of the Kalachuri, Chalukya and Rashtrakuta dynasties. The Jagannatha Sabha a group of five Jain cave temples of 9th century built by Rashtrakuta.
Beginning with the 2nd century B.C., and continuing into the 6th century A.D., the paintings and sculptures in the caves of Ajanta and Ellora, inspired by Buddhism and its compassionate ethos, unleashed a surge of artistic excellence unmatched in human history. These Buddhist and Jain caves are ornately carved, yet seem quiet and meditative and exude a divine energy and power.
About 107 km from the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, are the rock-out caves of Ajanta nestled in a panoramic gorge, in the form of a gigantic horseshoe. A set of 29 caves, Ajanta is among the finest examples of some of the earliest Buddhist architecture, cave paintings and sculptures. These caves comprise Chaitya halls or shrines, dedicated to Lord Buddha and Viharas or monasteries, used by Buddhist monks for meditation and the study of Buddhist teachings. The paintings that adorn the walls and ceilings of the caves depict incidents from the life of lord Buddha and various Buddhist divinities. Among the most interesting paintings are the Jataka tales, illustrating diverse stories relating to the previous incarnations of the Buddha as Bodhisattava, a saintly being who is destined to become the Buddha. These elaborate sculptures and paintings stand in impressive grandeur in spite of withstanding the ravages of time. Amid the beautiful images and paintings are sculptures of Buddha, calm and serene in contemplation.
The cave temples and monasteries at Ellora, excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment, are 26 km north of Aurangabad. Sculptors, inspired by Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, created elaborate rock carvings. Extending in a linear arrangement, the 34 caves contain Buddhist Chaityas or halls of worship, Viharas or monasteries and Hindu and Jain temples. Spanning a period of about 600 years between the 5th and 11th century A.D., the earliest excavation here is of the Dhumar Lena (Cave 29). The most imposing excavation is, without doubt, that of the magnificent Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) which is the largest monolithic structure in the world. Known as Verul in ancient times, it has continuously attracted pilgrims through the centuries to the present day.
Declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO since 1983, the paintings and sculptures of Ajanta and Ellora, considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a great influence in the development of art in India. The creative use of colour and freedom of expression used in depicting human and animal forms makes the cave paintings at Ajanta one of the high watermarks of artistic creativity. The Ellora preserved as an artistic legacy that will continue to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to come. Not only is this cave complex a unique artistic creation and an excellent example of technological exploit but also, with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.
FrOm the Caves Of EllOra...
Ellora Caves - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
These 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff, not far from Aurangabad, in Maharashtra. Ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from A.D. 600 to 1000, brings the civilization of ancient India to life. Not only is the Ellora complex 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.
FrOm the Caves Of EllOra...
Ellora Caves - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
These 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff, not far from Aurangabad, in Maharashtra. Ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from A.D. 600 to 1000, brings the civilization of ancient India to life. Not only is the Ellora complex 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.
Cave 32, Ellora Caves, also known as the Indra Sabha, a series of shrines dedicated to Mahavira and other Jain divinities.
Unlike Ajanta, there is no dramatic lighting within the caves, and you have to make do with whatever is available. A gorilla tripod, some exposure control, lots of time and as i learnt later, a small torch, and you can pull off a lot of detail.
Ellora Caves Album:
Ellora represents the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture. The 34 "caves" are actually structures excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills. Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rock-cut temples and viharas and mathas were built between the 5th century and 10th century.
The Jain caves at Ellora belong to the ninth and tenth centuries. They all belong to the Digambara sect.[13] Jain caves reveal specific dimensions of Jain philosophy and tradition. They reflect a strict sense of asceticism – they are not relatively large as compared to others, but they present exceptionally detailed art works.
Ellora Cave 16: the Kailasanatha Temple. 8th century.
An idea that would take 200 years to complete, take 7500 people to finish, with buy-in from 10 generations of stake holders, detailed to a T (a house of god cannot have a wrong cut), 400000 tonnes of rock excavated...
Early in the morning, you can beat the crowds... and the heat as the day progresses...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kailasa_temple,_Ellora
Ellora Caves Album:
Intricate carvings depicting scenes from the great Indian epic 'The Ramayana" at Ellora caves-( cave-16).