In Aurangabad India stands a monolithic temple complex knows as the Ellora caves.These caves are excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills.Historically Ellora was renowned as the Verul or Elura, is the short form of the ancient name Elapura. It has been serving as the pilgrimage since antediluvian times.The sculptures in these rock-cut shrines are some of the foremost sculptures in India and provide an important understanding of the evolution of architecture.These 34 sites of worship are extending over a mile, were carved out of a high cliff, and are believed to date back to between 600 and 1080 AD.Extending in a linear arrangement, these excavations comprise Buddhist shrines, Hindu tirthas, Jain sanctums.It is a protected monument under the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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| Kailasa Temple |
Kailasanatha Temple
Out of all 32 caves, The cave 16th Kailasanatha temple is the most remarkable and incredible excavation, the temple is the largest monolithic structure in the world.And is the shrine to Lord Shiva. It symbolizes the Mount Kailash, the adobe of Lord Shiva.The structure was carved out of one single rock.The temple complex features several sculptures, including that of Ravana attempting to lift Mount Kailasa.Local believes that it's a replica or one of the paths to reach possible locations of mount Meru or Sumeru, which is the center of the universe.Three stories high it stands twice as tall as Parthenon in Athens and archeologists believe it was chiseled out of the hillside starting at the top and ending at the bottom.The temple holds many unsolved mysteries in its roots.
Some historians estimate that construction of the temple required the removal of over 400,000 tons of rock but, more incredible is that archaeologists propose that this master stroke was accomplished in just 18 years.
Another baffling fact is that if they removed 400,000 tons of rocks, then they have to be thrown away in somewhere but, neither there is such evidence of rocks being piled up nearby, nor it has been used to build any other temples or any other structure, where did all that rock go!
Another mysterious aspect of the Ellora caves are the tunnels beneath it, which seems to go nowhere or everywhere! These caves have been fenced by the government. Some of these underpasses go as deep as 40 feet, local authorities believe that these tunnels lead to a vast underground city beneath Kailasa temple.
Enigma
Some historians estimate that construction of the temple required the removal of over 400,000 tons of rock but, more incredible is that archaeologists propose that this master stroke was accomplished in just 18 years.
Another baffling fact is that if they removed 400,000 tons of rocks, then they have to be thrown away in somewhere but, neither there is such evidence of rocks being piled up nearby, nor it has been used to build any other temples or any other structure, where did all that rock go!
Another mysterious aspect of the Ellora caves are the tunnels beneath it, which seems to go nowhere or everywhere! These caves have been fenced by the government. Some of these underpasses go as deep as 40 feet, local authorities believe that these tunnels lead to a vast underground city beneath Kailasa temple.
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| Birth of Brahma |
An excavated image of Lord Vishnu lying on Shesha the king of snakes and Lord Brahma, being born from a lotus emerging from the navel of the lord Vishnu.
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| Samadhi |
The sculpt of lord Shiva manisfesting eight limbs of yoga: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, dharana, dhyana and samadhi.
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| Antediluvian |
Fragments of paintings, depicting celestial beings and couples flying through the clouds, reveals the wealth of visual imagery which must have once adorned these caves.
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