New Delhi: Ellora in Maharashtra is famous for being one of the largest rock-cut Hindu temple cave complexes in the world. The artwork in the caves dates from the period 600-1000 CE and also has several Buddhist and Jain caves. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ellora has 34 rock-cut temples and out of them, Cave 16 which is also known as the Kailasa Temple is the largest and also the most important structure. In this article, we will take a look at the history of the Kailasa Temple and its significance.
Kailasa Temple: The enchanting monument in Ellora
The Kailasa Temple is the world’s largest monolithic rock structure and is 300 feet long and 175 feet wide. Unlike other rock structures of ancient times, the Kailasa Temple was built from top to bottom rather than the other way round. A marvel of Indian architecture, the temple was built solely with chisel and hammer and the limited technology that was present at that time.
The legend of the queen
The official website of Indian Culture states that there are several literary sources which mention the temple as Manikeshwar cave temple as it was built by a queen named Manikavati. According to legend, a king from Alajapura (today’s Ellichpur in Maharashtra) was sick and his queen vowed to Ghrishneswar that if the king was cured, she would build a temple in honour of Lord Shiva. The king was eventually cured of the illness and the queen built the temple which we today know as Kailasa temple. It was named Manikeshwar after the queen and the king established the town of Elapura, which is today known as Ellora.
The architecture of the temple
The Kailasa Temple is famous for its vertical excavation as those who built it started at the top of the original rock and then worked downward. The architects followed the traditional methods rigidly and it could not have been achieved by excavating from the front. The architecture of the Kailasa temple is different from the earlier style which was seen in the Deccan region. The style of the temple was possibly based on Pattadakal’s Virupaksha Temple and Kanchi’s Kailasa Temple but it is not an exact imitation. During the construction of the temple, the Chalukya and Pallava artists were involved in the process and hence it influenced the architecture of southern India.
The Kailasa Temple is hailed as one of the most remarkable cave temples because of its architecture, size, and sculptural treatment. Experts have called it the pinnacle of the rock-cut phase of Indian architecture and the top of the structure over the sanctuary is 32.6 metres above the level of the court below. The rock face slopes downwards from the temple’s rear to the front, but as per archaeologists, the temple was sculpted from a single rock.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ellora has 34 rock-cut temples and out of them, Cave 16 which is also known as the Kailasa Temple is the largest and also the most important structure. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
