File:THE KAILASANATHA TEMPLE Ellora Cave 16 (2).jpg

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English: Ellora Caves

This is a photo of ASI monument number

N-MH-A51.

THE KAILASANATHA TEMPLE Cave 16, also known as the Kailasa temple, is the unrivaled centerpiece of Ellora. This is designed to recall Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva – looks like a freestanding, multi-storeyed temple complex, but it was carved out of one single rock.

All the carvings are done in more than one level. A two-storeyed gateway resembling a South Indian Gopura opens to reveal a U-shaped courtyard. The courtyard is edged by columned galleries three storeys high. The galleries are punctuated by huge sculpted panels, and alcoves containing enormous sculptures of a variety of deities.

Within the courtyard are three structures. As is traditional in Shiva temples, the first is a large image of the sacred bull Nandi in front of the central temple. The central temple - Nandi Mantapa - houses the Lingam. The Nandi Mandapa stands on 16 pillars and is 29.3 m high. The base of the Nandi Mandapa has been carved to suggest that life-sized elephants are holding the structure aloft. A living rock bridge connects the Nandi Mandapa to the Shiva temple behind it. The temple itself is a tall pyramidal structure reminiscent of a South Indian Dravidian temple. The shrine – complete with pillars, windows, inner and outer rooms, gathering halls, and an enormous lingam at its heart – carved from living stone, is carved with niches, pilasters, windows as well as images of deities, mithunas (erotic male and female figures) and other figures. Most of the deities at the left of the entrance are Shaivaite (followers of Shiva) while on the right hand side the deities are Vaishnavaites (followers of Vishnu). 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. The construction of this cave was a feat of human genius – it entailed the removal of 200,000 tonnes of rock, and took 100 years to complete.

The temple is a splendid achievement of Rashtrakuta Karnata architecture. This project was started by Krishna I (757–773) of the Rashtrakuta dynasty that ruled from Manyakheta in present day Karnataka state. His rule had also spread to southern India, hence this temple was excavated in the prevailing style. Its builders modeled it on the lines of the Virupaksha Temple in Pattadakal. Being a south Indian style temple, it does not have a shikhara common to north Indian temples. – Excerpts from The Guide to the Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, 1996, Takeo Kamiya, Japan Architects Academy and archaeological Survey of India.

Date

4 December 2011, 10:58:06

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Own work

Author

Vasukrishnan57

Camera location	20° 01′ 35″ N, 75° 10′ 45″ E	View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMap	20.026389; 75.179167

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This image was uploaded as part of Wiki Loves Monuments 2018.

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	Date/Time	Thumbnail	Dimensions	User	Comment
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File:Kailasa Cave 16 (2).jpg (file redirect)
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Image title	OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
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Exposure time	1/160 sec (0.00625)
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Date and time of data generation	10:58, 4 December 2011
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File change date and time	17:41, 17 September 2018
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Date and time of digitizing	10:58, 4 December 2011
Meaning of each component	Y Cb Cr does not exist
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IIM version	4

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