At Ellora : Testimony to design, skill and engineering. Chiselled wonder
A. SRIVATHSAN
The Kailasanatha temple at Ellora is the grandest, with its unusually high plinth that makes the temple visible from outside and follows the contours of the mountain.
A. SRIVATHSAN
The Kailasanatha temple at Ellora is the grandest, with its unusually high plinth that makes the temple visible from outside and follows the contours of the mountain.
A miracle of patient industry”; “not a man-made affair”, “master piece of human creative genius”, the encomiums and eulogies are duly showered on this architectural wonder. Wonder it is because; this four storied, exquisitely carved building was scooped out, chiselled and burrowed out of the slopes of the Sahyadri. This large monolithic temple is a testimony to design, skill and engineering acumen of Indian building craftsmen. The structure that is in the eye of appreciation is the Kailasanatha temple at Ellora
Soaring
Ellora or Ellapura, as it was early known, was the epicentre of the Rashtrakuta kings who ruled between 8th century and 10th century A.D. While there were many valiant kings in this dynasty, Krishna I is the most popular as the patron of the Kailasanatha temple. Ellora is a multi religious site with Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves totalling about 34. Kailasanatha — cave 16 — is the grandest. It is broadly agreed that this temple was built between 757-72 A.D, by Krishna 1.
Soaring
Ellora or Ellapura, as it was early known, was the epicentre of the Rashtrakuta kings who ruled between 8th century and 10th century A.D. While there were many valiant kings in this dynasty, Krishna I is the most popular as the patron of the Kailasanatha temple. Ellora is a multi religious site with Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves totalling about 34. Kailasanatha — cave 16 — is the grandest. It is broadly agreed that this temple was built between 757-72 A.D, by Krishna 1.
The temple is enclosed by a courtyard and has an unusually high plinth. The plinth was probably scaled up to make the temple visible from outside and helps the form follow the contours of the mountain. Two independent pillars and elephants greet as you enter the temple courtyard and the elevated main temple is interlinked with the gopura by a bridge. The temple is also famous for its sculpture panels.
Meru, Mandira and other mountains, real and mythical, were part of the conception of temple architecture. But Kailasanatha literally and visually is a solid mountain soaring to the sky (about 90 feet height). Two theories exist as to how this temple could have been built. One theory suggests that the temple was chiselled and hewn from top down. While others think it must have been built in five phases and mainly by burrowing from the front. Any which way, the consensus is that this structure could not have been completed in 15 years. It must have taken longer. There is an inconclusive debate among the architecture historians as to whether this temple is a copy of the Virupaksha at Pattadakal or not. Monoliths and rock structures were present before Kailasanatha. Architecturally, it may even resemble Pattadakal and Kanchipuram temples. But what makes this world heritage site special, unique and important is the daring conception, scale and industry.
Meru, Mandira and other mountains, real and mythical, were part of the conception of temple architecture. But Kailasanatha literally and visually is a solid mountain soaring to the sky (about 90 feet height). Two theories exist as to how this temple could have been built. One theory suggests that the temple was chiselled and hewn from top down. While others think it must have been built in five phases and mainly by burrowing from the front. Any which way, the consensus is that this structure could not have been completed in 15 years. It must have taken longer. There is an inconclusive debate among the architecture historians as to whether this temple is a copy of the Virupaksha at Pattadakal or not. Monoliths and rock structures were present before Kailasanatha. Architecturally, it may even resemble Pattadakal and Kanchipuram temples. But what makes this world heritage site special, unique and important is the daring conception, scale and industry.
No comments:
Post a Comment