0 Bewertungen0% fanden dieses Dokument nützlich (0 Abstimmungen)
75 Ansichten4 Seiten
The Kailash Temple is one of 34 monasteries and temples carved into a basalt cliff in Ellora, India. It is notable for being carved out of a single rock in the 8th century and for its impressive size and architectural details. The temple was designed to resemble Mount Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva, and exhibits Dravidian architecture. It took hundreds of years and the removal of around 400,000 tons of rock to complete the massive monolithic structure, which includes a large courtyard, towering gateways, and a multi-level lingam temple housing, all elaborately carved from the original rock face.
The Kailash Temple is one of 34 monasteries and temples carved into a basalt cliff in Ellora, India. It is notable for being carved out of a single rock in the 8th century and for its impressive size and architectural details. The temple was designed to resemble Mount Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva, and exhibits Dravidian architecture. It took hundreds of years and the removal of around 400,000 tons of rock to complete the massive monolithic structure, which includes a large courtyard, towering gateways, and a multi-level lingam temple housing, all elaborately carved from the original rock face.
The Kailash Temple is one of 34 monasteries and temples carved into a basalt cliff in Ellora, India. It is notable for being carved out of a single rock in the 8th century and for its impressive size and architectural details. The temple was designed to resemble Mount Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva, and exhibits Dravidian architecture. It took hundreds of years and the removal of around 400,000 tons of rock to complete the massive monolithic structure, which includes a large courtyard, towering gateways, and a multi-level lingam temple housing, all elaborately carved from the original rock face.
extending over more than 2 km, that were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff in the complex located at Ellora, Maharashtra, India. Of these 34 monasteries and temples, the Kailasa (cave 16) is a remarkable example of Indian rock-cut architecture on account of its striking proportion; elaborate workmanship architectural content and sculptural ornamentation..[1] It is designed to recall Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva[2]. While it exhibits typical Dravidian features, it was carved out of one single rock. It was built in the 8th century by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I.
The Kailash Temple is notable for its
vertical excavationcarvers started at the top of the original rock, and excavated downward, exhuming the temple out of the existing rock. The traditional methods were rigidly followed by the master architect which could not have been achieved by excavating from the front.[3] The architects found to design this temple were from the southern Pallava kingdom. [4]
It is estimated that about 400,000 tons of
rocks was scooped out over hundreds of years to construct this monolithic structure.[4] From the chisel marks on walls of this temple, archeologists could conclude that three types of chisels were used to carve this temple.[5]
All the carvings are done in more than one
level. A two-storeyed gateway opens to reveal a U-shaped courtyard. The courtyard is edged by a columned arcade three stories high. The arcades are punctuated by huge sculpted panels, and alcoves containing enormous sculptures of a variety of deities. Originally flying bridges of stone connected these galleries to central temple structures, but these have fallen.
Within the courtyard are two structures. As
is traditional in Shiva temples, an image of the sacred bull Nandi fronts the central temple housing the lingam. In Cave 16, the Nandi Mandap and main Shiva temple are each about 7 meters high, and built on two stories. The lower stories of the Nandi Mandap are both solid structures, decorated with elaborate illustrative carvings. The base of the temple has been carved to suggest that elephants are holding the structure aloft.
A living rock bridge connects the Nandi
Mandap to the porch of the temple. The temple itself is tall pyramidic structure reminiscent of a South Indian temple. The shrine complete with pillars, windows, inner and outer rooms, gathering halls, and an enormous lingam at its heart carved from stone, is carved with niches, plasters, 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 Lord Shiva) while on the right hand side the deities are Vaishnavaites (followers of Lord 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.