Ellora Caves – Aurangabad
The caves at Ellora, about 30 kms. From Aurangabad, are a combination of three religious systems; Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. The first 12 caves at Ellora are the earliest and were excavated by the Buddhists over a period of 200 years from A.D. 550 to about A.D. 750. Unlike the paintings at Ajanta, sculptures, massive in size and superb in execution, dominate the Ellora Caves. They portray chiefly the Buddha, Bodhisattvas and other divinities and follow the accepted formulae of such representations. Howevere, these being a late Mahayana creation, Hindu influence is noticeable. The notable Buddhist caves at Ellora are 2,5,6,10,11 and 12.
Cave-2 has twelve massive columns with cushion capitals to support the roof. Theentrance to the main shrine is fkanked by the Bodhisattvas. The huge Buddha image at the rear is seated on a Lion Throne with Padmapani and Manjusri as Chauri bearers. The galleries, however, have Buddha gifures seated on lotuses in the traditional posture of a preacher, with Bodhisattvas in attendance.
Cave-5 is the largest Vihara, 117 ft. by 56 ft.,and has twenty-four pillars. There is a seated Buddha image in the main shrine attended by Avalokitesvara on one side and Maitreya on the other side. Cave-6 is notable for its ante-chamber which has several interesting sculptures. These include figures from vajrayana pantheon. There is also figure of the Hindu Goddess of learning, Saraswati, well-known in India today in the same representation. The river Goddess Gnaga and Yamuna are also carved.
Cave-10, known as Visvakrma, or the Capenter;s Cave, is the only proper Chaitya-hall at Ellora. Its façade, richly decorated, has the semblance of masonry work. A porch surmounted by a gallery leads to another gallery inside the chapel. The Chaitya-hall third largest in India measures 26 metres in length, 13.4 metres in width and 10.4 metres in height. In the far end is the Stupa 8.2 metres high and 4.9 metres in diameter. Besides the large number of seated and standing Buddhas, there are a number of images of the Bodhisattvas. A staircase leads to a large pillared court and to a gallery with a railed terrace . Cave-11 and Cave-12 are large, three-story structures alike in design and represent the peak of the earlier style at Ellora. Cave-12 is the bigger of the two and is more impressive. Known as Teen Thal, it is a vast excavation. The façade, nearly 50 ft. high plain and auster-looking has porches supported by pillars in each storey. The first storey is 115 ft. by 43 ft. The large hall in the second storey, 115 ft. by 70 ft. (35 metre by 21.33 metre) and 12 ft. high, is divided likewise by forty square pillars into five asiels. The interiors make a striking contrast to the undecorated façade, for the hal in each floor has galleries of images of the Buddha and almost all the deities of the Vajrayana pantheon. Among the huge Buddha figures, with Avalokitesvara, Padmapani and Vajrapani in attendance, the one in the shrine, with arms folded and the face deeply meditative is the most impressive one.
In the Brahmanical group of caves (Nos. 13-29) at Ellora, Cave-16 known as Kailasa, Siva’s mountain abode, is one of the best and the most important monument. Chiselled from one enormous rock during A.D. eight or ninth century, the temple has magnificent sculpture.
More than a mile away at the northern spur of the side, there are five Jaina Caves. Of these, Cave-32, known as Indra Sabha or Assembly Hall of Indra, king of the Gods, is the best. It is quite decorative. Autangabad, the base city for Ajanta-Ellora Caves, has also 12 Buddhist caves. These caves are 3 kms north of the city beyond Bibi-ka-Maqbara. The site is reached after a hard climb and the two groups are separated by a mile across the hillside.
Cave-1 is the Vihara of A.D. 7th century. Cave-2 also of the 7th century is the Chaitya-hall in which a gigantic seated Buddha occupies the shrine. Cave-3 has a large seated Buddha with Avalokitesvara and Manjusri on either side. The side walls have two life sixe groups of votaries kneeling inadoration before the Buddha, one oggering garlands and other with ahnds clasped. Cave-4 is a simple Chaitya of A.D. 1st or 2nd century.
Cave-6, the first in the secomd groups, is a chaitya-cum Vihara. Its shrine has a seated Buddha with Bodhisattvas in attendance, and on either side kneeling devotees as in Cave-3. Cave-7 is the latest and the most decorative one at Aurangabad. In this cave, the shrine is in the centre with the processional path around it. To the right of the main door leading to the passage is a panel containing Manjusri, with man and woman attendants. On the left is a panel of the Litany of Avalokitesvara. In each scene around the Bodhisattva two figures seem to be saved from some form of danger. They are met by Avalokitesvara flying to their rescue. The eight dangers are of ‘fire’, the "sword of an enemy", "chains or fetters (imprisonment)", shipwreck or water", "the attack of a lion", "danger from snakes"," an enraged elephant", and the last "death". The sancturary contains a large image of the Buddha seated on a Lion throne, with celestial musicians and flying figures over his shoulders.
Cave-2 has twelve massive columns with cushion capitals to support the roof. Theentrance to the main shrine is fkanked by the Bodhisattvas. The huge Buddha image at the rear is seated on a Lion Throne with Padmapani and Manjusri as Chauri bearers. The galleries, however, have Buddha gifures seated on lotuses in the traditional posture of a preacher, with Bodhisattvas in attendance.
Cave-5 is the largest Vihara, 117 ft. by 56 ft.,and has twenty-four pillars. There is a seated Buddha image in the main shrine attended by Avalokitesvara on one side and Maitreya on the other side. Cave-6 is notable for its ante-chamber which has several interesting sculptures. These include figures from vajrayana pantheon. There is also figure of the Hindu Goddess of learning, Saraswati, well-known in India today in the same representation. The river Goddess Gnaga and Yamuna are also carved.
Cave-10, known as Visvakrma, or the Capenter;s Cave, is the only proper Chaitya-hall at Ellora. Its façade, richly decorated, has the semblance of masonry work. A porch surmounted by a gallery leads to another gallery inside the chapel. The Chaitya-hall third largest in India measures 26 metres in length, 13.4 metres in width and 10.4 metres in height. In the far end is the Stupa 8.2 metres high and 4.9 metres in diameter. Besides the large number of seated and standing Buddhas, there are a number of images of the Bodhisattvas. A staircase leads to a large pillared court and to a gallery with a railed terrace . Cave-11 and Cave-12 are large, three-story structures alike in design and represent the peak of the earlier style at Ellora. Cave-12 is the bigger of the two and is more impressive. Known as Teen Thal, it is a vast excavation. The façade, nearly 50 ft. high plain and auster-looking has porches supported by pillars in each storey. The first storey is 115 ft. by 43 ft. The large hall in the second storey, 115 ft. by 70 ft. (35 metre by 21.33 metre) and 12 ft. high, is divided likewise by forty square pillars into five asiels. The interiors make a striking contrast to the undecorated façade, for the hal in each floor has galleries of images of the Buddha and almost all the deities of the Vajrayana pantheon. Among the huge Buddha figures, with Avalokitesvara, Padmapani and Vajrapani in attendance, the one in the shrine, with arms folded and the face deeply meditative is the most impressive one.
In the Brahmanical group of caves (Nos. 13-29) at Ellora, Cave-16 known as Kailasa, Siva’s mountain abode, is one of the best and the most important monument. Chiselled from one enormous rock during A.D. eight or ninth century, the temple has magnificent sculpture.
More than a mile away at the northern spur of the side, there are five Jaina Caves. Of these, Cave-32, known as Indra Sabha or Assembly Hall of Indra, king of the Gods, is the best. It is quite decorative. Autangabad, the base city for Ajanta-Ellora Caves, has also 12 Buddhist caves. These caves are 3 kms north of the city beyond Bibi-ka-Maqbara. The site is reached after a hard climb and the two groups are separated by a mile across the hillside.
Cave-1 is the Vihara of A.D. 7th century. Cave-2 also of the 7th century is the Chaitya-hall in which a gigantic seated Buddha occupies the shrine. Cave-3 has a large seated Buddha with Avalokitesvara and Manjusri on either side. The side walls have two life sixe groups of votaries kneeling inadoration before the Buddha, one oggering garlands and other with ahnds clasped. Cave-4 is a simple Chaitya of A.D. 1st or 2nd century.
Cave-6, the first in the secomd groups, is a chaitya-cum Vihara. Its shrine has a seated Buddha with Bodhisattvas in attendance, and on either side kneeling devotees as in Cave-3. Cave-7 is the latest and the most decorative one at Aurangabad. In this cave, the shrine is in the centre with the processional path around it. To the right of the main door leading to the passage is a panel containing Manjusri, with man and woman attendants. On the left is a panel of the Litany of Avalokitesvara. In each scene around the Bodhisattva two figures seem to be saved from some form of danger. They are met by Avalokitesvara flying to their rescue. The eight dangers are of ‘fire’, the "sword of an enemy", "chains or fetters (imprisonment)", shipwreck or water", "the attack of a lion", "danger from snakes"," an enraged elephant", and the last "death". The sancturary contains a large image of the Buddha seated on a Lion throne, with celestial musicians and flying figures over his shoulders.