Cave Temples – Badami
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In a rather small area, we find at Badami four cave temple, a dozen temples and the ruins of two forts. Because of the setting of the rock formation, the entrance to the cave temples faces north. Traditionally, the entrance to a sacred place should face east.
cave I must have been carved before 578, which is the year when cave 3 was completed. On the right side before the entrance we see a unique shiva Nat-raj (a) with 18 arms. In two hands above his head he holds a snake, in his right hands he holds a damaru drum, a garland, a lasso etc. In his left hands he carries a trident, a vina in strument etc. On his forehead we see the moon-crest. If we consider only one left and one right hand at the time, we can see shiva here in 81 different positions. The smile on his face does not reveal how hard the dance must be. In the small portal to the west, outside the veranda, is a sculpture of Mahish-asur-mardini durga (b), killing the buffalo-demon Mahish. With a smile on her face she fights and kills him, displaying her superiority. In her two free hands, she holds a disc and a conch, attributes of vishnu. On the pedestal we see 10 dwarfs, on top there are two gandharvas or celestial beings. On her right side Kartikey (c) is seated on his peacock ( and underneath a complex combination of dwarfs). On her left side we see Ganesh (D), the other son of shiva. In his left hand he holds his favourite dish with sweets.
On the western side in the verandah we see Ardh-narshvar (E), shiva and parvti in one image. We recognize shiva’s moon-crest, the skull in his hair, his axe and snake and the tiger’s skin. His ‘third eye’ be comes, on Parvati’s forehead,a tika, that is her ‘third eye’. The ascettic Bhringi, not more than a skeleton, stands close by. On the eastern side in the verandah stands Harihar (f), who is shiva and Vishnu in one image. Shiva has the same attributes as in the image of Ardh-narishvar. At his side we see his consort Parvati and the bull Nandi. Beside vishnu we see his consort Lakshmi and Garud, the Eagle (mount of Vishnu) in human form. On the right side of Harihar stands a dvarpal or doorman; on top is shiva Vrishabh-arudh or shiva and Parvati seated on the bull Nandi. Below is a bull - elephant combination. In the ceiling we see gandharvas (h) or celestrial beings. In the ceiling in the centre is Adishesh (G) or the King of the snakes, with a human head. Most of the sculptures on the 16 pillars have an erotic connotation.
Cave 2 was also cut before 578. On both sides of the platform we see a dvarpal or doorman, with female partner. Each doorman wears snake - bracelets. On the western wall stands Vishnu as Vaman Trivikram: the Dwarf who approached King Bali for a gift of land. Below, we see a Brahman who pours water, to confirm the donation. Vishnu appears with eight arms, while several of Bali’s as sistants try to attack him.
On the eastern wall of the verandah we see a bas - relief of Vishnu as Varah (the Boar). When the demon Horanyaksha had taken the goddess Earth to the netherworld, vishnu volunteered to go and bring her back. Here the earth stands on a lotus in vishnu’s left hand. Vishnu is represented in the typical pratyalidh pose, walking to the lefe: this expresses the great dynamism of the scene. Below, a five - hooded snake worships vishnu. The bas - relifs with scenes from the life of Krishna, on the top - sections of the pillars, are remarkable because of the very early date of the cave. At the entrance to the shrine stand two dvarpal, Padma - nidhi (to the east, with lotus) and Skanda-nidhi (to the west conch.
There is a steep stairway - between Caves 1 and 2 - leading up to a natural cave, with the Buddhist Padmapani, and a little further on are the ruins of the southern fort.2.3. Cave 3 by itself is worth a visit to Badami. There are two important inscriptions. The first is found near vishnu Vaman (a), in which it says that a blessing is conferred on all who visit the shrine. The second inscription can be seen near Vishnu varah (e): it says that the Vishnu cave temple was commissioned in 578, by Mangalesh, in the twelfth year of the reign of his elder brother Kirtivarma I.
Vishnu Vaman Trivikram
VishnuNarsinha. This powerful figure of vishnu radiates power and triumph. He is surrounded by celestial figures carrying flowers. On his right side we see possibly Prahlad (with Buddhist hair style), the son of the demon king Hiranyakashipu; on the left stands vishni’s mount, the Eagle Garud in human form. Harihar, with Kamdev or Cupid on the pillar, with bow and ar rows.
On the eastern wall we see vishnu, sitting on the snake sheshnag; usually vishnu is lying down on the snake. On his right we see again the eagle Garud, on his left his consort Lakshmi. Below, we see a group of celestrial dwarfs, playing musical instruments.
Vishnu Varah or the Boar. Here the attractive Earth rests on one of his left arms. In the same bas-relief we see further Nags or snake gods worshipping Vishnu. On the right side we find the important inscription (year of construction 578).
To the east, outside the verandah stands the impressive sculpture of vishnu virat Purush or Great Man (3.2m). In his 8 hands he holds his attributes, while vishnu Narsinha (Man-Lion) is depicted above his head. The pillars of the verandah have very attractive sculptures. In order to identify them I have numbered the pillars I to VIII ( see plan of Cave3), with a sub-division east, south etc.
Beside the amorous couple stands a Yali (monster; left) and a sal-bhanjika or very attractive lady.
South : A sal - bhanjika looking in a mirror.
West: shiva supporting Paravati, threatened by a snake?
east: shiva and Parvati as Ardh-narishvar
South: A beautiful (and sad?) Sal-bhanjika
east: Beautiful couple under a tree
south: sal-bhanjika
west; a couple in suggestive embrace.
east; Kamdev or Cupid, with his consort Rati
south: a sad woman under a tree, with two peacocks.
West: Shiva and Parvati; further Kartikey on his peacock
east: A morous couple; she wears a mini-saree and tries to cover her breast.
South: Beautiful woman
West: Amorous couple
east: amorous couple
west: Sesuous image of shiva and Parvati.
east: Couple in erotic posture
south: Sal-bhanjika, with jewelry
the ceiling (numbered 1 to 6 in the plan) displays very impressive sculptures of gods, with their mounts. We must remember that theseimages were carved out of single pieces of stone, and not in pieces which could be fitted in later on.
Varun and a Makar-monster.
Brahma and his swan
Vishnu and Brahma, Yam (god of death), etc
Shiva on the Bull Nandi, and Parvati
Indra
Varun and a Makr-monster
Episodes from the life of Krishna are depicted on the beams on top of these pillars. On the inside note the churning of the ocean. Inside the shrine, above, we see a huge Garud, the eagle of vishnu.
cave I must have been carved before 578, which is the year when cave 3 was completed. On the right side before the entrance we see a unique shiva Nat-raj (a) with 18 arms. In two hands above his head he holds a snake, in his right hands he holds a damaru drum, a garland, a lasso etc. In his left hands he carries a trident, a vina in strument etc. On his forehead we see the moon-crest. If we consider only one left and one right hand at the time, we can see shiva here in 81 different positions. The smile on his face does not reveal how hard the dance must be. In the small portal to the west, outside the veranda, is a sculpture of Mahish-asur-mardini durga (b), killing the buffalo-demon Mahish. With a smile on her face she fights and kills him, displaying her superiority. In her two free hands, she holds a disc and a conch, attributes of vishnu. On the pedestal we see 10 dwarfs, on top there are two gandharvas or celestial beings. On her right side Kartikey (c) is seated on his peacock ( and underneath a complex combination of dwarfs). On her left side we see Ganesh (D), the other son of shiva. In his left hand he holds his favourite dish with sweets.
On the western side in the verandah we see Ardh-narshvar (E), shiva and parvti in one image. We recognize shiva’s moon-crest, the skull in his hair, his axe and snake and the tiger’s skin. His ‘third eye’ be comes, on Parvati’s forehead,a tika, that is her ‘third eye’. The ascettic Bhringi, not more than a skeleton, stands close by. On the eastern side in the verandah stands Harihar (f), who is shiva and Vishnu in one image. Shiva has the same attributes as in the image of Ardh-narishvar. At his side we see his consort Parvati and the bull Nandi. Beside vishnu we see his consort Lakshmi and Garud, the Eagle (mount of Vishnu) in human form. On the right side of Harihar stands a dvarpal or doorman; on top is shiva Vrishabh-arudh or shiva and Parvati seated on the bull Nandi. Below is a bull - elephant combination. In the ceiling we see gandharvas (h) or celestrial beings. In the ceiling in the centre is Adishesh (G) or the King of the snakes, with a human head. Most of the sculptures on the 16 pillars have an erotic connotation.
Cave 2 was also cut before 578. On both sides of the platform we see a dvarpal or doorman, with female partner. Each doorman wears snake - bracelets. On the western wall stands Vishnu as Vaman Trivikram: the Dwarf who approached King Bali for a gift of land. Below, we see a Brahman who pours water, to confirm the donation. Vishnu appears with eight arms, while several of Bali’s as sistants try to attack him.
On the eastern wall of the verandah we see a bas - relief of Vishnu as Varah (the Boar). When the demon Horanyaksha had taken the goddess Earth to the netherworld, vishnu volunteered to go and bring her back. Here the earth stands on a lotus in vishnu’s left hand. Vishnu is represented in the typical pratyalidh pose, walking to the lefe: this expresses the great dynamism of the scene. Below, a five - hooded snake worships vishnu. The bas - relifs with scenes from the life of Krishna, on the top - sections of the pillars, are remarkable because of the very early date of the cave. At the entrance to the shrine stand two dvarpal, Padma - nidhi (to the east, with lotus) and Skanda-nidhi (to the west conch.
There is a steep stairway - between Caves 1 and 2 - leading up to a natural cave, with the Buddhist Padmapani, and a little further on are the ruins of the southern fort.2.3. Cave 3 by itself is worth a visit to Badami. There are two important inscriptions. The first is found near vishnu Vaman (a), in which it says that a blessing is conferred on all who visit the shrine. The second inscription can be seen near Vishnu varah (e): it says that the Vishnu cave temple was commissioned in 578, by Mangalesh, in the twelfth year of the reign of his elder brother Kirtivarma I.
Vishnu Vaman Trivikram
VishnuNarsinha. This powerful figure of vishnu radiates power and triumph. He is surrounded by celestial figures carrying flowers. On his right side we see possibly Prahlad (with Buddhist hair style), the son of the demon king Hiranyakashipu; on the left stands vishni’s mount, the Eagle Garud in human form. Harihar, with Kamdev or Cupid on the pillar, with bow and ar rows.
On the eastern wall we see vishnu, sitting on the snake sheshnag; usually vishnu is lying down on the snake. On his right we see again the eagle Garud, on his left his consort Lakshmi. Below, we see a group of celestrial dwarfs, playing musical instruments.
Vishnu Varah or the Boar. Here the attractive Earth rests on one of his left arms. In the same bas-relief we see further Nags or snake gods worshipping Vishnu. On the right side we find the important inscription (year of construction 578).
To the east, outside the verandah stands the impressive sculpture of vishnu virat Purush or Great Man (3.2m). In his 8 hands he holds his attributes, while vishnu Narsinha (Man-Lion) is depicted above his head. The pillars of the verandah have very attractive sculptures. In order to identify them I have numbered the pillars I to VIII ( see plan of Cave3), with a sub-division east, south etc.
West: shiva supporting Paravati, threatened by a snake?
South: A beautiful (and sad?) Sal-bhanjika
south: sal-bhanjika
west; a couple in suggestive embrace.
south: a sad woman under a tree, with two peacocks.
West: Shiva and Parvati; further Kartikey on his peacock
South: Beautiful woman
West: Amorous couple
west: Sesuous image of shiva and Parvati.
south: Sal-bhanjika, with jewelry
the ceiling (numbered 1 to 6 in the plan) displays very impressive sculptures of gods, with their mounts. We must remember that theseimages were carved out of single pieces of stone, and not in pieces which could be fitted in later on.
Episodes from the life of Krishna are depicted on the beams on top of these pillars. On the inside note the churning of the ocean. Inside the shrine, above, we see a huge Garud, the eagle of vishnu.
Cave 4
this cave is dedicated to the Jain Tirthankars; it is of a later date than the previous caves. In the western wall of the platform (on your right before you enter the verandah), you see Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankar and possibly the first historical figure in Jain history; he may have been a contemporary of the Buddha and the founder of Jainism (ca. 500 BC). In the western wall inside the verandah stands the 7th tirthankar Suparshvanath (not the 23 rd tirthankar Parshvanath, as is some times suggested. Suparshvanath usually has a crown of a five-hooded cobra, Parshvanath has a seven-hooded cobra). In the eastern wall of the verandah stands Bahubali or gomateshwar; this image is older than the image that crowns the hill of shravanbegola. In the western and in the eastern wall of the main hall stands a huge image of Mahavir. The shrine is dedicated to Adinath, the first tirthankar, carved in the bas-relief on the southern wall.
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 Photo by : Traces in the Sand in Flickr |
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 Photo by : mclachlant in Webshots |
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 Photo by : denise4344 in Webshots |
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 Photo by : www.peermade.info in Panoramio |
 Photo by : edopoli in Panoramio |
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 Photo by : -peru- in Panoramio |
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