ELLORA CAVES : THE MAGNIFICENT "KAILASH"

ELLORA CAVES : CREATIVE EXCELLENCE

(By Subbaram Danda)

The grand view of the "Kailash" cave



The long cherished ambition of our family to visit the world-famous Indian heritage site of Ellora caves, along with similar monuments of Ajanta at a different location, bore fruit last year.   Camping at the city of Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra we first drove to the Ellora caves about 35 kilometres away.  Well-mowed expansive lawns and neatly-pruned flower plants in front of the caves greeted us.   

Scooped out of the cliffs of the Sahyadri range of hills, the caves number over 100 but only 34 of them are prominent and well patronized.  With superb stone images and stunning creative art works, 17 of them reflect the doctrines of the Hindu faith, 12 Buddhist and 5 Jain.   Built between the 6^th and 12th centuries AD, they are temples of a distinctive kind, prayer halls or monasteries.    

Undoubtedly, the Kailash cave enjoys pride of place.  It is designed on the lines of Mount Kailash, the conceptualized abode of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati of the Hindu pantheon of Gods. 

It is a unique cave-temple, exceptionally different from others in the Ellora cluster.  For its creation, its builders selected a gigantic monolithic rock and adopted the method of “vertical excavation.”  Accordingly, its stone carvers started at the top of the rock chipping and chiselling and moved systematically downwards.  Today’s visitors, once inside, would get the feeling of having entered a regular temple complex, despite it being a cave, with a lot of space open to the sky.

As we stepped into it, we were awe-struck by its colossal ambience, sculptural splendour and all-pervading grandeur.  Built by King Krishna I of the Rashtrakuta dynasty in the 8^th century, it is an outstanding example of Dravidian architecture, characterized by striking proportions, elaborate ornamentation and astounding workmanship.

With multiple storeys, the cave-temple presents a sanctum for Shiva in the form of an enormous stone linga, several smaller shrines, long arcades, ornate pillars and decorative niches.  Images of deities sculpted on innumerable wall panels are strikingly attractive.   Carved figures of animals, natural sceneries and floral patterns can be seen everywhere.    Highly impressive are two soaring rock-cut obelisks (rectangular pillars) standing independently in the courtyard. The base of the main sanctuary gives the impression that it is being held aloft by elephants.  The overall temple’s area is said to be twice that of the renowned shrine of Parthenon in Athens, Greece. 

Among the Buddhist caves, what attracts the visitors most is a chaityagriha (prayer hall) that displays a vaulted roof with “ribs” uniquely cut as if done in wood by a skilled carpenter.  It also shows off another outstanding feature.  To appreciate it, one should step inside, walk to the far end on the left and chant a hymn aloud.  A pleasing echo keeps reverberating for a while. 

The Jain caves are not relatively large but they should also be seen for exceptionally done-up sculptures, intricate bas reliefs and other works of art.  They largely highlight the ascetic philosophy of the religion. 

The Ellora caves, described as “the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture,” have received the “world heritage” tag from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  Lovers of ancient art and architecture will certainly cherish a visit to the caves.



A sculpture of "Gajalakshmi" at the entrance to the "Kailash" cave







A lion and an elephant tugging at each other in the "Kailash" cave







One of the two obelisks in the courtyard of "Kailash" cave




An extrior view of a cave




A powerful sculpture





A harmonious divine relationship frozen in stone

 









The celestial wedding of Shiva and Parvati



AJANTA CAVES : THE DELIGHT OF HERITAGE LOVERS



THE CHARM OF AJANTA CAVES

(By Subbaram Danda)

A painting masterpiece : Bodhisattva Padmapani
(An enlightened being holding a lotus flower, a symbol of peace)



Ajanta caves, situated about 100 kilometres from the city of Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra, India, are rock-cut Buddhist prayer halls, monasteries or monuments displaying exquisite paintings and sculptures considered to be the “masterpieces of ancient Indian art.”   They were built between the 2^nd century BC and the 6^th century AD by excavating on the side face of the cliffs of the Sahyadri range of hills overlooking a vast gorge.  

Sometime after their creation, they were left abandoned and forgotten for strange reasons.  They remained so for centuries under sand and rubble, covered by think vegetation.  It was only in 1819 AD that they were re-discovered by a team of British soldiers on a hunting expedition.    The caves, numbering thirty, are located next to each other in the form of a horse-shoe.  Some are unfinished, while a few are very small.    A running pathway links them all.

In several Ajanta caves, colourful paintings outnumber images in stone.  The murals on walls, pillars and ceiling depict incidents in the life of Buddha and his teachings.   They also capture the variegated life-styles of the people of those times representing a multi-layered society – their costumes, hair-styles, jewellery, musical instruments, culinary skills, beliefs and rituals.   Unfortunately today, not many paintings are in fine shape, having been battered by the elements. 

To prevent further damage, the authorities provide just enough light in these caves for people to move around.  Torch lights carried by the visitors, though permitted, are of little help and flash photography is prohibited. 

In contrast, the sculptures, wherever they are dominant, stand out magnificently.  It is Buddha, Buddha all the way -- his images in different sizes and manifestations.   In a cave far back, which should not be missed, there is a large brilliantly done statue of Buddha in Mahaparinirvana pose (transcending from the earthly state) with mourning disciples.  Also, there is a Meditating Buddha refusing to fall a prey to temptations.  Further noteworthy is a beautifully chiselled miniscule figure of Buddha of the length of one-and-a-half inches in the hair-do of a devotee.

Among other remarkable features of the caves are the semi-circular windows on top of some doorways that have been thoughtfully designed to allow sunlight to penetrate the interiors and reach the farthest end.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which has accorded a “world heritage site” status to Ajanta caves, commended them for their “masterpieces of universal pictorial value.”  It lauded the “refined decoration of the paintings, balance of their composition, particularly the marvellous beauty of the feminine figures.” 

Here are some photographs:



Painting on the ceiling of a cave showing Buddha in various stages
of contemplation





Inside an astonishingly well-preserved cave





Sculpture of Buddha in meditation unperturbed by temptations



A mini statue of Buddha (height 1.5 inches) adorning the
hairdo of a devotee





An ornately chiselled exterior of a cave





The exterior of a cave: a semi-circular window above the main entrance
allows sun rays to illuminate the interiors

Mini statues of Buddha neatly sculpted on the outer wall of a cave

A reclining Buddha in "Mahaparinirvana" (transcending from earthly
connections) state.  The statue is 23 feet long.



HUMOUR UNLEASHED -- 26



HUMOUR UNLEASHED -- 26

(Compiled by Subbaram Danda)

Humour contributes

spice, colour and sparkle to life

AIDS and Seniors

Many seniors are carriers of AIDS!

Surprised?  Yes, they carry

HEARING AIDS

BAND AIDS

WALKING AIDS

MEDICAL AIDS

And possibly GOVERNMENT AIDS

They also have to put up with HIV – their Hair is Vanishing!!

(Adopted from a posting on a social network)

Mother-in-law’s Pride

The mother-in-law was all praise for her daughter-in-law Ramya.  “There is none better than Ramya in the entire neighbourhood.  Only three months since marriage, she has agreed to take me to a concert by world famous singer Jesudas.  This has been my life’s ambition and it is getting fulfilled only now thanks to her,” the old woman kept telling everyone she met.

This reached the ears of Ramya’s best friend Uttara.  She called her and said, “Ramya, what a dubious pal you are!  You have been talking ill of your mother-in-law and calling her names.  You have said you two are like Tom and Jerry.  But she is waxing eloquent on you.”

Ramya:  “You don’t know my strategy.  I continue to detest her every move.  The reason why I am taking her to the concert is that she has been repeatedly saying that she is prepared to lay down her life for a chance to hear Jesudas live.  I am providing her the chance.” 

                                                                                                                                     

Life Online

Daughter: “Dad, I'm in love with a boy who is far away from me.   While I am in Australia, he lives in the UK.  We found each other on a dating website, became friends on Facebook and had long chats on Whatsapp.”

Father:  “OK, that’s interesting.”                         

Daughter: “He proposed to me on Skype.  We've had two months of relationship through Viber.  I want your advice on how we can proceed further.   We also need your blessings and good wishes."

Father: "Wow! Really!!  Then get married exchanging vows on Twitter, have fun on Tango, buy things for your kids on Amazon and settle the bills through Paypal.

He added: “And if you get fed up with your husband, feel free to sell him on Ebay".

(This joke was shared by ace actor Amitabh Bachchan on a social network recently)

November 9, 2013