Ellora caves are probably one of the largest rock-cut cave temples in the world dating from 600-1000 CE period. This post is exclusively dedicated to the 12 Buddhist caves found in Ellora. Read about the 17 Hindu Cave Temples in my earlier post here.
Moving from the magnanimous Kailasa temple, we had reached the Buddhist caves: Cave No. 12 being our first Buddhist cave to be visited thus. Cave No. 12 gave the impression of a three- storied (known as Teen Tal) dormitory with square-cut pillars on each floor. Unless one enters and peers into all the corners, it is difficult to find the way to get to the next floor. The Buddhist caves were simpler than the Hindu temples. They consisted of both Chaityas and Viharas. Chaitya was a rectangular prayer hall with a 'stupa' placed at the center. Viharas were the residences of monks. Cave 11 and 12 were the last ones to be built among the Buddhist caves; they depict Bodhisattva related iconography.
Cave No. 12
View form the third floor...
Cave no. 10 is one of the most important caves among the Buddhiat caves. Known as the Visvakarma Cave (one who accomplishes all) , this cave has one of the largest (15 foot) seated figures of Buddha. It is a chaitya hall which is also known as 'Carpenter's Cave' as the rock has been given a finishing of wooden beams. These give the impression of ribs of a creature. I made all efforts to click the most cliched images of the Buddha statue that I had come across whenever I had read about it. The hall has octagonal columns at the end of which is Buddha sitting in Vyakhyana Mudra (teaching pose).
Cave No. 10
Buddha in Vyakhyana Mudra
A playful squirrel kept us busy for a while outside Cave 10. having tasted ground nuts given by us, it kept following us and insisted for more.
A Vihara...
As we moved further, we were more awestruck by the backdrop against which these caves stood: the monsoon green hillocks through which little glistening waterfalls fell right in front of the caves. It added another dimension to the way we peered at the statues.
After completing the crucial caves of the Buddhist era, we had headed towards the main entrance where we would be taken in a bus to visit the Jain temples.
Moving from the magnanimous Kailasa temple, we had reached the Buddhist caves: Cave No. 12 being our first Buddhist cave to be visited thus. Cave No. 12 gave the impression of a three- storied (known as Teen Tal) dormitory with square-cut pillars on each floor. Unless one enters and peers into all the corners, it is difficult to find the way to get to the next floor. The Buddhist caves were simpler than the Hindu temples. They consisted of both Chaityas and Viharas. Chaitya was a rectangular prayer hall with a 'stupa' placed at the center. Viharas were the residences of monks. Cave 11 and 12 were the last ones to be built among the Buddhist caves; they depict Bodhisattva related iconography.
Cave No. 12
View form the third floor...
Cave no. 10 is one of the most important caves among the Buddhiat caves. Known as the Visvakarma Cave (one who accomplishes all) , this cave has one of the largest (15 foot) seated figures of Buddha. It is a chaitya hall which is also known as 'Carpenter's Cave' as the rock has been given a finishing of wooden beams. These give the impression of ribs of a creature. I made all efforts to click the most cliched images of the Buddha statue that I had come across whenever I had read about it. The hall has octagonal columns at the end of which is Buddha sitting in Vyakhyana Mudra (teaching pose).
Cave No. 10
Buddha in Vyakhyana Mudra
A playful squirrel kept us busy for a while outside Cave 10. having tasted ground nuts given by us, it kept following us and insisted for more.
A Vihara...
As we moved further, we were more awestruck by the backdrop against which these caves stood: the monsoon green hillocks through which little glistening waterfalls fell right in front of the caves. It added another dimension to the way we peered at the statues.
After completing the crucial caves of the Buddhist era, we had headed towards the main entrance where we would be taken in a bus to visit the Jain temples.
