Cave
12 (Teen Tal ) :
A three-storeyed excavation, this is the last in
the series of Buddhist caves. The lowest floor consists of a long hall
with small cells carved in the side walls and a shrine in the canter. The
intermediate level has similar architecture. The upper level has a hall
with rows of seven Buddhas flanked by flying on both sides of the
antechamber. Within the antechamber, leading into the shrine, are twelve
goddesses seated on double-petalled lotus flowers.
Cave 13 :
This is the first in the series of Hindu caves at Ellora. It only
has a small storage hall.
Cave 14 (Ravan ki Khai) :
A
single-storeyed excavation dating from the 7th century, this is a small
sanctuary with a doorway adorned with large guardians and river goddesses.
The panels carved on the side walls of the hall include various Hindu
deities. On the left wall are sculptures of the goddess Durga, Lord Vishnu
seated with Shridevi and Bhudevi, and Lord Vishnu with his consort. The
right wall has sculptures of Durga, the dancing Shivs, Ravana shaking
Mount Kailasa ( the sculpture from which the cave derives its name) and
shiva spearing Andhaka the demon.
Cave 15 (Dashavatara):
This was excavated as a Buddhist monastery in the 8th century and
was later converted to a place of Hindu worship. It has an open court with
a free- standing, monolithic Mandapa, or a columned hall, in the middle
and a two-storeyed temple at the rear. The doorway of the Mandapa is
flanked by the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna. On the roof are reclining
lions and seated Ganas, or dwarfs. A flight of step to the left of the
entrance, ascends to a spacious Mandapa on the upper floor. Large
sculptural panels occupying the spaces between the columns illustrate the
ten incarnations, the Dashavatara, of Lord Vishnu and a wide range of
mythological subjects. Clockwise, from the front of the left wall, are
Shiva and Parvati. Amoung other sculptures on the rear wall, from the
left, are Shivaemerging from they Linga to rescue Markandeya a young
devotee, and Shiva containing the force of the river Ganga in his hair.
Cave 16 (Kailasa) :
The most stupendous single work
of art ever executed in India this is an elaborately embellished,
three-story high temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is unique for being
carved out of solid rock from top of bottom. The exterior wall has a
gateway in the middle that leads into a spacious court surrounding the
main temple. In front is the free standing Nandi pavilion with richly
decorated, 17 -metre high monolithic columns, sending on either side. A
pair of three dimensional elephant stands nearby. Porticos and shrine are
cut into the side walls of the court. To the left of the entrance is a
shrine housing images of the river goddesses and , to its immediate right,
is the Lankeshvara Temple. The west facing temple is raised on a solid
lower story, with its walls sculpted with elephant gathering lotus
flowers. At the Nandi pavilion and in turn, with the upper story of the
gateway. The sculptural scheme at Kailasa is elaborate. Guardians and
river goddesses appear at the gateway of complex, while Durga (right) and
Ganesha (left) flank the interior passageway. The two staircases leading
to the Mandapa of the main temple are carved with narrative friezes. These
include episodes from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharta. The
panels which adorn the lower story depict Shiva dancing with the skin of
the elephant demon. The upper storey Mandapa walls show, the vulture,
Jatayu, attacking Ravana (south), among others. In the subsidiary shrines
are images of the goddesses Lakshmi and Durga amoung other deities.
Cave
17 :
This cave, partly incomplete, is noteworthy for its richly
decorated doorway and pillars.
Cave 18, 19 & 20 :
These
caves adhere to the usual pattern of traditional Hindu architecture. Cave
21 (Rameshvara) : This is one of the earliest excavations at Ellora dating
back to the 7th century. It is approached through a court with a
monolithic Nandi, on a plinth. This leads to a verandah, on the left of
which is the gracefully posed figure of the river goddess Ganga, while the
figure of Yamuna is sculpted on the right. Carved panels in the hall
include the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, their warrior son Kartikeya,
and Durga (left end of the shrine), the dancing Shiva, the seven Matrikas
a group of seven goddesses, with Lord Ganesha and Shiva holding the veena,
and the skeletal Kala and Kali (right end of the shrine).
Caves
22 to 28 :
Except for the free standing Nandi shrine in Cave 22
and a sculpture of Surya, the sun god, on the ceiling of Cave 25 there is
nothing particularly noteworthy in these caves.
Cave 29
(Dhumar Lena) :
The earliest excavation at Ellora, this cave has
a shrine, with a Shiva Linga inside. The four entrances of the shrine are
guarded by Dwarapals, or guardians, and accompanying lady attendants. On
the left and right walls are scenes of Shiva and Parvati.
Cave
30 (Chhota Kailasa) :
This is the first in the series of Jain
excavations, and an incomplete , miniature replica of the Kailasa Temple.
Carved ornamentation is mostly restricted to the Jain saints and
goddesses. Twenty-two seated Tirthankaras, or teachers worshipped by the
Jains, are located in the Mandapa. An image of Mahavira, the founder of
Jainism, seated on a lion throne, is enshrined in the sanctuary.
Cave
31 :
This is an extension of Cave 32 rather than a separate
excavation.
Cave 32 : (Indra Sabha) :
This is the
finest excavation of the Jain Caves. An open court, with its sides adorned
with lions, elephant friezes and Trithankars, has a monolithic shrine in
the center . A double storeyed temple is excavated into the rear side of
the court. On the lower level is an unfinished Mandapa comprising
incomplete cells, the upper story has a similar columned mandapa which is
more complete, with a sanctuary in the middle of its rear wall. Among the
sculptures deserving special attention are ambika, the mother goddess,
with a child in her lap, a lion beneath and a huge tree above. Other
panels depict Lord Mahavira, Gommateshwara- son of Adinatha, the first
Trithankara, and Parshwanatha the second last Tirthankara. Paintings on
the ceiling of the upper Mandapa show couples and maidens flying through
the clouds.
Cave 33 (Jagannath Sabha) :
This cave
has five independent shrine, each with a columned Mandapa and sanctuary
built on two levels. Cave 34 : The last in the series of Jain caves, this
is a small sanctuary situated at the extreme northern end. The shrine door
is carved with figures of Matanga and Sidhaika, on either side. A seated
of Mahavira is housed in the center of the shrine.
Cave time
: 9 .00 a.m. - 5.30 p.m.
Important :
The Ellora
Caves are closed to the public on Mondays and National Holidays.
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