Ellora Caves - Hindu Caves
The Hindu excavations (Caves 13 to 29) overlap in time
with the latter part of the Buddhist phase, showing the climate of tolerance
and mutual respect between the faiths of the time. Hindu excavations are
mostly Shaivite and are located centrally between the Buddhist and Jain
caves.
Cave 13
Cave 13 is the first in the series of Hindu caves at Ellora which
lies in the centre of the group. It is a small plain room.consort; Durga
defeating the buffalo demon, Shiva and Parvati playing chess, Siva dancing
the Tandava, Ravana attempting to shake Mount Kailasa and Shiva spearing
Andhaka.
The Ellora Festival, held annually
in March, draws top classical Indian dancers and musicians from around
the country to perform outdoors against the magical backdrop of the Ellora
Caves.
Click
here for more details...
Contact Details :
Ellora Festival
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (M T D C)
9th Floor, Express Towers
Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400021 |
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Cave 15 (Dasavatara)
Cave 15 locally known as "Dasavatara" (Ten incarnations
of Vishnu) is truly one of the finest caves at Ellora. Dated to the period
of the Rashtrakuta king, Dantidurga, this cave mainly depicts Lord Shiva
in various forms. Begun as a Buddhist monastery it was later converted
to a Shiva temple in the 8th century. The temple with a large courtyard
is reached by a flight of steps. River goddess flank the entrance.
Buddha sculptures can be seen on the capitals of the first floor.
A richly carved mandapa stand in the open court and the
figures on the friezes are those that are repeated throughout the temples
of this group. Many familiar scenes involving Shiva are here, including
a mesmerising Shiva Nataraja, and Shiva emerging from the Lingam to rescue
Markandeya. Some of the sculptures worth mentioning are the marriage of |
Shiva and Parvati, Shiva and
Parvati playing dice, spearing of Andhaka, Shiva receiving the river
Ganga in his hair, Shiva's son Ganesha, figures of Parvati and musicians,
and Lakshmi, Lakshmi bathed by elephants, Krishna raising the mount
Govardhana, Several panels depict Vishnu - Resting on a five headed
serpent, Vishnu is shown as the lion man or Narasimha destroying
the demon Hiranyakashyap, Flying on Garuda, rescuing an elephant
from a crocodile etc.
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Monuments 
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