Kailash Temple

[Guest guest]

Kailash Temple

is situated at Ellora and is believed that it was constructed by excavating

approx. 200,000 tones of rock and is possible the world's largest monolithic

structure. Representing Shiva's Himalayan home, the temple is exquisitely

sculpted and is considered as one of the most astonishing 'buildings' in the

history of architecture. A crowning glory of the art, Kailash temple at Ellora

is indeed unique. Instead of carving down into the face of a cliff and creating

underground halls which had been the practice, the sculptors/architects set

aside all convention and created a full temple, identical in every detail to a

structural, 'built-up' example, by carving vertically down into the living

rock.

The scheme of the Kailash temple is basically divided into four main parts: the

body of the temple itself, the entrance gateway, an intermediate nandi shrine

and the cloisters surrounding the courtyard. Much of the imposing character of

the main shrine is due to its substantial plinth, which on first examination

seems to be a floor by itself. Above and below this, the sub-structure is

heavily molded, while the central space is occupied by a frieze of elephants

and lions.

The Kailash temple is not only the single largest work of art executed in India,

but as an example of rock-cut architecture it stands unrivaled. One gradually

becomes aware of the stupendous labor that it involved (over a hundred years),

and finally, the sculpture that adorns it. Standing within its walls, one

cannot help but be aware of the spiritual energy that went into its creation -

a jewel hewn out of the rock itself.

Regards

Prasanna kumar