Cave Number 16 of Ellora is the Kailasanatha temple. It represents an audacity of imagination like none other. It is a massive monolithic rock cut temple. There is nothing like this anywhere else in India or the world. Bulk of the carving of the temple was completed under the patronage of Krishna I of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
The Kailasanatha temple at Ellora is influenced by the Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal. Krishna I had defeated the Badami Chalukyas who had constructed the Virupaksha temple. It in turn was inspired by the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram built by Pallavas. The Chalukyas had defeated the Pallavas in battle. Thus, the rock cut temple of Ellora traces its origin across three empires.
Ellora’s Kailasanatha was earlier known as Manikeshwar and Ghrishneshwar and was believed to be one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. At present, the Ghrishneshwar temple built by Holkars in Verul, adjacent to Ellora, is worshipped as a Jyotirlinga.
Rashtrakutas reigned from the 6th to 10th century, but were at their peak in the 8th to 10th centuries. Their capital was at Manyakheta, a famous city of antiquity. At some point or other, they defeated the great powers of the time such as the Pratiharas, Palas, Eastern Chalukyas, and Cholas. They had invaded Kannauj. Their greatest king was Amoghavarsha who is said to have turned Jain in later life. A muslim traveler called him among the four greatest monarchs of the world. Like most other dynasties, the Rashtrakutas were ecletic in their patronage to sects. They were also instrumental in encouraging the development of Kannada.
Source: M.K. Dhavilkar, Kailasa – Stylistic Development and Chronology; Britannica
The picture is Kailasanatha Temple, Ellora
Cave Number 16 of Ellora is the Kailasanatha temple. It represents an audacity of imagination like none other. It is a massive monolithic rock cut temple. There is nothing like this anywhere else in India or the world. Bulk of the carving of the temple was completed under the patronage of Krishna I of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
The Kailasanatha temple at Ellora is influenced by the Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal. Krishna I had defeated the Badami Chalukyas who had constructed the Virupaksha temple. It in turn was inspired by the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram built by Pallavas. The Chalukyas had defeated the Pallavas in battle. Thus, the rock cut temple of Ellora traces its origin across three empires.
Ellora’s Kailasanatha was earlier known as Manikeshwar and Ghrishneshwar and was believed to be one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. At present, the Ghrishneshwar temple built by Holkars in Verul, adjacent to Ellora, is worshipped as a Jyotirlinga.
Rashtrakutas reigned from the 6th to 10th century, but were at their peak in the 8th to 10th centuries. Their capital was at Manyakheta, a famous city of antiquity. At some point or other, they defeated the great powers of the time such as the Pratiharas, Palas, Eastern Chalukyas, and Cholas. They had invaded Kannauj. Their greatest king was Amoghavarsha who is said to have turned Jain in later life. A muslim traveler called him among the four greatest monarchs of the world. Like most other dynasties, the Rashtrakutas were ecletic in their patronage to sects. They were also instrumental in encouraging the development of Kannada.
Source: M.K. Dhavilkar, Kailasa – Stylistic Development and Chronology; Britannica
The picture is Kailasanatha Temple, Ellora
