KAILASA TEMPLE: THE MONOLITHIC MARVEL!! AGYAAT.. CHAPTER-02
The Kailasa or the Kailasanatha Temple is one of the most incredible example of architectural brilliance in the entire world. Located in the famous Ellora caves complex which is a UNESCO world heritage site, present in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. The Kailasa temple is the largest cave temple of Ellora from the 34 cave temples in total. The construction of the temple is so remarkable that many believe it was made using advance technology and not just chisels and hammers. So today, let's take a look on the history of its creation, construction and some pretty amazing facts about it. Let's go!
( The Rashtrakuta dynasty, rulers of which created the Kailasa temple.)
( The Kailasanathar Temple at Kanchi, built during Pallava rule.)
( The Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal, built during Chalukya rule.)
HISTORY OF CREATION:
We have to go back a long time before today in the 8th century when India was under the rule of many prominant Empires like the Palas, the Pallavas, the Gurjara-Pratiharas, etc. But the most powerful empire of the time was the Rashtrakuta empire. It consisted of todays Karnataka, Maharashtra, parts of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Dantidurga, a ruler of the Rashtrakuta dynasty was the one who had comissioned the construction of the Kailasa Temple during his reign. But, as the major construction and completion of the temple was done during the reign of Krishna I (756-773), He is given the credit of building the temple. The Kailasa temple was later extended by other Rashtrakuta rulers including Dhruva Dharavarsha, Amoghavarsha, Govinda III and Indra III. King Bhoja of the Paramara dynasty comissioned some detailing work on the temple when he conquered Deccan in the 11th century. Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century comissioned the last layer of paintings on the temple.
CONSTRUCTION:
Architectural evidence clearly suggest that the entire Kailasa temple was planned before construction. Impressed by the architecture style of the Pallavas, Rashtrakuta rulers gave the construction to Pallava and Chalukya artists who had before made temples like the Kailasanathar temple at Kanchi under Pallava rule and its replica, the Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal under the Chalukyas.
These temples were used as prototypes to make the Kailasa Temple of Ellora, Hence influence of Pallava and Chalukya architectural styles can be found on the temple. The entrance of the Temple is dipicted with Shaivate dities on the left , and Vaishnavaite dities on the right.
The central shrine of the temple dedicated to lord Shiva as "Kailasanatha", houses a lingam below a 'Mandapa' and a Dravidian style 'Shikhara' (Dome). Other shrines in the temple are dedicated to river godesses Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. The temple coutyard features a low 'Gopuram' and has 2 'Dhwajastambha' (Pillars with flagstaff). Incredible inscriptions are dome throughout the temple in great detail, carvings of various Gods and Godesses adore the temple premises. Many Buddhist and Jain Carvings can also be found on the temple. Panels depicting the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata are featured on the temple as well. And all this is done on 100% pure basalt rock, just WOW!!
SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT THE KAILASA TEMPLE:
1. MADE FROM A SINGLE ROCK.
The Entire Kailas Temple is made out of a single rock! It is the largest monolithic structure in the entire world. All this detailing and carving is done by scooping and shaping rock many centuries ago which is a phenominal task, hence it is considered as an excellent feat of ancient architecture.
2. CONSTRUCTED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
The fact that baffles many archeologists is that the Kailasa Temple is made from top to bottom i.e. starting from the dome and going downwards. Just imagine the precision that it must have required. This kind of feat is very very difficult even today with heavy machinery let alone using chisel and hammer that people supposedely used at the time.
3. UNDESTRUCTABLE.
There is a story that Auranzeb who had destroyed many thousands of temples also tried to demolish the Kailasa Temple and had sent a 100 people to do so. These people were only able to destroy a few statues, but were unable to demolish the entire temple.
4. RESEMBLES MOUNT KAILASH.
Kailasa Temple was built as a depiction of lord Shiva's adobe 'Mount Kailash' and hence the structure of the temple is made to resemble it. The pyramid style shape of the temple gives it the look of mount kailash, and in early times the temple was also coated with white paint for the same purpose.
5. 200,000 TONS OF ROCK SCOOPED OUT.
Over 200,000 tons of rock was scooped out from the Charanandri Hill to construct the Kailasa Temple. But the interesting fact is that the scooped rocks are no where to be found near the temple premises.
6. LARGEST CENTILEVERED ROCK CEILING.
The Kailasa temple even has the largest centilevered rock ceiling in the world. Centilevered meaning a ceiling attached from only one side.
7. ONLY 18 YEARS TO COMPLETE.
Considering the giant sturcture of the temple and the difficult construction style used to build it, it seems shocking that the temple took only 18 years to complete. Due to this, the theory arises that the temple was built using advance technology.
8. MADE WITH VEDIC TRADITIONS.
Vedic rituals were performed while constructing the Kailasa Temple like 'Mahayagna' that was done before starting the construction. Many sages were invited to bless the temple by chanting mantras to evoke god power after construction.
A architectural wonder of the world, the Kailasa Temple is a proof of how emmence and incredible India's ancient architecture was. It also prooves that a gem is a gem whether it is certified by the world or not!
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