Kailasa Temple

For me, this is the best place in India. I can speak about Ellora so long how to be there. For this reason it is necessary to divide the story on themes. But I’m sure you know about this remarkable place.
Emblazoned as UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ellora caves epitomizes the Indian rock-cut architectural heritage as well as religious harmony prevalent in India since ages. The art work in these caves is representative of three different religious faiths Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and considered as fine specimens of ancient Indian art. Each of temples is worthy a separate theme. But Kailashnath (or Kailasa), the most beautiful of the rock-cut stractures of India, is Ellora's crown jewel

This rock-cut temple (cave 16), dating from the 700's, is a replica of Mount Kailash, the Himalayan home of Shiva and Parvati. Well-known for being carved out of single solid rock from top to bottom, it is richly embellished three-storey high temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. When I have entered there for the first time, I had to leave for a short because of feelings which have fallen to me. It is really incredible. I don’t think the pictures do the justice, you should reach there to see it yourself.

My short video around the Kailasa Temple from the cliff. Press the title for full HD:

View through the courtyard to the huge elephants supporting the main temple.

The pillars look painfully light or slender when considered as supporting the improbable cargo of plain rock over them. It is when standing in its shadow and looking upwards, towards the vimana, that we become aware of the grandeur of the composition, and feel that the ancient architectural picture is not surpassed. 

Gajasura-vadha-murti. 

Matrikas in the sacrifice hall (yajnashala).

  The amount of sculpture, both religious, historical and architectural, that covers every part of the Kailasa adds immensely to the impressive but mysterious effect of the whole, and its variety is as remarkable as its quantity.  

There are, for instance, two bas-reliefs, one on each side of the great Vimana. The one here given represents Ravana's conquest of Ceylon. On the lower part, and at the right-hand side, the giant Ravana is seen defending his castle, and throughout the picture of Sri Hanuman, with his army of monkeys, are seen lending their aid to their human allies : in the second lowest tier, bringing the rocks with which Ramasetu is said to have been constructed in order to enable the invading army to pass from the continent to the island. 

Other pendant to the bas-relief  represent the episodes in the lives of the Pandavas ; the peaceful occupations, ending in a battle as a matter of course, and closing with a group of prisoners, the principal of whom is being strangled or having his head cut off.

Ravananugriha-murti: Shiva and Parvati sitting on Mount Kailash while the demon Ravana is shaking him.

It is not, however, the art of these sculptures that makes the Kailasa so wonderful so much as their quantity and variety ; for after you have examined all those of the Temple itself, with its porches, and those of the stone bridges that connect one part with the other, there is still the others beautiful temples cut in the rock, which make up together an exhibition of human labour and religious fidelity seldom surpassed.

It had no beginning, middle,or end... Linga fire-pillar

In the main shrine.

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA