Temple de Kailâsanâsanâtha — Wikipedia

The Temples of Kailâsanâtha , or Temple de kailashnath , Temple de kailash , Kaila , is part of a set of monasteries and temples located in Ellorâ, Maharashtra, India. It is a set of constructions over 2 km² dug in the wall of a high basalt cliff. Of the 34 monasteries and temples, the Kailasa which occupies cave No. 16 is the best known because of its size, its architecture and its decoration. It was built by the excavation and digging of the cliff. This is a significant example of monolith architecture ^{[ first ]} .

The temple recalls Mount Kalash, remains of the God Shiva. It was built at VIII ^{It is} century by King Krishna first ^is From the Rashtrakuta dynasty, at the time when India was gradually ironing from Buddhism to Hinduism. Due to a lack of references, the contractors were inspired by the constructions of the Chalukya kingdom which had been defeated ^{[ 2 ]} .

Locally, he was called Ranga mahal (color palate) ^{[ 2 ]} .

It was built (or rather excavated) by digging the cliff from its top down, to free up courses, free spaces, but also the interior rooms, keeping the pillars and the walls, as well as the Sculptures and desired decorations. It is probably the largest monolithic construction in the world ^{[ 3 ]} .

It is estimated that around 400,000 tonnes of rocks have been released over a hundred years ^{[ 3 ]} To build this monolithic structure ^{[ 4 ]} .
Excavation measures 84 m length, 47 width and 33 “height”. The temple itself is 45 long m and 30 wide m ^{[ 3 ]} .

Scissors have led archaeologists to estimate that three types of scissors were used ^{[ 5 ]} .

Shiva linga du temple de kailash

All sculptures are made on more than one level. A two -story bridge opens to reveal a U -shaped courtyard. The courtyard is bordered by a column arcade on three floors. Arcades are punctuated by immense sculpted panels and alcoves containing large sculptures of a large number of deities. Originally, suspended stone bridges connected these galleries to the structures of the central temple, but they collapsed.

The plan is typical of the future Dravidian architecture: after the front door (Gopuram), rises a pavilion dedicated to the Sacred Nandi bull, the Shiva mount: the Nandi Mandapa. Nandi looks at the central temple that houses Lingam. The Nandi Mandapa and the main temple are each about 7 meters high and are built on two floors. The base of the temple has been carved with elephants that seem to wear the structure.

A rock bridge connects the Nandi Mandapa to a room in the dark (mandapa) which ensures the transition with the heart of the temple, the Garbha Griha where the Lingam of Shiva is located. Externally, the temple itself is in the shape of a pyramidal tower (Vimana) as in the temples of southern India. On both sides of the tower, two doors open from the mandapa on the ambulatory (pradakshina) on the edge of which accessory sanctuaries take up the patterns of secondary deities ^{[ 2 ]} .

The sanctuary also includes pillars, windows, interior and exterior rooms, meeting rooms. All stone walls are sculpted with niches, windows, masunas and images of deities.

On the left side of the entrance, most of the deities are shivaïtes (disciples of Shiva) while on the right side, the deities are Vishuits (supporters of Vishnu).

There are two dhvajastambhas (pillars with a mast) in the main courtyard.

There is also a large sculpture from the demon Ravana trying to lift Mount Kalash remains of Shiva having inspired the temple. It is a major work of Indian art. Ravana was a demon who wanted to shake Shiva’s mountain in an episode in Ramayana. To defend herself, Shiva simply puts her foot on Ravana and immobilizes her ^{[ 3 ]} . There is also a representation of Vishnu as a man shouting the body of a demon ^{[ 3 ]} .

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  Façade du Temple Central.

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  Elephant carved in the rock.

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  Elephants on the basis.

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  Pillar carved in the courtyard.

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  The overhang of the surrounding galleries.

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Bibliography [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

• Edith Parlier-Renault, ” The iconographic program of the Kailāsanātha temple in Ellorā », Asian arts , vol. 56, 2001 , p. 5-23 .

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