History, Importance, Timings, Architecture, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Kailashnath Temple, Ellora Caves, Verul - Ellora, Maharashtra, India
Kailasha or Kailashnatha temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, located at Ellora Caves, in Sahyadri hill, near Aurangabad in Maharashtra is one of the largest rock cut Hindu temple of world. Out of 100 caves here, 34 are open for public and caves number 16 is enormous Kailasa temple, part of UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest solitary Monolithic stone excavation in all over the world. Temple was carved out vertically from top to bottom of single basalt rock from Charanandri Hills, the unique example of temple architecture and wonder for history and architecture lover. It is believed that the Kailasa Temple has striking similarities to the Virupaksha temple of Karnataka.
As per the records found, it is believed that temple was constructed in 8th century in Rashtrakuta King Krishna I between the year 756 and 773 AD with the help of artist of Pallava and Chalukya kingdom. As they had model ready from Virupaksha temple, for the Kailasa temple they took lesser time to build such huge temple. They built multi storied temple same like mount Kailas – abode of Lord Shiva, thus temple popular as Kailasa temple.
As per the archaeologists and modern designer, temple construction would have taken more than a hundred years but in in reality it took only 18 years to complete it.
Interesting story associated with temple, As per the Katha-Kalpataru by Krishna Yajnavalki, when a king was severely ill, his queen prayed to the Lord Shiva for her husband’s good health. If King cured from illness then queen will construct a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and do the fast until the shikhara, the peak of temple completed. Lord Shiva had fulfilled here wish and her husband cured from ill. Then King had called out lots of artist from surrounding area to build temple but as per their plan it will take lot time and queen had to fast for those many days of months. Finally one architect named Kokasa came up and suggest plan to start temple carving from top so that Shikhara could be build first in few days and then Queen can see it and break the fast. This is how marvelious Kailasa temple was built in several phase and may be completed during next line of ruler.
It is said that more than 200000 tones of rock were removed from amidst the Charanandri Hills to construct temple, is this not amazing!!, is it possible to do with only hammer and chisel !! may be then more advance technologies available to do such great task that even today we don’t have.
The temple architecture is quite different than the other temple of Deccan region, also it is influence by Virupaksha Temple of Pattadakal and the Kailasa temple of Kanchi but still the main role was performed by Deccan artists.
The two storeyed gateway opens to reveal U Shaped courtyard of 82 * 46 m at base, 150 feet deep and the idols of deities at the left of the entrance are Shaivaite sect and on the right side the idol of deities are Vaishnavaites sect. The central shrine of Lord Shiva and idol of Nandi features flat roofed Mandapa supported by 16 pillars. Every section of temple tells us the vedic stories, picture of Ramayana and Mahabharata via intricate sculpture and carvings. One of the famous sculpture is of Ravana who tries to lift Mount Kailasa, Lord Shiva as ascetic, Shiva as Nataraja, Shiva and Parvati playing dice, Varaha raising earth, Goddess Durga killing demon Mahisasur etc. The elephants and lions that form the high plinth of the main temple showcase the power and fortune of Rashtrakuta. There are main five shrine in temple premises, three dedicated to sacred river Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. You can also find two Dhwajasthambams in courtyard.
Brief about Ellora Caves, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Maharashtra, India.
Group of 34 caves temple located near small village Verul or Ellora, in Sahyadri hills, Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state in India are world famous as Ellora caves. Now it is protected by Archeologic Survey of India and also declared as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. This is one of the enormous and largest rock-cut cave temple complex in the world which are excavations from the Charanandri Hills. There are more than 100 caves in Ellora Caves campus but out of it 34 are open from public. Ellora Caves are just 100 km from Ajanta Caves thus jointly popular as Ajanta Ellora caves or Ajanta Ellora or Ajanta and Ellora caves. Here you can find the monument of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism in same campus which showcase the spirit of tolerance of ancient India. From the dating of 600-1000 period, there is a featuring of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist Memorial and artwork. Specially in caves number 16A Chariot shaped Memorial of the Kailash Temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is the largest solitary Monolithic stone excavation in all over the world. The Kailash Temple excavation also attributes sculptures representing the gods goddess and folk tales established in vaishnavism, shaktism and relief panels as well, abridge the two Prime Hindu epics.
How to Reach Kailashnatha Temple, Ellora Caves, Maharashtra, India
Kailashnatha Temple, cave number 16, dedicated to Lord Shiva is located in Verul and Ellora Caves are just 2 km from village where thousands of people reach. Thus it is very well connected with all major cities of Maharashtra via road, rail and air network. Verul – Ellora is located just at just 31 km from Aurangabad, 310 km from Mumbai, 175 km from Nashik, 250 km from Pune, 105 km from Ajanta Caves, 101 km from Shirdi, 205 km from Trimbak, 135 km from Ahmednagar. From Ellora, the nearest airport is in Aurangabad, at a distance of around 36 km and nearest railway station is in Aurangabad which is approximately 29 Kms away. So you can easily reach by train and flight.
