The Ellora Caves, located near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, comprise 34 caves carved from basalt cliffs, representing Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions, constructed between the 5th and 10th centuries CE. The caves include significant structures like the Kailasa Temple, a monolithic masterpiece dedicated to Shiva, showcasing the rich architectural and artistic heritage of ancient India. Recognized as UNESCO World Heritage monuments, the site reflects the historical socio-economic and religious significance of the region.

1. Monuments of
Ellora
Dr. Virag Sontakke
Assistant Professor
A.I.H.C. & Archaeology
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

2. Location
• It is locally known as “Verul
Leni”.
• It is located on the Aurangabad-
Chalisgaon road at a distance of
30 km north-northwest of
Aurangabad, in Maharashtra.
• The ancient name of Ellora was
Elapura as mentioned in the
Chalukyan and Raştrakuta
copper plate inscriptions.
• Caves are excavated from
the Basalt cliffs in the
Charanandri Hills.

3. Ellora Caves
• The 34 were excavated on basalt.
• Caves belong to the Buddhist,
Hindu and Jain religions.
• The architecture of the cave are
temples and monasteries
• Period of construction is supposed
to be between the 5th to 10th CE.
• Cave no 16, Kailasa temple of
Ellora is the largest single
monolithic structure and one of the
greatest man-made wonders of the
world.
• These are UNESCO World Heritage
Monuments.

4. Why?
• It suggests that the site perhaps played a pivotal role in the
socio-economic or political life of the region.
• Most of the caves in western India were built on or near
ancient trade routes.
• The site was situated in the commercial, region.
• Being on the trade route the site would have economic
importance as well as religious significance.
• Probably, monuments were carved at these places to
popularize a religion.
• Ellora identifies as a sacred centre, related to Shiva.

6. Division of the Caves
Buddhist Total 12
Cave
no.1-12
Hindu Total 17
Cave no.
13-29
Jain Total 05
Cave no.
30-34

7. Location of caves

9. Construction Period
Phase Dynasty Caves
1 Vakataka/ pre Kalachuri 27 & 28
2 Kalachuri
1 to 10 , 18 to 26 &
29
3
Pre Rashtrakutas/
Chalukyan
11, 12, 14, 17
4 Rashtrakutas 15, 16, 30-33

10. Buddhist caves
•Buddhist caves: 1 to 12 (12 Cave)
•Caves 1-5 in the first phase (400 – 600 CE) and
•Caves 6-12 in the later phase (650 – 750 CE).
•Cave no. 11 (above) & 12 are three-storied monasteries
•These caves are located on the Southern side of the
Ellora cave collection.

11. Architecture of Buddhist Caves
1. Eleven out of twelve Buddhist caves consist of Viharas or monasteries
with prayer halls,
2. Large, multistoried structures carved into the mountain face,
containing
3. Cells,
4. Sleeping quarters,
5. Kitchens and other rooms.
6. Shrines including carvings
7. Sculptures of Gautama Buddha, &
8. Bodhisattvas and others.

12. Cave no 1

13. Caves 11 (above)
and 12: Three-
storey
monasteries

14. Plan of Cave No. 5 (Mahawara Cave)

17. The Vishvakarma Cave
• The most famous of the Buddhist caves is cave 10.
• It is Vihara called the “Vishvakarma Cave”.
• It is also known as the “Carpenter’s Cave” because the artistic finish
gives the rock an appearance of wooden beams.
• Beyond its multistoried entry is Chaityagriha (prayer hall).
• A 15-foot statue of Buddha seated in a preaching pose.
• It has eight subsidiary cells, four in the back wall and four in the right
wall.
• It had a portico in the front with cells.
• It is the only dedicated Chaityagriha amongst the Buddhist group of
Ellora Caves.
• It follows the pattern of construction of caves 19 and 26 of Ajanta.
• It was likely built around 650 CE.

20. Buddhist Sculptures
• Twelve Buddhist caves having many images belonging to
Vajrayana Buddhism like Tara, Mahamayuri, Akshobhya,
Avalokiteshwara, Maitrya, Amitabha, etc.
• The shrine Buddha images are big; they are generally guarded
by the images of Padmpani and Vajrapani.
• Buddhist caves are big and are of single, double and triple
storeys.
• Ajanta also has excavated double-storeyed caves but at Ellora,
the triple-storey is a unique achievement.
• All the caves were plastered and painted but nothing visible is
left.

23. Jaina Caves
• Five caves are dedicated to Jaina Cave no. 30-34
• These caves are separated from the other caves by a distance.
• There are two main caves and two unfinished caves among the five.
• These caves date back to the 9th and 10th centuries and belong to the
Jain sect Digambara.
• Cave 30 is called Chhota Kailash;
• cave 31 is unfinished;
• cave 32 is called the Indra Sabha;
• cave 33 is the Jagannath Sabha and
• cave 34 is a smaller cave that connects to an opening in Cave 33.
• These caves also contain a hall where the monks used to preach.

24. Chota Kailash
• Cave 30 or Chhota Kailash is situated a few meters away from the main
group of Jaina caves.
• This is fine monolithic structure, carved in imitation of the Brahmanical
cave Kailash (Cave 16).
• hence its called as Chota Kailash.
• It is also a monolithic shrine, had a gopura and executed in Dravida
style.
• It is without nandimandapa, elephants or free-standing pillars like
Kailash.
• This cave is left unfinished from outside, while only the interior along
with the icons are finished.

31. Sculptures
• All the caves have sculptures
• Also had paintings on the ceilings as well, some of which can still be
seen.
• There are prominent sculptures of the Tirthankara like Parsvanatha, as
well as the last Tirthankara Mahavira.
• Image of Bahubali, also called Gomateshwara, son of the first
Tirthankara.
• There are also sculptures of Yakshas and Yakshinis.
• Ambika, Kubera etc.

36. Brahmanical Caves
•Caves: 13-29 (17 Caves)
• Most of the Caves dedicated to Shiva
• Both Shiva and Vaishnava images are depicted.
• Cave No. 16 is known as Kailash leni.
• A rock-cut temple has been carved out of a single rock, a unique
achievement of the artisans.
• Among the important Shaivite caves are Cave No. 21 and 29.
• The sculptural quality of the cave are amazing for its
monumentality and vigorous movements in the picture

37. Architecture
•Construction in the early Hindu caves commenced
before any of the Buddhist or Jaina caves.
•A common feature of these cave temples was a
rock-cut linga at Garbhagruha.
•Garbhagruha shrine is surrounded by the
circumambulation path (parikrama)

38. An early
19th-century
painting of
Cave 15

39. Cave 19

40. Cave 20

41. Cave 21

42. Sculptures
• Sculpture like Ravnanugraha, Andhakasurvadha, Kalyanasundara are
profusely found
• Carvings depicting Parvati and Shiva at leisure, Parvati's wedding to
Shiva, Shiva dancing and Kartikeya (Skanda) have also often found
• Shiva as Gangadhara, Markendeya, Natraja (dancing Shiva),
Andhakasura, Govardhanadhari, Gajendravarada and others
• Whereas among the Vaishnavite themes, the different avatars of
Vishnu are depicted.
• The sculptures at Ellora are monumental.
• The images are heavy and show considerable sophistication in the
handling of sculptural volume.

48. Kailasa Temple
• The most ambitious and impressive of these is Cave 16, the
Kailasa temple.
• Ascribed to Raśtrakutas.
• A chariot-shaped monument dedicated to Shiva.
• It includes
• Garbhgrha,
• Antarala,
• Mandap,
• Nandi shrine,
• Gateway,
• surrounding cloisters, and
• subsidiary shrines.

49. Plan
• On each side of the
courtyard, supplementary
chambers have been
excavated.
• There are two free-standing
pillars, or dhwaja-
sthambhas, 51 feet high,
one on each side of the
nandi shrine.
• Its 106 feet deep at its
innermost side, 160 ft wide
and 280 ft in length.
• The temple stands in the
middle of this pit. Its
highest point is
the Shikhar at 96 ft.

50. Conclusion
•Shaivite and Vaishnavite images, along with, Jain and
Buddhist Caves show the religious harmony of ancient India.
•Show the considerable skill of ancient artists.
•A broad range of typologies and techniques.
•A perfect blend of the architecture of Pallava temples
and Chalukyan temples.
•Presents the zenith of rock-cut architecture
•Ellora caves represent the last phase in the evolution of
rock-cut structural architecture in India.

51. Thank You