Absolutely stunning! I really enjoyed learning that Aurangzeb admired the beauty of Ellora. While every aspect of the Kailashanatha temple is captivating, the artwork that fascinates me the most is the depiction of Ravana attempting to lift Shiva and Parvati’s seat on Mount Kailash. There’s an undeniable mystique to that scene!
Having just recently visited these magnificent sites this article sheds so much more light on them and indeed even increased my fascination with the place! Cannot wait to go back and explore more! Thank you for this :)
Excellent essay. I have been to the Kailashanatha and Jain temples. But the rest of this is like a mystery, that's not told anywhere. Specially in the popular sources on the travel for this place.
"Canarese (Kannada) was their (Rashtrakuta's) mother-tongue"
"If the home of the Malkhed Rashtrakutas were in Maharashtra, it is difficult to explain how they could be using the script of Karnatak as their mother script"
"Jura inscription of Krshna III, found in Bundelkhand, should be using the Canarese (Kannada) Language to describe his achievements can also be explained only on the assumption that Canarese(Kannada) was mother tongue of Rashtrakutas of Malkhed.
Consistently superb—I find myself appreciating your articles more and more. I'll be a paid subscriber soon.. I never heard of the place and now am considering visting in the next couple of years. Thanks
Ellora takes your breath away with the imagination and execution involved in creating this wonder. Rather sad, though, that in the foreground of the first photo, there is a whole bunch of discarded plastic trash.
In the first photo of elephants, you can see that one of them has a smashed face. There are also many other examples of damage. Do you know where the damage came from then?
Like the Garhwa Fort, it's probably vandals and looters. When islamic iconoclasm occurs, it tends to be VERY thorough, as in Delhi, Vidisha and Daulatabad where not a single temple icon survives intact. That's just not the case in Ellora, where every murti is intact and only a few elephants display the wear and tear of 1500 years...
Absolutely stunning! I really enjoyed learning that Aurangzeb admired the beauty of Ellora. While every aspect of the Kailashanatha temple is captivating, the artwork that fascinates me the most is the depiction of Ravana attempting to lift Shiva and Parvati’s seat on Mount Kailash. There’s an undeniable mystique to that scene!
Having just recently visited these magnificent sites this article sheds so much more light on them and indeed even increased my fascination with the place! Cannot wait to go back and explore more! Thank you for this :)
Excellent essay. I have been to the Kailashanatha and Jain temples. But the rest of this is like a mystery, that's not told anywhere. Specially in the popular sources on the travel for this place.
Btw, for the tomb of last caliph, this you will enjoy reading: https://www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/ottoman-india-last-caliph-abdulmecid-tomb-will
Imrans article first put me.onto it!
Like father, like son,resurrecting Indian history from various sources unknown to ordinary Indians
Informative
Interesting article. It seems south India was more tolerant of different religions and regimes.
The Kailāsa of Ellora and the Chronology of Rāshtrakūta Art
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3248615
"Canarese (Kannada) was their (Rashtrakuta's) mother-tongue"
"If the home of the Malkhed Rashtrakutas were in Maharashtra, it is difficult to explain how they could be using the script of Karnatak as their mother script"
"Jura inscription of Krshna III, found in Bundelkhand, should be using the Canarese (Kannada) Language to describe his achievements can also be explained only on the assumption that Canarese(Kannada) was mother tongue of Rashtrakutas of Malkhed.
- AS Altekar
Marvelous piece, my friend! You took my breath away.
what an amazing read!
Consistently superb—I find myself appreciating your articles more and more. I'll be a paid subscriber soon.. I never heard of the place and now am considering visting in the next couple of years. Thanks
Thank you!
Ellora takes your breath away with the imagination and execution involved in creating this wonder. Rather sad, though, that in the foreground of the first photo, there is a whole bunch of discarded plastic trash.
In the first photo of elephants, you can see that one of them has a smashed face. There are also many other examples of damage. Do you know where the damage came from then?
Like the Garhwa Fort, it's probably vandals and looters. When islamic iconoclasm occurs, it tends to be VERY thorough, as in Delhi, Vidisha and Daulatabad where not a single temple icon survives intact. That's just not the case in Ellora, where every murti is intact and only a few elephants display the wear and tear of 1500 years...
Great and valuable information about Ellora.
What a comprehensive account Sam. We loved the area x Marina
Such detailed yet animated writing. Feels like I'm exploring with you. Sam you got a fan!
Kudos :)