VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT

Saturday 20 February 2016

Ellora Caves / Sri Kailasanathar Temple / எல்லோரா கைலாசநாதர் கோவில், Cave no 16 and some of the other caves of Ellora Rock cut Cave Temples, Maharashtra State, India.

The second Visit to this Ellora Shiva & Vishnu caves was a part of “Elephanta, Ajanta and Ellora Heritage walk” organized by Enthisai Historical Heritage Walk Group, from December 23^rd to 26^th December 2023. Photos taken during Visit is uploaded in Google Photos and please click this link for the Photos.

DAY - 3, 04-02-2016.

After the darshan of Shri Grishneshwar, visited the Ellora caves also. Ellora caves group consists of 34 Caves dedicated to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, is about 2 KM from, Shri Grishneshwar / Shri Ghushmeshwar, the 12th Jyotirlinga Temple at Ellora. The Caves centre point is No 16 dedicated to Lord Shiva. Caves 1 to 12 are dedicated to Buddhism of which cave No 10 is called as Vishwakarma Cave. The Caves from 13 to 29 are dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. The last 5 caves ( from 30 to 34) are dedicated to Jainism.

எல்லோரா குடைவரைத் தொகுப்பில் 34 குடைவரைகள் மட்டும் குறிப்பிடத்தக்க சிறப்பு வாய்ந்தவைகள் ஆகும். இவை மஹாரஷ்டிர மாநிலத்தில் UNESCO நிறுவனத்தால் அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட 5 உலக பாரம்பரிய சின்னங்களுள் ஒன்று ஆகும். ( The rest are, Ajanta Caves, Elephanta Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble ) எல்லோரா குடைவரைத் தொகுப்பில் முதல் 12 குடைவரைக்கள் பௌத்தமதத்திற்காக பொயு 6 - 8 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டுகளில் குடையப்பட்டதாகவும், 13 - 29 வது குடைவரை 17 குடைவரைகள் சிவன் மற்றும் மஹாவிஷ்ணுவிற்காக பொயு 7 - 9 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டுகளில் குடையப்பட்டதாகவும், 30 ல் இருந்து 34 வரையுள்ள 5 குடைவரைகள் சமண சமயத்திற்காக பொயு 9 - 11 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டுகளில் குடையப்பட்டதாகக் கருதப்படுகின்றது. இக்குடைவரைத் தொகுப்பில் 16 ஆம் எண்குடைவரை சிவனுக்காக் “கைலாசநாதர் கோயில்” என மேலிருந்து கீழாகக் குடையப்பட்டது.

The Ellora group of caves consists of 34 caves of which 12 caves belongs to Buddhism, hewed during 500 – 750 CE, 17 Shiva and Vishnu Caves both for Saivam and Vaishnavam and hewed between 600 to 870 CE and lastly the 5 Caves from 30 to 34 belongs to Jainism hewed during 800- to 1000 CE. The 12 Buddhist caves are starts from No 1. Of the 12 Caves, details of 4 important caves are given below. The Caves 5, 6 and 7 are inter connected with each other.

Main entrance to Cave No 16 – Sri Kailasanathar temple

The cave No 16 is called as Kailasanathar temple. This is the only cave temple chiselled from top to bottom with 2 floor side balconies. The details are as follows.

இக்குடைவரை மேலிருந்து கீழாக குடையப்பட்டது. இக்குடைவரையைக் குடைய சுமார் 200 ஆண்டுகள் பிடித்ததாகக் கூறுவர். ராஷ்டிரகூட மன்னன் தன்டிதுர்கா ( பொயு 735 – 757 ) காலத்தில் ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்டு கிருஷ்ணாவின் காலத்திலும் தொடர்ந்தது. பல்வேறு அரசர்களின் காலத்தில் நடைபெற்றது. குடையப்பட்டு முடிந்த பிறகு பொயு 9 – 11 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டுகளில் ஓவியங்கள் ரங்க மண்டப விதானம், மற்றும் சுவர் பகுதிகளில் வரையப்பட்டது. தற்போது முழுமையான அளவு காணப்படவில்லை. குடைவரை கருவறை, இடைநாழி, ரங்மஹால் /அர்த்த மண்டபம் / மகா மண்டபம், முக மண்டபம் மற்றும் ரிஷப மண்டபம் என்ற அமைப்பில் மாடக்கோயில் போன்று குடையப்பட்டது. அதிட்டானம், அதிட்டானம் மீது யானைகள், அதன்மீது கோயில் என்று காணப்படுகின்றது. கருவறையைச் சுற்றி பரிவார ஆலயங்களும் தாய்பாறையிலேயே செதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

பிரகாரம் உயர்ந்த மேடையில் அமைந்து அது பத்திகளாகப் பிரிக்கப்பட்டு, கஜலக்ஷ்மி, மகிஷாசுரமர்த்தினி, சிவன் ( உமா மகேஸ்வரர், நடராஜர், ராவண அனுக்கிரகமூர்த்தி, கஜசம்ஹாரமூர்த்தி, பாரசிவன் ( எந்தையே சிவலிங்கத்தை வழிபடுவது ), கங்காதரர், கங்க விசர்ஜனர், திரிபுர சம்ஹாரர், சங்கர நாராயணர், லிங்கோத்பவர், காலசம்ஹார மூர்த்தி ) மற்றும் மஹாவிஷ்ணுவின் ( அனந்தசயன பெருமாள், பூவராகர், நரசிம்ஹர், இரணியன் வதம், திருவிக்ரமர், ) பல்வேறு வடிவங்கள் சிற்பத்தொகுதிகளாகச் செதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதுபோன்ற சிற்பத்தொகுதிகள் கருவறை மற்றும் மண்டப வெளிச் சுவர்களிலும் காணப்படுகின்றன. மகாபாரதம் மற்றும் ராமாயணம் சிற்பத்தொகுதிகளாகச் செதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதைக் காண்பதற்கு கண்கோடி வேண்டும். பிரகாரத்தில் இரண்டு ராஷ்டிரகூடர்களின் வெற்றித் தூண்களும் செதுக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

The kailasa is a great monolithic rock cut temple isolated from the surrounding rock and excavated from top to bottom and hewed out all through from outside. It is said that ten generations worked for it and took more than 200 years for the completion. The temple was planned and begun under the Rashtrakuta King Dantidurga ( 735 – 757 CE ) and the major work went on in the reign of Krishna ( 757-773 CE ). The artistic activities of kailasa were carried out in several phases and spread over many reigns of the Rashtrakuta Rulers. This cave is locally known as Kailasha is a temple complex, with all essential elements of temple, including main shrine, Rishaba Shrine, gateway, surrounding cloisters and subsidiary shrines. The temple is richly carved with niches, pilasters, windows and cornices. The whole temple is decorated with gigantic images of deities, amorous couples, friezes of epic scenes along with fauna, floral and geometrical designs. After completion of the temple there is evidence of renewed plaster and painting is about 9^th to 11^th centuries CE.

Various sculpture carved here in the temple are not there by accident, but by deliberate design. Every sculpture has a meaning and a purpose. The two elephants and free standing pillars of victory in courtyard reflect Rashtrakutas supremacy and power. The figures of Sankha–Nidhi and Padmanidhi and the panel of Gajalakshmi in courtyard symbolise their prosperity. While the figures of river goddess Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati symbolise the purity, devotion and knowledge respectively. The enormous animals supporting the super structure of Kailasa show the great importance given for the animal worlds in the Hindu mythology. The whole temple complex is surrounded by a raised pillar corridor decorated with huge panels of mythological stories.

The main temple is called as Rang-Mahal ( Painted Palace) because after its completion, the temple was plastered and painted. Rang-Mahal is rectangular on plan. The 7 metre high plinth is decorated with life size elephants and mythical animals and friezes illustrating two great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The main temple has a Vadya mandapa, Rishaba Mandapa, a Pillared hall, an antechamber and a small sanctum surrounded by five subsidiary shrines ( Panchayatana). The ceilings of the sanctum, ante chamber and the hall have pendentive rosettes, goddess Annapoorna and dancing Siva respectively. The whole Temple is also decorated with beautiful paintings.

Lankeshwar temple carved on northern corridor is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple consists of a Pillared hall, an antechamber sanctum and Rishabam shrine. On the parapet wall is a frieze of amorous couples carved in bass relief. The pillars and walls are decorated with a number of interesting panels. The sanctum houses a Linga and the back wall is carved with Maheshmurti in low relief.

LOCATION OF THE CAVE : CLICK HERE

Cave No 16 – Sri Kailasanathar temple

Mahishasuramardini

Gajalakshmi

North side corridor - The victory Pillar

Shiva in a meditation posture

Shiva with 10 hands / Dashabhuja - as Gaja samhara murti

Ravana Anugraha murti

Victory Pillar of Rashtrakutas

The remains of plastering and painting of Rang Mahal entrance

Rang-Mahal - ceiling reliefs and Paintings

Shiva Linga in the sanctum Sanctorum

Rang-Mahal

Prakaram Parivara sannadhis

The ground level corridor view from the Rang Mahal

Episodes from Epic Mahabharata

Episodes from epic Ramayana

Ground level Back side corridor

Ground level Back side - Elephants on the adhistanam

Ravana

THE CAVES AFTER CAVE NO 16.

( Written as a Separate post )

Capital / pothiyal Sculptures

Ganapathi

Mahishasuramardini

Left and right side dwarapalaka

Marriage of Shiva with Parvati

Shiva with Brahma with their consorts

MahishasuraMardini

Shiva as Veerabhadra and Daksha with goat's head

Saptamatrikas

Dance of Lord Shiva

Skeletons

exquisitely carved pillars and pilasters

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

….. to be continued

Shri Grishneshwar or Ghushmeshwar Temple, Verul, Ellora, Maharashta, India - A Jyotirlinga Temples Yatra.

The Second Visit to this 12^thJyotirlinga Temple, Shri Ghrushneswar Temple also Known as Shri Ghrineshwar Mandir at Ellora was a part of “Elephanta, Ajanta and Ellora Heritage walk” organized by Enthisai Historical Heritage Walk Group, from December 23^rd to 26^th December 2023.

DAY -3, 04-02-2016.

After the darshan of Shri Nagnath at Aundha, we proceeded to Ellora, Daulatabad in Maharashtra to have the darshan of Shri Grishneshwar or Ghushmeshwar, even-though it was planned on 05-02-2016. ( We have to travel a long distance via Shani Shingnapur to Shirdi ).

Ghushmeshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the twelfth Jyotirlinga shrines mentioned in the Shiva Purana "koti rudra samhita", referred as Ghushmeshwar jyotirlinga. Ghushmeshwar is believed as the last or twelfth Jyotirlinga on the earth.

“ஸௌராஷ்ட்ரே ஸோமநாதம்ச ஸ்ரீ சைலே மல்லிகார்ச்சுனம்

உஜ்ஜயின்யாம் மாகாளம் ஓங்காரம் அமலேச்வரம்

பரல்யாம் வைத்யநாதம்ச டாகின்யாம் பீமசங்கரம்

சேதுபந்தேது ராமேசம் நாகேசம் தாருகாவனே

வாராணஸ்யாம் து விச்வேசாம் த்ரயம்பகம் கௌதமீதடே

ஹிமாலயேது கேதாரம் குஸ்மேசம் சிவாலயே

ஏதானி ஜோதிர் லிங்கானி ஸாயம் ப்ராத: படேந்த:

ஸ்ப்த ஜன்ம கிருதம் பாபம் ஸ்மரணே வினச்யதி”

Moolavar : Shri Grishneshwar and Shri Ghushmeshwar

Consort : Sri Parvathy

Some of the important details are as follows...

The temple is facing west. The sanctum measures 17ft x 17ft. And Moolavar is about 5 ft below the mandapam level. A mandapam with Rishabam was built at a latter stage with red stones on 24 pillars. On these pillars there are reliefs. The scenes and paintings are in the mandapam. Dashavatara reliefs are carved in red stone. Vimanam is of 6 tiers / levels and sanctum is also built with red stone. Vimanam Stucco image of Subramaniyar, Shiva and Parvati on Rishaba and Vinayagar are on the Vimanam. And kalasam is made of gold.

In the prakaram sannidhi for Bolenath, Parvati, & Ganesha with Rishabam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

When this temple was built is not known and it is believed that the temple exists, even before the Ellora Caves excavation started by the Rashtrakutas in 5th to 6th Century. There is no evidence available to prove the same at this temple. As per hearsay, Bhosale an ardent Shiva devotee, ( The Patel or chief of Verul ) renovated the temple and built a lake in Shikhar shinganapur, from the treasure he got from an ant hill, by the grace of Lord Grishneshwar.

Later on, Goutamibal ( Bayajabai ) and Ahilyadevi Holkar renovated the Grishneshwar temple, which measures 240 ft x 185 ft.

Vimanam – stucco images of Subramaniyar – Rishabarooder – Vinayagar

THE LEGENDS

The stories associated with Ellora, Shiva temple and Grishneshwar are goes like this......

This was original settlement of Naga tribes. The place of the Nagas is Bambi, which is known as “Varul” in Marathi “Varul” gradually changed into “Verul” on the banks of river Yelaganga. The name “Verul” is derived from Yelahanka river and the area with capital Yelapa, or Yelur or Verul, was ruled by the King named “Yela”.

Once the king went for hunting. While hunting, the king killed the animals living with the Rishis and munivars too. On seeing this the rishis cursed the king’s body should be infested with insects.

The King began to wander in the forest and he was too thirsty. Finally found out water to drink in a hole made by the hooves of a horse. As the king started to drink water a miracle occurred. After he drank the water he was relieved from the curse. The king did severe penance at that place on Brahma. Lord Brahma was pleased with the penance and appeared before him and blessed. The King created the Parashta Teertham and also created a huge holy lake. This Brahma sarovar later came to be known as Shivalay.

The another Legend goes like this…

One of the southern mountain called Deva Parvata, a great scholar Brahmin Sudhama of Bharadwaja gotra, lived with his beautiful, devout wife called Sudeha. They had no children. They were very unhappy because of this. They were harassed and tortured by the sly remarks of their neighbors. But Sudama, an intelligent person, did not care about these. One day, Sudeha threatened to commit suicide and sister Dushma, married her husband. Both of them promised that there would be no jealousy between them.

After sometime, Dushma gave birth to a son. And eventually even that son married. Both Sudama and Dushman, were nice to Sudeha. But jealousy did get the better of Sudeha. Once she picked up Dushman's son who was sleeping by her side and killed him. She threw the body into the lake near by.

In the morning there was a big hue and cry. Dushma’s grief knew no bounds. Even then, she went to the river to do her routine worship. She made her usual hundred Lingas and began worship she saw her son standing near the lake. Shiva was pleased with her worship and revealed the truth about Sudhas forgiveness of Sudha’s sin. She indeed requested Shiva to remain there itself for the welfare of the humanity. Shiva acceded to her request and remained there with the name of Dhushamesha.

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs

Gents should remove the shirt and baniyan before entering in to the sanctum.

CONTACT DETAILS :

HOW TO REACH :

Grishneshwar in Verul village is 29 KM from the airport at Aurangabad. Regular flight services are available from Aurangabad Airport to Jaipur, Mumbai, Udaipur and Delhi.

Nearest Railway station is Aurangabad and Manmad Railway station is on the main route, which is 140 km.

Bus facilities are available from Aurangabad.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

The shops in front of the temple

The Temple main entrance

Vinayagar Sannidhi opposite to main entrance.

The shops in front of the temple

west side entrance to the main temple ( kept closed )

An abandoned mosque like structure

Vishwakarma Temple – 2 KM away from the Grishneshwar temple

A Vinayagar temple vimanam - 2 KM away from the Grishneshwar temple

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

….. to be continued

Friday 19 February 2016

Sri Nagnatha Temple, Aundha, Maharashtra, India - Jyotirlinga Temples Yatra.

19^th February 2016

DAY -3, 04-02-2016.

Today we had the darshan of two JyotirLinga Darshans, Aundha Sri Nagnath and Sri Ghushmeshwar at Ellora. After Sri Vaidyanath darshan at Parli we stayed 04 Feb 2016 night at Parli. As usual by 03.45 Hrs, we started our yathra to our next destination to Aundha Sri Nagnath Temple. It was a short distance and we reached Aundha around 06.30 Hrs.

SRI NAGNATH, AUNDHA.

An early morning view of the temple

Moolavar : Sri Nagnath

Consort : Sri Parvati.

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The temple is facing west with an entrance from north. The temple is at a raised level with steps and has three sides, but normal usage is from east. Nandhi is in a mandapam between Sri Ramdev ( an ardent Shiva devotee ) sannadhi and main temple. Moolavar is in underground 6 feet below the sanctum and a small opening with steps to go down. Moolavar turned towards Sri Ramdev to hear his songs.

This is very old temple built by Rani Ahilya Bai. The place where the temple is there is called Darukavanam. Anybody can perform abhishekam by purchasing the ticket. After the abhishekam the silver kavasam on the linga is removed and have the darshan of the main deity.

The architectural beauty of the Nagesh Temple is simply exquisite. This temple built with stones during the Pandava period. The four walls of the temple are very strong and the corridors are large. The court hall is supported by eight pillars. It is oval shaped.

Exquisite carving of reliefs and sculptures around sanctum wall and steps

On all the four sides of the main temple, smaller sannadhis for the twelve JyotirLingas, Vedavyasa Linga, Bhandareshwar, Nilakantheswar, Ganapati, Dattatreya, Muralimanohar, Dashavatar.

Runamochak teerth sannadhi is called “Mother-in-law- Daughter-in-law” sannadhi. Every 12 years, at the time of Kapila Shashti, kashi Ganga offering as “Padarpan” is performed. During this the water in the teertha looks crystal clear. Again at a specific time it becomes ‘Shivala Yukt”.

Exquisite carving of reliefs and sculptures around sanctum wall and steps

At a corner sannidhi for Sri Parvati, who is sulking with Shiva trying to pacify her. This statue is amazing to look at with its stunning features. It is unmatched in its expression of emotions.

Aurangzeb tried to demolish the temple and abandoned due to attacking of honey bees. Latter the temple was reconstructed.

It is believed that snakes with their hoods open can be seen standing guard on the Nagnath Linga idol.

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple is kept open between 05.30 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs

CONTACT DETAILS :

HOW TO REACH :

It is 120 Km from Parli, 60 Km from Nanded and 50 Km from Parbhani. in Maharashtra

51 Km from Parbhani rail way station. Nandigram express ( train No 1401 ) which goes from Nagpur to Mumbai stops here.

MSRTC Buses are available from Nanded, Parbhani, Chondi, Hingoli to Aundha.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE