DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0517
495
CHAPTER III.
JAINA OAVES AT ELITRA.
The Jaina caves at Elura are separated by a distance of about
200 yards from the Dumar Lena, the most northerly Brahmanical
temple, and occupy the northern spur of the hill, called by them
Charanadri. They are not numerous, consisting of only some five or
six large excavations, but some of these are really extensive works,
comprising several halls in one temple. They are of various ages,
dating probably from the eighth to the thirteenth century.
It may be as well to take them in the order in which they occur,
though by so doing two that may be the latest in the group come
first.
Chhota Kailasa.
The most southerly of the group is a little way up the face of the
Mil to the south-east of the others. It has been little frequented by
visitors or even by natives, and was so silted up till recently that
there was considerable difficulty in getting inside it. It was,
however, partially excavated in 1877 by orders of the Haidarabad
Government. It is known as Chhota Kailasa, and is a curious
Sample of the imitation of the works of one sect by the votaries of
toother, for there can be no doubt that this was undertaken in
'natation of the great Brahmanical temple of Kailasa, but on a
mucn smaller scale. The hall or mandapa is 36 feet 4 inches square
tod like its great prototype has sixteen columns. The porch in
front is about 10 feet square, and the shrine at the back measures
*t feet by 111. The whole temple is situated in an excavated pit
teet wide by about 130 feet long, with a small excavation in
•ton side. The outside is in the Dravidian style, but the sikhar or
Plre is low, and the workmanship stiff, while it has been left
flushed, though from what cause we have at present no means of
ertammg. Its similarity, however, to the Kailasa in design, and
act that the Dravidian style is not known to have been practised
ar north, after the destruction of the Rashtrakutas in the ninth
ry, would lead to the inference that these two temples cannot
CHAPTER III.
JAINA OAVES AT ELITRA.
The Jaina caves at Elura are separated by a distance of about
200 yards from the Dumar Lena, the most northerly Brahmanical
temple, and occupy the northern spur of the hill, called by them
Charanadri. They are not numerous, consisting of only some five or
six large excavations, but some of these are really extensive works,
comprising several halls in one temple. They are of various ages,
dating probably from the eighth to the thirteenth century.
It may be as well to take them in the order in which they occur,
though by so doing two that may be the latest in the group come
first.
Chhota Kailasa.
The most southerly of the group is a little way up the face of the
Mil to the south-east of the others. It has been little frequented by
visitors or even by natives, and was so silted up till recently that
there was considerable difficulty in getting inside it. It was,
however, partially excavated in 1877 by orders of the Haidarabad
Government. It is known as Chhota Kailasa, and is a curious
Sample of the imitation of the works of one sect by the votaries of
toother, for there can be no doubt that this was undertaken in
'natation of the great Brahmanical temple of Kailasa, but on a
mucn smaller scale. The hall or mandapa is 36 feet 4 inches square
tod like its great prototype has sixteen columns. The porch in
front is about 10 feet square, and the shrine at the back measures
*t feet by 111. The whole temple is situated in an excavated pit
teet wide by about 130 feet long, with a small excavation in
•ton side. The outside is in the Dravidian style, but the sikhar or
Plre is low, and the workmanship stiff, while it has been left
flushed, though from what cause we have at present no means of
ertammg. Its similarity, however, to the Kailasa in design, and
act that the Dravidian style is not known to have been practised
ar north, after the destruction of the Rashtrakutas in the ninth
ry, would lead to the inference that these two temples cannot