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Ellora, 12 January 2000
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Divine Moods of Swamishri

The Caves of Ellora

The town of Ellora, near Aurangabad city in Maharashtra, is globally famous for its rock cut mandirs and monasteries. Out of its 34 cave mandirs, 12 are Buddhist, 17 are Hindu and 5 are Jain mandirs. They contain elaborate carvings of gods and godesses of the three great Faiths. The Kailash Hindu mandir is the most famous of all cave mandirs of Ellora. It is regarded as the greatest monolithic structure in the world. The mandir, 50 m. long, 35 m. broad and 30 m. high, was carved out of a single huge rock. Seven generations of master sculptors toiled over a period of 150 years to create this masterpiece.
Swamishri visited the Kailash mandir, a Buddhist cave mandir and a Jain cave mandir.
In the precincts of the ancient Kailash mandir A guide explaining the history of the Kailash mandir The Kailash mandir is the most famous of all 34 cave temples of Ellora
In the precincts of the ancient Kailash mandir   A guide explaining the history of the Kailash mandir   The Kailash mandir is the most famous of all 34 cave temples of Ellora
On the first floor of the mandir Entering one of the shrines in the mandir The murti of Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva
On the first floor of the mandir   Entering one of the shrines in the mandir   The murti of Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva
Reverentially touching the holy Shivlinga of Kailash mandir Observing and listening to the guid's narration on the Kailash mandir Observing a Jain cave mandir
Reverentially touching the holy Shivlinga of Kailash mandir   Observing and listening to the guide's narration on the Kailash mandir   Observing a Jain cave mandir
Before the Kirti Stambh with Harikrishna Maharaj Ascending the steps of a Buddhist cave mandir Swamishri being carried on a flight of stairs to a Buddhist cave
Before the Kirti Stambh with Harikrishna Maharaj   Ascending the steps of a Buddhist cave mandir   Swamishri being carried on a flight of stairs to a Buddhist cave
Visiting a Jain cave mandir Swamishri worshipping the Shivaling of Ghrushneshwara mandir - one of India's twelve Jyotirlingas Outside the towering, beautiful Ghrushneshwara mandir with Harikrishna Maharaj
Visiting a Jain cave mandir   Swamishri worshipping the Shivaling of Ghrushneshwara mandir - one of India's twelve Jyotirlingas   Outside the towering, beautiful Ghrushneshwara mandir with Harikrishna Maharaj

© 1999, Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, Swaminarayan Aksharpith