Badami is famous for its rock-cut cave temples.
These temples have been carved out on the red
sandstone hills that surround the town. There
are four cave temples at Badami.
Cave 1 : is
dedicated to Lord Shiva. Dating to the 6th century
it is a simple structure equipped with a verandah,
a pillared assembly hall and an inner sanctum,
like the other three shrines. The focal point
of the cave is the stunning Nataraja - a life-size
figure sculpted into the rock. On the facing wall
is a sculpted Ardharishwara -- Shiva in his half
man, half woman avtar. In the pillared verandah
visitors encounter Shiva as Harihara - part Vishnu
- part Shiva. Mytholgical images feature aplenty
on the shrines pillars, ceiling and plinths. The
Mahishasurmaradini relief offers an excellent
idea of how beautiful its details must have been
when first carved.
Caves 2 and 3 :
are dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Rock cut steps,
polished by countless feet, lead to Cave 2. On
the way you will see a fine example of Lord Buddha
as Padmapani carved into the rock. Featured in
the panel, running along the small cave shrine,
are the 10 avtars of Vishnu - called loosely the
Dashavtara panel.
Cave 3 : is accessed by an elaborate
torana (gateway) dating back to 598 AD. Within
is an impressive range of some of the finest sculpted
images in the entire complex. A blueprint detailing
the plans of the temple presides over one wall.
A striking image of Vishnu in his Varah avtar,
a relief portraying Narasimha and Vishnu sitting
on a coiled snake, are the other highlights of
the shrine. Cave 4 : The small 7th or 8th
century shrine is dedicated to the primary Jain
saints. |
