cave temples cave temples complex hindu possibly buddhist cave temples located town district northern india caves considered example indian rock cut architecture especially architecture dates 6th century previously known capital early dynasty ruled 6th 8th century situated west bank artificial lake wall stone steps surrounded north south forts built later times cave temples represent earliest known examples hindu temples described designs cave temples having transformed valley cradle temple architecture defined components later hindu temples india caves hill soft sandstone formation south east town cave sculptures hindu themes prominent carving dancing cave similar cave terms layout dimensions featuring hindu subjects relief largest largest cave cave featuring related mythology carved cave complex cave dedicated revered figures cave buddhist cave cave discovered metres main caves hindu carvings geography cave temples located town north central india temples miles north east second largest metropolitan area state miles away referred historical texts capital dynasty 6th century exit point steep mountain cliffs cave temples hill south east town excavated artificial lake called created dam faced stone steps west end cliff lowest point cave temple largest cave cave east northern face hill fourth cave short distance away history cave temples numbered order creation town capital city kingdom known early dated late 6th century onwards exact dating known cave temple dedicated inscription found records creation shrine lunar calendar inscription written language enabled dating rock cave temples 6th century caves complex designated candidate title evolution temple architecture river valley considered cradle temple architecture formed model later hindu temples region artwork caves exhibit northern style 6th 7th centuries cave simultaneously represent ancient indian artistic traditions northern southern styles cave shows icons style creative fusion ideas styles earliest surviving historical examples motifs geometric symbolism colored paintings caves feature sculptures hindu icons legends focusing cave features icons themes temple caves cave temples man carved soft sandstone hill cliff plan caves includes entrance supported stone columns distinctive feature caves leading main hall small square shrine cut deep inside cave cave temples linked stepped path intermediate overlooking town lake cave temples labelled ascending series numbering reflect sequence excavation architecture includes structures built styles persistent architectural adopted early fifth natural cave temple buddhist temple natural cave entered cave cave feet ground level north west hill access series steps depict carvings heads different inner measurement feet feet columns sculpted god shown dancing positions incarnations guardian door keepers entrance cave measure feet cave portrays dancing image feet tall arms form expresses dance positions arranged geometric pattern swiss art historian says time division cosmic wheel arms express symbolic hand gestures arms hold objects drums axe son bull adjoining wall depicts goddess depicted buffalo demon sons god war family deity dynasty seen carved sculptures walls cave riding cave carved sculptures flanking foot high sculpture fused image half half right end wall relief sculpture composite form consort female decorated goddess holding flat object left hand bull figures adorned carved ornaments surrounded borders animals birds lotus design common theme ceiling images couples wall cave square sanctuary carved images roof cave carved panels central panel depicting head bust formed project centre compartment relief feet diameter carvings male female male carrying sword female flying veil succeeding panel carvings small figures panel end carved cave cave lying west cave facing north created late 6th century cave terms layout dimensions dedicated primarily cave reached climbing steps cave cave entrance divided square pillars carvings middle section sculptures cave adorned guardians like cave carved cave art hindu largest relief cave shows foot earth directed north representations cave include shown rescuing symbol earth depths ocean krishna legends found texts like major forms caves sculpture set circle according panel upright height equal directing circle sides aligned essential geometric case second vertical chord circle doorway framed carrying blocks embellished entrance cave armed guardians holding flowers weapons end walls outer adorned sculpted panels right left rescuing multi headed snake adjacent walls ceiling traces colored paint suggesting cave paintings columns gods battle scenes cosmic ocean figures asleep illustrations birth krishna krishna youth krishna cows ceiling cave shows wheel sixteen fish square frame flying couples end bays flying couple main hall cave feet wide feet deep feet high supported square pillars rows roof hall panels filled relief carvings upper reaches wall runs wall episodes krishna legends sculptures like cave northern style 6th 7th century similar found caves cave cave dedicated largest carved cave complex carved giant figures cave primary theme shows southern wall half half shown fused making cave important studies cave facing north steps away cave cave temple feet length interior width feet sculpted feet deep mountain added square shrine end extends cave feet inside feet wide free standing carved pillars separating hall cave feet high supported pillars measuring square feet column carved wide deep bases crowned capitals partly hidden sides carvings human figures standing foliage different male female mythological characters attendant figure dwarf blocks generally feet long thirty compartments carved series fat called cave shows scene pillar woman man erotic embrace beneath tree cave shows paintings ceiling faded broken unclear earliest known surviving evidence painting indian art hindu god seen murals wedding attended hindu deities theme lotus floor underneath mural armed sculpture preserved large number including standing arms seated eastern half human half lion fully armed wall cave sculpture wall carvings holding offerings adjoining inscription dated inscribed end sculpture shown arms decorated types weapons crescent moon crafted face crown head flanked figures right attendant images figures wife councillor stand metres tall aspects culture clothing 6th century visible art sculpted cave roof seven panels created cross beams painted circular compartments images deities including smaller images cardinal guardians geometric filling gaps corners roof aisle panels murals centre male female flying clouds male figure holding sword shield decoration lotus seen panels roof hall divided panels slightly level ceiling central panel depicts mounted ram images painted central panels floating figures seen remaining panels cave located east cave cave situated higher caves dedicated revered figures recently constructed caves like caves features detailed carvings diverse range motifs cave entrance square columns capitals hall standalone joined pillars aisle feet long feet wide extending feet deep hall steps lead feet wide extends depth feet represented sitting lion throne figure flanked fans heads end walls feet tall head decorated multi headed cobra representing protection reverence carvings include covered snakes seen left lower legs surrounded snakes daughters image resting pedestal containing 12th century inscription marking death images engraved inner pillars walls addition idols scholars believe cave created century place creation 8th century cave cave natural cave small dimensions approached crawling narrow opening inside carved statue seated sculpted throne showing people holding fans tree elephants lions attacking pose face statue reasonably intact damaged missing parts theories statue represents theory holds relief sitting posture according theory holding flanking intervening centuries cave converted hindu shrine seen white religious markings painted face ninth incarnation according archaeologist curator prince cave converted start represented tribute hindu style suggesting likely carved 8th century second theory found colonial era texts missionary british india scholar main image carved cave figure according theory archaeologists supported local legends statue ancient king photograph statue taken face damaged figure lacked typically goes image statue unusual ornaments rings fingers necklace chest band wears hindu thread head closer head head features suggest statue king represented features traditions according assistant curator art date identity main statue cave remains enigmatic caves assistant director district working state government reported discovery cave rock carvings metres main caves water newly discovered cave year round depicts hindu deities features inscription script dating carvings unknown
Badami cave temples