The Unexplained Architecture Of Ellora Temple: A Timeless Wonder Bridging Science And Spirituality

Kailash Temple Ellora, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was built over 1200 years ago by the king of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty, Krishna I, and is an unexplained and mysterious architecture in the world located in Maharashtra, India. The Ellora Mandir or Ellora Temple is built by carving a single solid rock from top to downward with the help of hammers and chisels. The temple is a mix of science and spirituality because of its unique architectural techniques where the unity of three religions has been found.

The advanced engineering methods used around 1200 years ago hold significant mystery. Some say this was built by a mystical weapon, some say this might have been built by any advanced civilization or celestial inhabitants or some say this temple opens the door of ancient knowledge and wisdom. What are the ancient mysterious engineering methods hiding behind the architecture of this Mandir?

The Architectural Mystery of Ellora Temple

There are a lot of mysteries in the world which have not been explored by humans still today and among them this Temple holds lots of mysteries in itself. Do you know Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb tried to destroy the temple and allocate 1000 men for that? But he failed after trying for over three years. So, what is the mystery behind the architecture of the Temple? Let’s explore.

Kailash Temple Ellora, also known as Cave-16 of Ellora Caves, is an extraordinary architectural monument in the world that holds significant mysteries that remain unsolved. In the ancient period, when modern technologies were not invented, the ancient architects of India showcased their talents through these caves, especially for the Kailash Temple Ellora.

The Kailash Temple Ellora was carved from top to bottom, unlike those monuments which have followed bottom-top construction. All this happened before 1200 years ago, is it not mysterious? The artisans cut a single and giant rock face directly from the top to build the temple which has been considered a rare and marvellous technique for that period.

To build the Temple, initially, three massive trenches were dug vertically into the hard basalt rock of the Sahyadri Hills. By drugging the line of the temple, the artisans started to carve the temple with simple weapons like hammers and chisels. The top-down sculpting technique was used by the artisans to carve the temple.

To create the space for the temple, around 2,00,000 tonnes of rocks were manually removed by the artisans. Well, the artisans not only curved the rock downwards, but they also added some details sculptures in their works. It includes main temples, pillars, free-standing shrines, decorative carvings and statues which makes the temple more attractive.

One of the significant facts regarding this Mandir is its detailing and precision in every sculpture. If you ever visit the Ellora Mandir, you can find how artistic details have been precisely executed in every sculpture. By using only simple tools like a hammer, the temple was built on a solid rock that made the temple resistant to damage. For this reason, Aurangzeb after trying for more than three years became able to give minor damages only.

Historical background of Ellora Temple

Did you know that in Maharashtra, India, we can explore rock-cut temples and monasteries where science has met spirituality? Ellora Caves, built from the 6^th to 12^th centuries, is known for its 34 rock-cut temples and monasteries. These caves reflected the unity of three different religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

The caves were carved in three phases. The first phases were completed with the caves from 1 to 12 that showcased Mahayana Buddhism. In the second phase, 13 to 29 caves were carved that showcase the Brahmanical groups featuring the Kailasa Temple. The caves of 30 to 34 were completed in the final stages with the touch of the Jain group.

The most attractive and remarkable structure of the Ellora Caves is considered to Kailasa Temple. This Kailash Temple Ellora is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple was named after the Kailas range of the Himalayas. The king of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty, Krishna I built the temple during the 8^th century.

The main attraction of Kailash Temple Ellora is it is built on a single massive stone. This Ellora Temple was built in the Dravidian architectural style. This temple has held immense spiritual and religious significance for decades.

Myths and Facts Regarding Ellora Temple

It has been said that 7000 men worked for 18 years to build this marvellous temple. But while breaking down the process it has been found that every labour needed to extract about 5 tons of stones every hour and aligning it with that period, was improbable for a person with simple tools and techniques. Therefore, it is still a mystery who built the Ellora Mandir, but it is a fact.

However, some people believe that advanced architecture can only be built by some advanced civilisations like aliens. Because, by using only some normal weapons it was impossible to build such legendary and mysterious architecture. Well, this is a myth.

One of the popular beliefs regarding the Ellora Temple is that a single mystical weapon was used to build the temple. It is folklore that, this mystical weapon was buried inside the temple after the completion of the Ellora Mandir. Well, this is also considered a myth rather than a fact.

It is also claimed that 7 Chiranjivis of Hindu mythology visited the Kailash Temple Ellora every special Monday. During their visit, they worship Lord Shiva and add a mystical element to the spirituality of the temple. It can also be considered as a myth more than a fact.

According to legends, there is a secret tunnel that connects the Kailash Temple Ellora to the mythical Mount Kailash. The locals said that this secret tunnel was used by the ancient devotees to reach the temple that led them to the divine path. Although this story adds more mystery to the temple, some consider it a myth.

Scientific Research regarding the Ellora Mandir

A recent study on the architecture of Ellora Mandir was done by an archaeological chemist of the Archaeological Survey of India, Rajdeo Singh and a teacher of botany at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Milind M. Sardesai. For the study, they collected the clay plaster from the Buddhist Cave 12.

The researcher includes advanced analytical techniques like the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). They isolated specimens of cannabis fibres from the clay plaster. They explored that Cannabis sativa has a crucial role in enhancing the resilience of the Ellora Temple.

Sardesai said, “The cannabis fibre appears to have better quality and durability than other fibres. Moreover, the cannabis’ gum and sticky properties might have helped clay and lime to form a firm binder,” This result indicates that the ancient architects used a sophisticated understanding of using natural substances to build this mysterious Ellora Mandir.

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