DAY 191- DAULATABAD

191) WEDNESDAY, 4 JANUARY 1978 : 24KMS. - DAULATABAD
 

From ELLORA we continued towards  the direction to BOMBAY in the evening. Again we had to find parking ramps on the road near DAULATABAD so that we will not have problem to start the engine  tomorrow  morning.

DAULATABAD Fort - Photo : wikipedia.org / Google images search

WIKIPEDIA : 

DAULATABAD - The site had been occupied since at least 100 BCE, and now has remains of Buddhist caves similar to those at Ajanta and Ellora.

 
The city is said to have been founded c. 1187 by Bhillama V, a prince who renounced his allegiance to the Chalukyas and established the power of the Yadava dynasty in the west.

 

DAY 190- ELLORA

190) TUESDAY, 3 JANUARY 1978 : 27KMS. - ELLORA

 

We passed DAULATABAD, a town with old fortress, which was built on the mountain and surrounded by a moat and very long wall.

http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

 

We arrived ELLORA, where  there  are as many as 34 caved temples similar to those in AJANTA  but only 12 caves  of Buddhist temples.  All the rest of the caves are Brahman and Jain temples, that were generated during the 4^th -9^th century.

 

ELLORA's Cave - Photo : religiousindia.info / Google images search

What is remarkable is the Kailash Temple (Krailasa Temple), which was  extracted from rock hill similar to AJANTA. It  is a volcanic rock, eligible to corrosion, 33 m. wide,  50m. long  and 30 m. high. Estimated size is 2 times larger than the Parthenon temple in ATHENS and one and a half higher (WIKIPEDIA).

Krailasa Temple, ELLORA - Photo : wikipedia.org / Google images search

 
  

http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

  

It was created to dedicate to Lord Shiva, the Hindu god.  There are stone figurines and animals. 

 

Shiva & Paravati, ELLORA's cave - Photo :  Olivier Gillet / sacred-destinations.com (Google)

http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

In the Great Hall, there is a large Sivalinga mounted on the Yoni, normally seen in  Hindu Temples.

Lingam, Krilasa Temple - Photo : wikipedia.org / Google images search

 
 

Another attraction are the caves of the Jain religion, of which  the Holy Prophet is Mahavira (a contemporary of the Lord Buddha). The established principle of the religion is to think and do good, it is a sin to destroy all creatures.   

Jain Cave - Photo : Diana Chriswell / sacred-destinations.com (Google)

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/india/ellora-caves

The Jain art seen in the temples are resemble to Buddhist art,  even the image of the Prophet.  A statue of the  Prophet Mahavira  looks like a Buddha statue, most  in the standing position and appearing in the nude. 

http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

 

 

http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

 

DAY 189 - AURANGABAD

189) MONDAY, 2 JANUARY 1978 : 99KMS. - AURANGABAD

We left AJANTA via SILOD until we reached  the city AURANGABAD, where we stopped to have the motor changed because of existing  problem in starting the engine (we paid  RS. 25.- for the service)  but it seemed  nothing was  getting  better.

 

 

AURANGABAD - Photo : wikipedia.org / Google images search

DAY 188 - AJANTA

188) SUNDAY, 1 JANUARY 1978 : 242KMS. - AJANTA

 

The first day of the new year 1978,  a good start to do what is meritorious for life ...

 
We drove  through KHANDWA, BURHAMPUR (where there are remains of  very long city wall and fortresses)  until  EDELABAD. We crossed the flooded part of the road, where Tilo had to drive very carefully.   

Ajanta Caves - Photo : wikimedia.org / wondermundo.com / Bing images search

We were led to PHARDAPUR and AJANTA caves, a group of caves in a horseshoe like mountain cliff.  It was discovered accidentally by a British officer John SMITH in 1819. There are about 29 caves in this area,  which were excavated  as  temple caves  since the 2^nd A.D. until the 7^th A.D. 

http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

 
There are wall paintings of the Lord Buddha’s life and Jataka stories,  which are colorful and very beautiful . Despite many chapped on different surface areas, we could see its beauty. 

Mahajanaka Jataka, Ajanta Caves - Photo : wikipedia.org / Bing images search

 

There are also beautiful relief carved Buddha statues at the entrance of  a caved temple as well as in the cave.

http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

There is a cave with a stupa inside and various Buddha  statues. The carving patterns on poles are so different and also very beautiful.

Ajanta Cave 3 - Photo : kuriositas.com / Bing images search

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajanta_Caves


From the wall paintings of the Lord Buddha  and Bodhisattva images as well as  people, they all appear to be common in wearing large hoop earrings.  I guessed that it might be popular in Hinduism.   

Ajanta Painting - Photo : talktalk.co.uk / Bing images search

The hanging loop earrings  appear  like earlobes. It is often said in Thailand  that those having long ears would live a long life, cited the Lord Buddha as example.  What I saw from those paintings should be interesting  for  Thai Buddhists. 

BUDDHA - Photo : wikimedia.org / Bing images search

VAJARAPANI - Photo : wikimedia.org /Bing images search

 
The paintings of  Bodhisattvas  also show a look of a Bodhisattva like a female with  a beautiful  face. The Buddhist conept since the ancient time is believing that people, both men and women, in the Sri Araya Mettrai would have similar beautiful faces.

 

 

PADMAPAMANI - Photo : wikimedia.org /Bing images search

At the rear end of the mountain bend, it is a spectacular waterfall, cascading down to many levels  when it is viewed from the opposite hill. 


 

Waterfall next to Ajanta Caves -  Photo evilsunday.com / Bing images search

In the area near the entrance/exit of the caves, there were villagers selling round and oval shaped stone balls…looking like wood apple or curd fruit. The small chain is used to entwine the stone ball and wrench to break the ball into two halves. The inner side is very beautiful ,  a white  Quartz  crystal  and Amethyst Purple. These stone balls should be buried in the soil in this area  or they can be found in a cave. I did not want to buy one,  as I had to avoid carrying over weight luggage when flying back home.

 

Amethyst - Photo : minerals.net / Bing images search