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    Kamal Jajoriya
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    Rock cut architecture involves carving structures out of solid rock. It began in India with Buddhist and Jain monks excavating caves for prayer and living spaces in the Mauryan period. Major examples from this era include the Barabar and Nagarjuni caves in Bihar. Later, during the Gupta period, cave structures expanded and murals were added. Significant later examples include the Ellora Kailasa temple and Mahabalipuram shore temple carved in the 7th century under the Pallavas. Rock cut architecture provided an important artistic form that evolved over centuries, with caves serving religious communities before temples emerged as free-standing structures.

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    Rock cut Architecture

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    Rock cut architecture involves carving structures out of solid rock. It began in India with Buddhist and Jain monks excavating caves for prayer and living spaces in the Mauryan period. Major examples from this era include the Barabar and Nagarjuni caves in Bihar. Later, during the Gupta period, cave structures expanded and murals were added. Significant later examples include the Ellora Kailasa temple and Mahabalipuram shore temple carved in the 7th century under the Pallavas. Rock cut architecture provided an important artistic form that evolved over centuries, with caves serving religious communities before temples emerged as free-standing structures.

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    759 views6 pages

    Rock Cut Architecture

    Uploaded by

    Kamal Jajoriya
    Rock cut architecture involves carving structures out of solid rock. It began in India with Buddhist and Jain monks excavating caves for prayer and living spaces in the Mauryan period. Major examples from this era include the Barabar and Nagarjuni caves in Bihar. Later, during the Gupta period, cave structures expanded and murals were added. Significant later examples include the Ellora Kailasa temple and Mahabalipuram shore temple carved in the 7th century under the Pallavas. Rock cut architecture provided an important artistic form that evolved over centuries, with caves serving religious communities before temples emerged as free-standing structures.

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    of 6

    Rock cut Architecture

    Introduction : The Rock Architecture is a type of rock that is a structure created by carving out of solid
    rock .This type of architecture present the most spectacular piece of ancient Indian art . This is mostly
    related with various religion and religious activities. As in the beginning, the remarkable Buddhist and
    Jain Rock cut structures were built in areas such as in Bihar in the east and Maharashtra in the West .
    Numerous caves were excavated by Buddhist monks for prayer and residential purposes .

     Significance : Rock cut Architecture plays very important role in the history of Indian
    architecture as they bring out the most spectacular piece of ancient Indian art specimen.
     Numerous caves were excavated by the Buddhist monks for prayers and residential purposes.
     The rock cut Architecture differs from traditional buildings in many ways .
     , it is more similar to sculpture than architecture as structures were produced by cutting out solid
    rocks .
     Architectures are classified into Rock cut caves and rock cut Architecture.

    Kailash Temple, Ellora cave 16


    Rock cut caves :
    Mauryan period : The earliest history of rock cut caves is attributed to Mauryan period , mainly
    Ashoka and his grandson Deshrath .
    In this era , caves were generally used as Viharas by Bhudhist and Jain monks .
    Ajanta caves , Maharashtra
    Baraber caves and Nagarjuni caves : These caves were formed in Bihat during the era of Dashrath,
    grandson of Ashoka .
    Post Mauryan Period : Later in post Mauryan period , the construction of caves continued as in the
    Mauryan Period , However this period saw the development of Chaitya and Viharas in this era .
     Chaitya Halls : The halls were quadrangular with flat roofs which were used as prayer halls .In
    addition, Chaitya and Viharas , windows , balcony, and gates were carved.
     The caves also had open courtyards and Stone screen walls to protect from rain and were
    decorated with human and animal figures.

    E.g. Karley Chaitya hall Ajanta Caves


    In Gupta Period , the emergence of Gupta Period in 4th century is also known as Golden period for
    Indian Architecture .
    During the Gupta Period the architectural development of Caves remained constant , however the use of
    Mural Painting on the Wall became an added feature .
    Important caves of Gupta Period :
     Udayagiri caves : In Udayagiri caves , Madhya Pradesh , 20 rock cut chambers were excavated
    during the Gupta Period
     These cave are vital documents since they constitute the earliest intact body of Hindu art in
    India .
     One of the most important Udayagiri caves is cave 5 , the Varaha cave
     Its main feature is colossal rock cut relief of the boar incarnation God Vishnu rescuing the the
    Earth Goddess from chaos in the the presence of adoring gods and saints .
    Udayagiri caves
    Bagh Caves: Located on the bank of the Bagh river in Madhya Pradesh, Bagh Caves is a group of of
    Buddhist caves developed around the 6th Century A.D. It is architecturally very similar to the Ajanta
    caves in terms of their design, execution and decoration. These are remarkable and interesting rock
    shrines and monasteries In modern times these caves were first discovered in 1818.

    Bagh caves in MP
    Except these rock cut caves , we have other important caves also
    Udayagiri and Khanda giri caves , they were made under Kalinga king Karavela around 1-2th century
    BC , near Modern day Bhubaneswar , The cave complex has both man-made and natural caves possibly
    carved out for
    residence of Jain monks.
    There are 18 caves in Udayagiri and 15 in Khandagiri.
    Udayagiri caves are famous for the Hathigumpha inscription which is carved
    Nasik Caves:It is a group of 24 Buddhist caves (Hinayana Period), also known as “Pandav Leni”,
    developed during the 1st century A.D. These caves belong to the Hinayana period. However, later, the
    influence Of the Mahayana period can also be found in these caves.The idols of Buddha were also carved
    inside these caves representing Influence of Mahayana Buddhism.The site also depicts an excellent
    system of water management indicatedThrough the presence of water tanks carved out of solid rocks.
    Rock cut Temple Architecture : A rock cut temple is carved from a large rock and excavated and cut to
    imitate a wooden or masonry temple with wall decorations and works of art. Pancha Rathas is an example
    of monolith Indian rock cut architecture dating from the late 7th century located at Mamallapuram, a
    UNESCO World Heritage Site.The architects of the Pallava Dynasty initiated rock carving to create
    monolithic Structures that resemble temples. Rock-Cut Temple Architecture in South India:Temple
    architecture in South India began under the Pallava rule
     Rock-Cut Temple Architecture in South India: Temple architecture in South India began
    under the Pallava ruler Mahendraverman ,
     The temples developed during Pallava dynasty reflected the stylistic taste
     Of individual rulers and can be classified into four stages chronologically
     Mahendra group: This was the first stage of Pallava temple architecture.
     The temples built under Mahendravarman were basically rock-cut Temples.
     Under him, the temples were known as mandapas, unlike the Nagara style
     In which the mandapas meant only the assembly hall.
     Narasimha group: Second stage of the development of temple architecture in
     South India.
     The rock-cut temples were decorated by intricate sculptures.
     The mandapas were now divided into separate rathas.
     The biggest one was called the Dharmaraja ratha while the smallest one was
     Called the Draupadi ratha.
     Rajsimha group and Nandivarman group: Third and fourth stage of temple
     Development.
     Development of real structural temples was started which replaced the
     Rock-cut temples.
    Important Rock cut Temples :
    Kaisllash Temple : It is a rock-cut temple complex, dedicated to Lord Shiva in the
    Ellora Caves (16).
    It was developed under the patronage of Rashtrakuta king Krishna I
    (8 century A.D.) and was carved out of a monolith, and even has a Courtyard.
    There is also a sculpture on the wall of Kailash temple depicting
    Ravana shaking Mount Kailash. It is considered one of the masterpieces of
    Indian sculpture. It is counted among the largest rock-cut monastery-temple caves
    Complexes of the world and marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    The temple also showcases fine architectural works including relief panels
    Depicting the two main Hindu Epics namely the Ramayana and the
    Mahabharata. Pallava and Chalukya styles of architecture are noticed in this cave temple
    Which is decorated with carved sculptures including that of gods and gods and goddesses from the Hindu
    Puranas.

    Kailasa Temple, Verul , Maharashtra. Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram


    Architecture at Mahabalipuram: The ancient port city of Mamallapuram Under Pallava dynasty in
    Tamil Nadu, flourished with a number of marvelous Architecture. These seventh century Pallava sites
    have been declared as UNESCO- World Heritage Sites in 1984 by the name “Group of Monuments at
    Mahabalipuram”. They include:
    Pancha Ratha: Also known as Pandava Rathas, they are the Earliest rock cut temples in India,
    comprising of Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Nakula and Sahadeva Ratha, andDraupadi
    Ratha, dated around 7th century AD. Dharmaraja Ratha is the largest structure among the five.
     Rock-cut caves: which include Varaha Cave Temple, Krishna Cave
    Temple, Panchapandava Cave Temple, and the Mahishasuramardini Mandapa (Bas-relief of Goddess
    Durga killing Mahishasura). Open Air Rock Reliefs: which include Descent of the Ganges Which is also
    known as Arjuna’s Penance or Bhagiratha’s Penance carved on two huge boulders. It narrates the story of
    descent of River Ganga on earth from

    Panch Pandava Cave Temple , Mahabalipuram. Krishna cave Mandapam,


    Sources : https://www.google.com/search?
    q=rock+cut+temple+architecture&oq=rock+&aqs=chrome.0.69i59l3j69i60l2.1112j0j7&client=ms-
    android-oppo-rvo3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
    2 Book, An introduction to Indian Art
    3 Book , Rock cut Temples India , author James Fergusson
    4 https://www.aspireias.com

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