Showing posts with label caves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label caves. Show all posts

29 April 2009

THE BONNET MACAQUE FAMILY



At Elephanta caves the makaques are so tame that you can get quite close and make a video nearly without any zoom. They also behave very naturaly and don't mind the visitors. But take care if you have a bottle of water or other liquid with you and they are thirsty they will try to steal it from you, especially the kids and small female are targeted. Myself I was attached from the back but holding the bottle quite firmly I could keep my water for me.
One they have stolen a bottle they know how to open it, put it on the floor and trink the water flowing out of the bottle.

THE TRINITY & TWO GENDER SHIVA



View on the back wall of the main cave on Elephanta Island (Mumbai), with a view on the Trinity (Brahma in the front and on the site Shiva and Vishnu). On the left side Shiva partial male / female...

18 June 2007

Karla Caves in Maharstha





The Karla caves are craved around 500 ac. The caves with praying nieces were excavated for the Buddhist monks, who used to gather here during the monsoons. Built in the time of the Hinayana sect, during the Satavahanas rule, these caves do not actually show the Buddha.
A steep 350-step climb leads to the caves.
Unfortanately hindus had to build directly in front of the enterance an hindu temple as if they were scared for competition.



The facade of the caves is formed by carved temple screens, ornaments and human couples. I still wondered why the monks needed these figures, to test the resistance to temptation ?



The panels of the wooden doors and windows are finely decorated with intricate sculptures of couples embracing. By the seventh century AD, the Mahayana sect took over and representations of Buddha became more common. By the central doorway, you'll find sculptures of the Buddha preaching while seated on a lion-supported throne, along with magnificent carvings of three elephants, On each side, fifteen pillars separate the narrow aisles from the central arch. The pillars are adorned with motifs of elephants, men and women riding, etc




In the small garden I detected something rare a mango tree covered with blue flowers from a saprophite.

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