BADAMI CAVE TEMPLES (CAVE TEMPLES)

The Badami rock temple complex is a site of exceptional beauty, and a candidate for future Unesco World Heritage listing.

Vatipa Nagar, the ancient name of Badami, was the capital of the Chalukiya empire from the ^6th to ^7th centuries. The site consists of a huge^{fifth-century} artificial reservoir called Agastyatirtha, surrounded by ochre cliffs in which cave temples have been carved out of the rock. Atop these cliffs are forts designed to keep watch over the surrounding area. These monuments are representative of the Chalukiya architectural style. The site boasts a total of four rock temples: three Hindu and one Jain. The Hindu temples are said to have been the first to appear on the Deccan plateau. Two are dedicated to Vishnu and one to Shiva. A fifth, smaller cave may be dedicated to Buddha... Another temple near the artificial lake also deserves your attention.

Cave no. 1. Access is via a staircase framed by figures of ganas, Shiva's dwarf guardians. The porch is supported by 4 columns featuring bas-reliefs of Shiva dancing. Two stone guardians welcome visitors. These are dwarapalas (doorkeepers), 1.88 m high. The cave is adorned with numerous sculptures and bas-reliefs, including representations of Laxmi and Parvati surrounding a huge Harihara (half-Vishnu, half-Shiva) over 2 metres high. But the most beautiful image is undoubtedly that of the Nataraja, or dancing Shiva. He has 18 arms, most of whose hands are in the mudra position (symbolic manual representation). Only three of them carry objects, including a trident, a drum and an axe. At Shiva's feet, you'll recognize Nandi, his ox, and Ganesh, his son. The ceiling of the grotto is also decorated with 5 sculpted panels. The central panel depicts Shesha, the serpent who carries all the planets on his heads.

Grotto no. 2. Dating back to the ^6th century, this cave is dedicated to the god Vishnu, represented under various avatars. The porch is supported by four rectangular pillars, carved on their upper parts. These include battle scenes, and others referring to Krishna in his birth and youth. The door frame is adorned with an entablature inlaid with gavakshas, semi-circular shapes. On the outer wall, note the beautiful depiction of Vahara (Vishnu's avatar in the form of a boar) saving the earth, represented by the goddess Budhevi. Inside, Vishnu is depicted as Trivikrama (a dwarf) with one foot on the earth and the other pointing north. Another panel again depicts Vahara saving the earth from the depths of the ocean. This sculpture is set in the center of a circular form. The ceiling is supported by 8 pillars and decorated with bas-reliefs. The top of the wall is decorated with a frieze depicting scenes from Vishnu or Krishna mythology.

Grotto no. 3. The sheer size of this cave makes it hard to imagine the work involved in its excavation. With a width of 20 metres, a depth of 21 metres and a height of 4.6 metres, the mountain had to be excavated to a depth of 15 metres! The cave features numerous sculptures and bas-reliefs, the most notable of which are on the many pillars that support the weight of the ceiling. Can you find the Kamasutra scene depicting a couple in an erotic posture? The cave walls are decorated with bas-reliefs, many of which depict Vishnu in various forms: Vishnu with 8 arms standing upright; Vishnu seated on Shesha, the many-headed serpent; Narasimha (half-man, half-lion avatar); armed Trivikrama; or Harihara. Traces of frescoes can still be seen on the ceilings, which are among the oldest painted frescoes in Indian art known to date.

Cave no. 4. This cave, the most recent of the group, is dedicated to various Jain figures. The porch is supported by 4 pillars with capitals. Parshvanath, the ^23rd tirthankar, is depicted standing, his head haloed by a multi-headed serpent symbolizing protection and respect. A few steps lead up to the sanctuary. Here, Mahavira, the ^24th tirthankar, rests on his pedestal. Inside the cave, you can admire a beautiful statue of Bahubali, the son of Adinath the^1st tirthankar, with snakes coiled along his calves.

Cave no. 5. This is the smallest of the caves, and the entrance is so narrow that you almost have to contort your body to get in. Inside, a man is depicted seated on a throne, surrounded by bas-reliefs of people holding fans, a tree, elephants and lions ready to attack. Who this statue represents is anyone's guess, and interpretations are rife. Some believe it to be a statue of Buddha, and that the cave was later dedicated to Vishnu. Other scientists believe it to be a representation of a Jain figure. Finally, other archaeologists speculate that it may have been a king. Unfortunately, the statue has suffered greatly from the ravages of time, and part of its face has crumbled away.