It has a huge bas-relief carved out of a single rock. This carving is done some time in the middle of 7th century.
In Hindu culture, cows have great importance, and their association with Krishna during his life among the milkmaids. A calf is kept beside the cow to encourage her milk production, a practice which has been followed in most parts of the World.
The carvings on the panel depicts one of the stories of Lord Krishna. It mainly has the story of Krishna Govardhana, in which Krishna lifts up the mountain to shelter his followers from a storm.
There is also a cow at the top in one of the corner, overlooking the entire scene. This can be seen in the first image at the top.
Very cool and different from your other temples. The cave carvings are neat looking. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteInteresting pictures! The ancient carvings with the children posing.
ReplyDeleteThose are really amazing carvings! Great shots! Love the one with the kids! You can really tell how big the carvings are!
ReplyDeleteThe cows look life like real.Amazing carvings.Kids look adorable.Thanks for this beautiful share.
ReplyDeleteLove this place .
ReplyDeleteGREAT AND BEAUTIFUL......BLOG.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting picture of a sacred place, good job, a hello to the children !!!!!!
ReplyDeleteA intersting post! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice week,
Markus
Beautiful wall carvings, and such cute kids depicted with them.;))
ReplyDeletexoxo
Beautiful art.
ReplyDeleteSydney - City and Suburbs
super cool!
ReplyDeleteinformative post...
ReplyDeleteA cave! How interesting. Love the contrast of the adorable children against the carvings.
ReplyDeleteAmazing
ReplyDeleteits fantastic art :-)
These carves are really impressive!
ReplyDeleteHow did they do that in a cave. Amazing! Love the way you included the kids - that really gives the viewer a sense of scale.
ReplyDeleteHow did the cow become some important in India? Do you think it was simply that the cow is such an important source of nourishment?
Reminds me of my Mahabalipuram visit. Nice snaps!
ReplyDeleteLove these photos...thanks for posting them for us who will never get a chance to see this beauty!!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing art! Have a fabulous week.
ReplyDeleteLiz @ MLC
Great shots! Happy Rt.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures and lovely kids :)
ReplyDeleteYou always show such interesting and cultural places and architecture!
Thanks for doing so!
Wonderful photos and informative post! ~thanks, namaste, Carol (A Creative Harbor) Happy RT ^_^
ReplyDeleteThat is extraordinary, I've never seen anything like it. In my state, there are cliff-dwellings where the Native Americans used to live, but they're nothing like that.
ReplyDeleteSuch carvings must have been quite challenging done only with ancient tools of the artist. The children bring delightful color to the sculpture.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sense of scale! That's quite a cave.
ReplyDeleteWhat giant stone carvings! Seeing the people beside them helps to see their size. So many intricate pictures that tell a story. The children steal the show, though. They're very cute!
ReplyDeleteThe beautiful stone carvings never cease to amaze me!
ReplyDeleteAmazing cave sculptures! And those kids of yours are just too adorable!
ReplyDeleteNice photos! ( :
ReplyDeletebeautiful set of pics!
ReplyDeleteVery fine post, Rajesh! I really enjoy these magnificent carvings.
ReplyDeleteLovely carving, Rajesh! Your photos are wonderful. Happy Ruby Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteI loved the pictures of two small children with those massive wall sculptures!!
ReplyDeleteDelightful captures Rajesh. :)
ReplyDeletethe cave temple look very intriguing. great carvings.
ReplyDeleteFantastic to see such beautiful craftings on the wall of the caves.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! What a special and great art. Limestone? Wonderful
ReplyDeletelove the Karvings, I mean, carvings!
ReplyDeleteROG, ABC Wednesday team
Unbelieveable art! Just fabulous.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week,
Leslie
abcw team
Well preserved and a place of great interest!! This 'World Heritage Site' is amazing!!
ReplyDeleteIncredible!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteWow! Excellent and great in detail capture Rajesh. Its been very long time i entered this Mandapam and checked the carvings.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fascinating temple -- I don't often think of temples being in a cave. But the carvings are as beautiful and amazing as any that you've shown.
ReplyDeleteWhat an impressive bas relief.
ReplyDeletebeautiful pictures
ReplyDeleteAmazing carvings and the children look so sweet!
ReplyDeleteMy Ruby Tuesday is at:
http://rnsane.blogspot.com/2011/09/ruby-tuesday-red-tipped-plant-and.html
Fantastic carvings and so well preserved.
ReplyDeleteMy mother worked at the Indian Embassy in London for many years, she was private secretary to the High Commissioner Krishna Menon until he became Defence Minister and returned to India.
She always had a fondness for the Lord Krishna.
oh wow - fascinating
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful reliefs of the big bull and the cows, calf and cow being milked. Most life-like indeed.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to see the degree of preservation due to the shelter of the cave. I loved your post.
Mahabalipuram is a beautiful place and you have taken marvellous pictures in different angle and of various sculptures.
ReplyDeleteI can only wonder at the amount of work that went in to creating the carvings.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely marvellous!
ReplyDeleteLoved the carvings of cows. They depict ancient skills. Beautiful pics, loved them.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for appreciating the wonderful craftsmanship. In Hindu culture cow is considered sacred.
ReplyDeleteThis is very impressive and beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteIt would be so interesting to visit India one day.
ReplyDelete1st time here... And you have the most brilliant travel blog! Truly! I'm your new, biggest fan! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you all for appreciating the wonderful craftsmanship.
ReplyDelete