In Udaygiri of Madhya Pradesh the most important site is Varaha Cave. This is a early 5th century AD cave belonging to the Gupta period. More than cave this is a shallow niche.
Here one can see Lord Vishnu in Boar-headed incarnation, the Varaha. The relief depicts Varaha rescuing the Earth Goddess from the engulfing Ocean. Large Varaha which is 4 meter in height lifts Bhu Devi on his massive shoulder, while with his foot he subduing a naga who folds his hands in submission. There are also Gods and sages surround Varaha. Above his head there is also a circular lotus flower.
Just to get an idea of how big the relief work is see the below image.
This sculptural work can also seen from the road, even before entering the site.
Here one can see Lord Vishnu in Boar-headed incarnation, the Varaha. The relief depicts Varaha rescuing the Earth Goddess from the engulfing Ocean. Large Varaha which is 4 meter in height lifts Bhu Devi on his massive shoulder, while with his foot he subduing a naga who folds his hands in submission. There are also Gods and sages surround Varaha. Above his head there is also a circular lotus flower.
Just to get an idea of how big the relief work is see the below image.
This sculptural work can also seen from the road, even before entering the site.
The detail on the sculptures is beautiful. Lovely photos, Rajesh!
ReplyDeleteIncredible images and mosaic.
ReplyDeleteInteresting story of this beautiful cave relief!
ReplyDeleteVery ancient. Lovely works.
ReplyDeleteIt must be much larger than I'm imagining if one can see it from the road before entering. You travel so much! You must love it.
ReplyDeleteWow. This is amazing !
ReplyDeleteAmazing!
ReplyDeleteAloha from Waikiki,
Comfort Spiral
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Superb pics.. Cute kids appear tiny against the giant backdrop..!
ReplyDeleteOh! The Varaha Statue is very big!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! Have a fine week.
ReplyDeleteAmazing details and narrative on the wall carvings! The grandness of the Varaha is impressive at the last pic!
ReplyDeleteWell captured.
ReplyDeletewww.rajniranjandas.blogspot.com
Fantastic! And thanks for the commentary...that really helped understand the carving. Tools for carving must have been quite crude in the 5th century!
ReplyDeleteThis is like a scene in a movie. Fantastic sculpture. I love it.
ReplyDeleteThe work is fantastic, such detail.
ReplyDeleteYour boys are adorable!
That's huge - the kids give a sense of scale that isn't clear in the first images. Great shots!
ReplyDeletenice post...
ReplyDeleteThe stonework is magnificent.
ReplyDeleteIncredible site!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteSo much history and beauty in your world, Rajesh! Thanks for sharing it all with us! Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Fascinating, Rajesh. And the inclusion of the two little boys really does lend another perspective to the size of the sculpture.
ReplyDeleteMarvellous, not only the massive sculpture but also the way it tells a whole story. Thank you for sharing these very realistic images from such an early age.
ReplyDeleteWonderful carvings, it is amazing what beautiful sculptures were once made, and this even inside a cave;) Are those your kids? Very cute.;)
ReplyDeletexoxo
Interesting and huge art! Never seen any sculpture of Varaha avatar before. And always thought Bhuma Devi would be depicted as a sperical earth as in Amar Chitra Katha!
ReplyDeleteLoved your post
I love your travels through India. I belong to a group of associates of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth from my home town. Our sisters went to India in the 1950s and have been there teaching, ministering since. The only town I know are Mokama New Delhi and also in Napal. There are 4 Indian sisters visiting here now. I signed up as a follower but have not visited much. I have lost out on this beautiful post and I will return.
ReplyDeleteQMM
So much history and beauty!
ReplyDeleteAnd what cute kids in that last shot.
Very interesting. Impressive sculptures, very nice.
ReplyDeleteWow really very interesting. The statue is really very huge. Thanks for sharing these beautiful works.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you added the children to the photo as the sheer scale of those sculptural reliefs would have eluded me. It is many years since I visited India(35+)and your blog is bringing back such wonderfu lmemories.
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteJapanese Lantern
I imagine it is terracotta colour in the background - very handsome wall sculpture! I like the contrast in size to the young ones!
ReplyDeleteHow incredible to see this! Thank you for explaining the details of this beautiful sculpture. It amazes me that through a blog like this, I can see back to the early 5th century AD.
ReplyDeleteinteresting imagery!
ReplyDeleteROG, ABC Wednesday team
This is an amazing sculpture, with marvelous detail. Thanks for showing the size in your last photo.
ReplyDeleteInteresting posta nd great images to go with it.
ReplyDeleteShantana
Love caves and this one is something else pretty unique!
ReplyDeleteKim,USA
Great photos. I especially loved the last one with the two little boys!
ReplyDeleteHi there - such a great thing to see.
ReplyDeleteI think many people from around the world forget how advanced the societies that produced this sort of art really were.
Splendid post.
Stewart M - Australia
wow ! and the kids look so cute and tiny in comparison to the statue ...:)
ReplyDeleteSuch interesting carvings.
ReplyDeleteEye View
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team
Very large, very interesting statue, Rajesh.
ReplyDeleteThe boys are so cute!
K
Wooh it is breathtaking. I am originally from MP but never got a chance to visit it!!
ReplyDeleteawesome images
www.styledestino.blogspot.com
Oh my gosh, thanks for putting this into perspective by including the little boys -- these are huge sculptures.
ReplyDeleteImpressive works. Beautiful photos as always.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and interesting. thanks for sharing. So much beauty and history in India. Mera Bharat Mahan.
ReplyDeleteA nice take on the V prompt.
Here's mine La Vie En Rose
Thank you for all the appreciation. I am glad you all liked it.
ReplyDeleteVery well presented. Thanks for bringing many ancient places into lime light.
ReplyDeletenice you showed the kids for depicting the size !
ReplyDeleteNice captures brother ! :)
Enchanting pictures Rajesh.
ReplyDeleteJust Incredible!!!
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