Ellora Cave 10

Cave 10, also called Vishwakarma Cave, is the most famous Buddhist cave in Ellora. It is right next to Cave 9, making it one of the must-see places to visit in Ellora Caves.

People in the area also call the Vishwakarma Cave the Sutar-ka-Chopra, which means "carpenter's hut." Local woodworkers go to the cave often and honor Buddha as Vishwakarma, the god who protects their trade. This chaitya is the only one in this group of caves, which builders constructed around the year 700 AD.

Historical Context

People consider Cave 10, also called Vishvakarma Cave, one of the most critical and well-kept caves in Ellora. Builders constructed it around the year 600 CE, and it stands as a great example of a Buddhist rock-cut building. The form of the cave is a tribute to Vishvakarma, who, in Hindu legend, is the architect of the gods. However, it has strong Buddhist elements. Builders constructed it during the Rashtrakuta era, which shows how popular Buddhism was at that time.

Ellora Cave 10 Unique Architecture

One of the most beautiful caves in Ellora is this one. A gate cut into the rock on the outside of the cave leads into a plaza with rooms on both sides set up on two levels. Visitors can reach the shrine of Lord Buddha, a traditional chaityagriha, through the garden.

The chaitya used to have a high screen wall, but it's broken now. Its 81 feet long, 43 feet wide, and 34 feet high. 28 14-foot-tall octagonal pillars split the hall into a center and side aisles.

In the back, there is a big Bodhi tree. Workers cut three-ribbed rock pieces, called triforium, into the roof of the hall to make it look like wooden beams. Stone copies everything down to the wooden pins that hold beams and lintels together. The friezes above the pillars show Naga queens, who represent the rain, and dwarfs dancing and playing instruments.

Buddhist Influence and Significance

There is a huge stupa at the far end of the cave. It is about 27 feet tall and 16 feet across. It has a simple round base, a hemispherical dome, and a square top. As is typical for a Mahayana building, it has a big frontispiece that is almost 17 feet tall and has a giant 11-foot Buddha sitting in a teaching pose on it.

With its detailed carvings of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and scenes from Buddhist lore, the cave's building is a great example of the Buddhist style of rock-cut temples and can be explored through various Ellora Caves tour packages.

The barrel-vaulted roof and large interior of the hall are meant to improve the sound quality, making it a perfect place for Buddhist ceremonies and meditation. This cave shows how important Buddhism was in Ellora by showing how people lived spiritually and culturally at the time.