Ellora Cave 32

Cave 32 is a Jain cave in Ellora, located north of Kailasa Temple. Additionally, the cave is the biggest and best Jain temple in Ellora. It is called the Indra Sabha and is, therefore, one of the must-see places to visit in Ellora Caves.

Origins and Historical Importance

The Yadava kings were great at building, and the Ellora caves were no exception. Their central city was Deogiri, which was 10 km away from Ellora. Between the years 1000 and 1100, they built Ellora Cave 32. People who followed the Jaina religion and tourists used the caves well into the 1300s. But after Islam took over, there was no more religious action among the Jain people.

In Ellora Cave 32, the idols are damaged a lot. The detailed carvings and natural items, on the other hand, have not been touched. It was the Muslim forces in the 15th to 17th centuries who smashed the idols and pictures. This site is an integral part of Ellora Caves tour packages.

Ellora Cave 32 Architectural Design

Cave 32 actually consists of a group of shrines beautifully set up on two floors, dedicated to Mahavira and other Jain gods. The first floor is simple, but the second floor has beautiful decorations. A simple gate leads to an open court with lion and elephant friezes on the sides. In the middle, a single-piece shrine represents the Tirthankaras.

To its right stands a massive single-piece tower called Manastambha, and to its left stands a giant single-piece elephant. The manastambha is 28 feet tall and has four sitting pictures on top that face the four directions. The elephant standing alone resembles the one carved in the court of Kailasa, but this one is more beautiful and well-preserved.

Jain Influence and Symbolism

Builders constructed five Jain caves at Ellora between the 9th and 10th centuries AD. All of them are part of the Digambara group. The Jain Caves show some parts of Jain's history and thoughts. These caves display a strict sense of asceticism. They aren't as large as others, but their art showcases impressive levels of detail.

Cave 30, Cave 32, and Cave 33 are the most impressive Jain sites. They are the Chhota Kailash, the Indra Sabha, and the Jagannath Sabha. Cave 31 has a shrine and a hall with four columns that remain unfinished. A small cave, Cave 34, can be reached through a hole on the left side of Cave 33.