Ellora Cave No 14

At the Ellora Caves, Cave 14 is known under the name of Ravana Ka Khai, a Hindu temple cave elaborately carved out by artisans who have produced feverishly exquisite rock art. The cave is renowned for its splendid representations of Hindu deities, with special mention of that of Durga killing the demon Mahishasura. It is one of the most prominent places to visit within the Ellora Caves, located quite close to Cave 12. This marks the transition of the Ellora design from Buddhist to Hindu influence.

Historical Background

During the Rashtrakuta period (8th–9th century CE), people transformed Cave 14 from a Buddhist monastery into a Hindu temple. It marked a transition when very intricate carvings of Hindu gods and goddesses appeared, thus evidenced changes in the religion of that area. The sculptural pillars with magnificent openings to the cave represent an achievement of that particular time. It’s an important site in the cultural history of Ellora.

Ellora Cave 14 Architectural Features

Ravana Ka Khai, Cave 14, is a simple cave that goes back to the early 7th century AD and used to be a Buddhist vihara. This cave has a large courtyard with pillars and a mandapa featuring 16 kumbhavalli pillars. It also includes a shrine with a linga and a wide pradakshinapath surrounding it.

The goddesses of the rivers Ganga and Yamuna watch over the entry. Artisans made five sections in the walls on both sides of the mandapa, supported by pillars with kalasa on top. There are sculptures of people from both the Saiva and Vaishnava faiths on the side walls of the courtyard's aisles. Visitors can explore these artistic marvels through various Ellora Caves tour packages.

Mythological Connections

There are statues of Bhavani, Gajalakshmi, Varaha, Vishnu, and Lakshmi on the north wall. The south wall also shows Mahisasuramardini, Lord Siva, and Parvati playing Chaucer, Nataraja, Ravana shaking Kailasha Mountain, and Andhakasura.

The seven divine mothers are shown next to these sculptures on the southern wall of the circumambulation. Chamunda is demonstrated with an owl, Indrani with an elephant, Varahi with a pig, Lakshmi with a garuda, Kaumari with a peacock, Maheshwari with a bull, and Saraswati with a hamsa.