• Jan 25 2016
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Ravanaphadi Cave

A cave temple of the Early Western Chalukyas dated to the sixth century, the Ravanaphadi Cave at Aihole (formerly Aryapura or Ayyavole), is considered an important shrine in the development of early mediaeval Deccan architecture.

The cave temple of Ravanaphadi was built during the rule of Early western Chalukyas c. 550 CE in the region. It has a simple facade with two pillars at the entrance, flanked by a unique pair of dvarapalas dressed in tunics. The dvarapalas adjoin a pair of portly relief-carved figures seated in pavilions with kuta roofs; a register under each pavilion contains a gana. The cave’s entrance leads to a rock-cut mandapa with chambers ca its three walls. Each chamber has a triple-bayed opening and relief-carved figures on the wall surface behind them. The figures depicted include Shiva as Ardhanarishvara clutching a trident, two-armed Shaiva guardians, Harihara, and Shiva accompanied by Parvati and Bhringi with river goddesses overhead. The ceiling of the mandapa is decorated with a relief-carved lotus medallion at its centre surrounded by ornamental bands depicting human torsos, makaras and fish.

The chamber on the left side has a tableau-esque image of a ten-armed dancing Shiva, accompanied by Parvati and the Saptamatrikas. Opposite the entrance is a small vestibule containing a Shiva linga flanked by relief sculptures of Varaha rescuing Bhudevi on the left and Durga spearing Mahishasura on the right. The ceilings bear two panels that show Shiva and Parvati on Nandi on the left and Vishnu and Lakshmi on Garuda on the right. The doorway jambs are incompletely carved.