Karli, India

Karli (also Karla ) is an out of the granite rock of the Deccan Plateau (India) shelled out Buddhist temple and monastery dating from the period between the 2nd C. BC and the 2nd century AD. The complex consists of several cave dwellings ( viharas ) and a large prayer hall or conversion ( chaitya ).

Location

The cave monastery of Karla is located on an ancient trade route between the sea and the Deccan Plateau, about halfway between Mumbai and Pune in the Indian state of Maharashtra at an altitude of about 770 m above sea level. inst. Ports on the nearby coast of the Arabian Sea (eg Chaul, Semylla ) were in the west to the Red Sea and the Mediterranean cultures or with Sumatra, Java, Cambodia and China since about 1000 BC connected to the east. The closest - accessible by train - city Lonavala ( Lonavala also ); from there it is about 12 km by bus or with a Motorriksha. Distance buses from Mumbai to Pune keep on request. Access opens up by an approximately 20-minute climb over a 100 m high and 800 m long staircase. Most pilgrims, many of them fishermen of the coast do not come for the Buddhist caves, but because of a Hindu temple directly adjacent to the main cave.

History

The Karla Caves derive mostly the period from the 2nd century BC ( viharas ) until the 2nd century AD; the Chaitya hall is likely to belong to an early construction phase. Work has been performed yet in later times. When exactly the cave monastery was abandoned is unclear. Before the entrance to the main hall is a centuries old temple of regionally revered Hindu goddess Ekviradevi, which ( as far as Mumbai) attracts many pilgrims from the environment; with her it might be a local form of the goddess Kali, because you are offered animal sacrifices almost daily.

Architecture

Like all man-made caves, as well as the buildings of Karli from front to back and top to bottom were hewn out of the rock. This technique facilitated the removal of the stone debris that could easily slip down; at the same time had no scaffolding is erected and the workers were better protected against falling rocks. Whether docked even hand in the construction of their monastery, the monks is unclear - in the first phase, they should have themselves contributed, with increasing income of the monastery ( endowments, foundations, pilgrim gifts ) the extremely laborious and elaborate works, however, were mostly done by paid stonemasons.

Input range

To the left of the entrance to the Chaitya hall is a powerful, 15 m high and completely out hewn out of the rock fluted column with a bell-shaped capitals and one of four - looking in all directions - existing lion essay. This theme can already be found in the Ashoka pillar of the 3rd century BC ( cf. Sarnath ) and is perhaps a century later been imitated; a formerly by the related counterpart is gone.

In figure decoration in the actual entrance two stylistic phases can be distinguished: the installed on the walls to the left and right of the entrance portal reliefs with small - in the European manner and on a lion throne - seated and of lovers ( mithunas ) flanked Buddha figures could because of their antiquated character style even the late 4th century belong; the three worked out of the Seitengewänden large elephant with it in the lotus seat seated Buddha figures should - be attributed to or have been created by another hand but the 5th century - due to the significantly better stone.

The entrance itself is dominated by a huge window ( chandrasala or kudu ) with a keel arch as the outer panel. The window arches resting on stone - totally unnecessary in terms of construction - beams; the lower arch ends are retracted so that the total arc forms a horseshoe arch. The smaller arch above the entrance door repeating the motif of the window and is also covered over by a pre- hidden ogee arches, protrudes its peak in the upper large windows.

Chaitya Hall

The main attraction of the Buddhist monastery of Karla is about 14 m high and 45 m deep Chaitya hall by two rows of 15 octagonal pillars in a wide nave and two narrow - is divided aisles - a deal forming. The bare side walls are left completely unadorned. The often still provided with old inscriptions or grafitis columns have a pot-like bulbous base and fluted bell-shaped capitals. The aufruhende about each block is carved rich: kneeling or lying Elephants with courting couples ( mithunas ) as a rider wearing the vault of the temple and at the same time have apotropaic ( apotropaic ) and sovereign meanings. This worked out of the hard rock arched roof of the hall is still a - underpinned teak arch - static totally unnecessary, but nearly 2000 years old; within the vault apex continuous stabilizing ridge board, as in previous free-standing and built completely of wood - but not obtained all - certainly was present buildings, yet missing.

In the apse of the hall stands a - also from the natural rock out -worked - about 3.50 m high and multiply easily stepped stupa, which could be both converts directly and in the aisles of the hall of monks and pilgrims ( pradakshina ), where it can be assumed that the near circumambulation of the stupa was reserved with touch only monks, secular dignitaries and wealthy merchants. The stupa has a preserved original, consisting of two parts square shield attachment ( chhatri ), the lower, multiple graded part is made of stone; the actual screen, however, is made of wood. The seven pillars of the apse, that is very close to the stupa, neither bases nor capitals.

Vihara Caves

Near the Chaitiya hall are some - in some cases three-storey - Vihara caves carved into the side walls of cells, which served as living and sleeping rooms of the monks. In these viharas originally featured neither stupas still cult images - the latter were not added until after the 5th century. Perhaps some of these caves were used (especially in later years ) as hostels and storage rooms for the passing of their caravans merchants who were interested in such services - and in the hope of or after good business - certainly showed thankful; However, the servant of the Lord caravan remained the night with the animals and merchandise at the foot of the cliff.

Importance

The craftsmanship and artistic excellence in style worked out from the rock Chaitya hall of Karla ( rare: Karli ) is one of the oldest, best preserved and artistically significant early stone buildings of India. It is India's largest cave temple.

Environment

The Buddhist cave sanctuaries of Bhaja and Bedsa are located at a short distance (3 km and 15 km). The three cave systems within Lonavla must be considered in conjunction with the cave monasteries in the vicinity of Mumbai (eg the Pandavleni caves at Nashik ) and those in Aurangabad (Aurangabad Caves, Ellora and Ajanta ). The latter are attributed to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.