Aihole Sri Ravana Phadi Cave Temple, Karnataka

Address

Aihole Sri Ravana Phadi Cave Temple, Aihole Bagalkot, Karnataka- 587124 India

Diety

Shiva

Introduction

Ravanaphadi is one of the oldest rock-cut cave temples in Aihole, located less than a kilometer uphill, northeast from the Durga temple complex. The temple dates to the 6th century.The entrance has an eroded fluted column and seated Nandi facing the temple sanctum, with several other small monuments. Inside the cave are three near square mandapas, the innermost featuring the Shiva linga and connected to the entrance mandapa by a rectangular space

Puranic Significance

The entrance of the Ravanaphadi cave has a Nidhi and seated guardian on each side. Then, on left, is an image of Ardhanarishvara portraying the equivalence and essential interdependence of the masculine left Shiva and feminine right Parvati. Past this fused image, is the first mandapa to the left of which is a niche carved space. In it is 6th century artwork showing dancing Shiva (Nataraja) with Parvati, Saptamatrikas or seven mothers of Shaktism tradition, Ganesha and Kartikeya On the right side of the main mandapa is Harihara portraying a fused image of Shaivism and Vaishnavism, with left Shiva and right Vishnu. On the opposite wall of Harihara is Shiva with three primary river goddesses of Hindu theology, and he stands with Parvati and the skeletal ascetic Bhringi. The main mandapa connects to two other near square mandapas. To its north is the sanctum, flanked by Shaiva guardians at its entrance, then Vaishnava Varaha or Vishnu’s boar avatar rescuing goddess earth on its left the right is a carved image of Shakti Durga as Mahishasuramardine spearing the buffalo demon. To the east of the main mandapa is an empty monastery like chambe The ceiling of the cave has relie. This small shrine is located below the ledge and to the right as you face the cave entrance. Extensive restoration work is taking place in front of this shrine, as seen here from the ledge above.fs. One, for example, shows Vishnu with Lakshmi flying on winged Garuda, another shows the Vedic god Indra with Indrani on an elephant

Special Features

The 6th century cave temple is dedicated to Shiva. A broken column lines up with the cave entrance, which opens to the southwest. The cave is dramatically recessed on a deep ledge, with free-standing shrines on either side. A Nandi sculpture, lined up with the column below the ledge, faces towards the cave entrance. The column’s pincushion-shaped capital is displayed in the center of the lawn. Another free-standing shrine is located below the ledge and to the right as you face the cave entrance. Extensive restoration work is taking place in front of this shrine Shiva, in his ten-armed form, dances beside Ganesh and Parvati . The panel is located in a shallow chamber on the left side as you face the linga shrine. Shiva’s elongated torso, high hat, and pleated garments are markers of the Early Western Chalukya style in sculpture.