Badami Cave Temple - 1 | Nataraja or Dancing Shiva in Cave |ಬಾದಾಮಿ ಗುಹಾ ದೇವಾಲಯ|நடராஜா |பாதாமி குடைவரைக் கோவில்கள்| Bagalkote District |Karnataka
Badami formerly known as Vatapi, is a town in the state of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for rock cut and other structural temples. It is located in a ravine at the foot of a rugged, red sandstone outcrop that surrounds Agastya lake, an artificial lake filled with greenish water, dammed by an earthen wall faced with stone steps.
Cave 1 is about 59 feet (18 m) above ground level on the north-west part of the hill. Access is through a series of steps that depict carvings of dwarfish ganas in different postures as if they hold the cave floor.[23] The verandah, with an inner measurement of 70 feet (21 m) by 65 feet (20 m), has five columns sculpted with reliefs of flower garlands, foliage and jewelry.
Nataraja Carving Mahisasura Mardhini Carving Harihara Carving Ardhanareshwara Carving
Inside this cave, the sons of Shiva, Ganesha and Kartikeya, the god of war and family deity of the Chalukya dynasty, are seen in one of the carved sculptures on the walls of the cave, with Kartikeya riding a peacock. The roof of the cave has five carved panels with the central panel depicting the Nagaraja, with flying couples on both sides. The head and bust are well formed and project from the centre of the coil. In another compartment a bas-relief 2.5 feet (0.76 m) in diameter has carvings of a male and female; the male is Yaksha carrying a sword and the female is Apsara with a flying veil. The succeeding panel has carvings of two small figures and the panel at the end is carved with lotuses.
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/P5Z14NzB2wZzvSLs9
#BadamiCave #Cavetemple #Badami #Chalukyas
