Indian Books

Geoscientific studies for the conservation of Ellora Caves / edited by Manohar Sinha. -- 1st ed. -- New Delhi : Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, 2011.

The dark pradakshina-patha (circumambulatory passage) of the great Brihadisvara temple was adorned with exquisite murals.? Even if Rajaraja himself chose the diverse Saivite themes for the murals, the Chola painter took the opportunity to compose the murals with extraordinary imagination.? During the 16th-17th centuries, however, the Nayakas rulers covered these images with a layer of paintings.? The magnificent murals were discovered in 1931.? And ever since they have captured the attention of art historians, scholars and common art lovers.? Chola? Murals documents these murals, in all fidelity.

A truly painstaking effort by the Archaeological Survey of India, this documentation of the time-honoured murals -- in the dim passage around the temple?s sanctum -- has been an arduous task, involving photographing every panel in forty odd frames and meticulously montaging them into one single image.

The volume gives a better understanding and interpretation of the murals, resulting from the digital enhancement of the documentation files.? The colour reproductions of the murals match, to the extent possible, with the original -- as seen under artificial light.

A unique artistic creation, Ellora is one of the largest rock-cut monastic-temple complexes in the world.? And legitimately counts among the glories of India?s incredibly rich cultural heritage.? Located at a distance of 30 kilometers from the city of Aurangabad, in Maharashtra, it is essentially a group of 34 caves, adorned with beautifully-crafted carvings, depicting the various pantheonic divinities of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.? These caves -- cut out, side by side, in the Deccan basalt, during 600-1000 AD -- exemplify an awe-inspiring technological exploit of ancient India.? About 0.3 million cubic feet of rock had been excavated to carve out this monastic-temple complex!? Ellora figures among world heritage monuments.

The natural weathering and erosion over the centuries, together with retreating scarps have not only resulted in the degradation of slopes, but have had damaging impact on the sculptures and paintings in the caves and in their environs.? Biotic interference has further deteriorated the caves and their surroundings.? In 1998, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) engaged the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to carry out multidisciplinary geo-scientific studies of the caves site.? And, for the first time, the GSI studied out geological, geohydrological, and environmental conditions of the site.

Carrying out comprehensive geo-scientific studies for the entire Ellora complex, the Geological Survey of India presented an excellent report on their findings in 2001, containing various thematic maps, damage assessment of the site from geotechnical perspective, and also their remedial measures.

This volume carries GSI?s report including, among other aspects, the geology of the Ellora Cave area, its topographic and geophysical surveys, and seismic assessment; besides the results of their geotechnical and environmental studies of the caves.
Indian Books
The book examines points of historical relevance like the tentative identification of Antichak with the site of Vikramshila monastery in Bihar. Showcasing the extensive field work carried out, it analyses each of the objects discovered in detail with reference to its appearance, use and the level from which unearthed. In an interesting attempt, it gives the text of the Antichak stone pillar inscription of Masanikesha and discusses the nature of the terracotta plaques recovered. It argues that the destruction of the site can be traced to Tantric study and teaching and adoption of esoteric practices that increased the moral degeneration of the Tantric believers and contributed to the decline of Buddhism.
Dr Manohar Sinha is the former Deputy Director General of the Geological Survey of India.

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