Archaeology Magazine - September/October 1983 - 66

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CollegeYear in Athens admits men and
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ARCHAEOLOGY

Kershaw

to India
Passage
Archaeological
male part leans majestically on the bull
Painted caves of antiquity .. .religious art
Nandi and holds the destroying cobra;
in stone... archaeological symposium
the female part admires her long eardedicated to the North Shore Society of
the Archaeological Institute of America
rings, elaborate hairstyle and spherical
breast in a round mirror. The Mahesh...life in a maharaja's palace... ancient
murti stands 18 feet high in a recess in
erotic sculptures... magic of the Taj
the main hall. Perhaps the most sublime
Mahal... a completely preserved deserted city. . . .
expression of the Hindu concept of diThese are some of the wonders envinity, this triple deity represents Siva
the destroyer, Vishnu the preserver and
countered by 26 intrepid A. I.A. members
Brahma the creator- illustrating the
during a recent three- week tour of India
under the aegis of the North Shore
qualities of the three gods united in Siva.
Society. You may want to use their
Ellora and Ajanta
experience to help plan your own archaeAurangabad, an hour via Indian Airological passage to India. The North
lines from Bombay, is the point from
Shore trip was acclaimed for enriching
which to explore Ellora and Ajanta, 18
lives, adding to the N.S.S. scholarship
and 66 miles away,respectively.At Ellora
fund, and forging significant archaeologare 34 rock-cut cave temples carved by
ical links. Study sessions preceded the
generations of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain
trip; formal exchanges of slides and
monks during the seventh to thirteenth
insights followed. A professor of Indian
centuries. The sculptures are splendid
history was with the group throughout
and offer a fine opportunity to appreciate
and local guides added specifics. The
the contrasts and transitions among the
$3,500 per person cost included a donathree faiths. Start your visit with the
tion to the Society.
Air India flew the group directly from
earliest, the 12 caves of the Buddhist
New York to Bombay, a cosmopolitan
group. Cave 12is three stories high with
a plain 50-foot-high façade that belies
city and commercial center noted for its
its lavish interior. Cave 5 was probably a
2,000-year-old temples. The fabled Taj
classroom for monks. Caves 6 and 10
Mahal Hotel was home and a visit to
hold surprises- the Hindu goddess of
Elephanta the high spot. A boat from
the quay near the hotel whisked the
learning in the company of Buddhist
travelers six miles to the island of
figures and an immense image of Buddha
in a cave dedicated to a Hindu deity.
Elephanta. Originally called Gharapuri,
Most remarkable of Ellora's Hindu
Elephanta was renamed for the large
stone elephant found there. A long
group is Kailasa cave, Siva's mountain
home. The colossal edifice was chopped
stepped path leads to the Great Cave
out of the rock, then exquisitely carved
decorated with vibrant sculptures. A
in miniature style. Intricate detail decoflashlight and familiarity with Hindu
rates what seem to be three separate
of
the
to
see
details
mythology help
structures and a gateway, linked by an
seventh to eighth-century carvings and
overhead bridge. The main temple alone
to interpret the scenes. Incredible effort
measures 150by 100feet and stands on a
was expended to cut the cave out of a
whole stone mountain, then to release
25-foot-high base supported by friezes
of elephants. Lavish sculptures tell
magnificent figures from the same stone.
stories of Siva and detail his rescue of
The temple alone measures about 130
Kailasa from the threatening demon
feet square.
Ravana.
You'llsee guardian and dwarf figures,
About a mile from Kailasa are Ellora's
elephants and mother goddesses of the
Jain temples, hewn during the ninth to
Hindu pantheon- but it is the superb
eleventh centuries. Don't miss the immanifestations of Siva that are outpressive Assembly Hall of Indra, king
standing. Androgynous Siva stands 16
of the gods, where Mahavira, founder of
feet high against the south wall: the
the religion, is depicted. The entrance is
marked by a tall column and a stone
Norma Kershaw, President Emeritus of
elephant.
the North Shore Society of the ArchaeAccidental discovery of the Ajanta
caves in 1819was followedby an investiological Institute of America (AIA) and
member of the AIA Board of Trustees,
gation that revealed Buddhist paintings
teaches in the Department of Continstill glowing with miraculously preserved
richness of color due, no doubt, to the
uing Education , Hof stra University ;
Hempstead , NY.
engulfing jungle that hid and protected
An

Archaeology Magazine - September/October 1983

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Archaeology Magazine - September/October 1983