#IndianRockCutTemples

1. Ellora Cave 29 - Dhumar Lena

#HinduCavesOfEllora

🛕 Among the grandest early Hindu caves at Ellora
💥 Massive scale, dramatic iconography, raw rock energy
🐘 Architectural twin of Elephanta
🎨 Iconographic style and carving techniques match the transitional post-Gupta to early Chalukya aesthetic.
🔨Likely built c. 575–625 CE, under Chalukya or early Kalachuri rule
📍 Stands at least a century before Kailasa Temple

🌊 Ganga graces one side — radiant, adorned in flowing drapery and ornate jewels
🏺More than a river — she embodies divine elegance and cultural memory
🎨 Gupta-era finesse woven into Deccan stone — a glimpse into the era’s aesthetics

Kota Rani: The Last Light of Hindu Kashmir

For over four thousand years, Kashmir had been shaped by Hindu dynasties — a legacy of philosophy, art, and resilience.

That long civilizational arc reached its final, tragic turn with Kota Rani, the last sovereign of a vanishing order.

A queen of unmatched intellect and iron will, her rise and fall marked the closing chapter of Hindu rule in the Valley.

Born to Raja Ramchandra, the Commander-in-Chief of Kashmir, Kota Rani was groomed in the intricate workings of power.

After the death of Suhadeva, and later Udayanadeva, she ascended to the throne not as a placeholder but as a ruler in her own right — sharp, shrewd, and steadfast.

Her early reign was marked by remarkable success. She crushed rebellions, restored order, and held back invading forces.

In a world growing increasingly hostile, she became the unyielding shield of her kingdom.

But even the wisest can be betrayed from within.

Shahmir, once a subordinate under Suhadeva, crept into her court with calculated patience.

He flattered, served, and gained Kota Rani’s trust, until he controlled the army, the treasury, and the court itself. With loyalty as his mask, he built a parallel power base, steadily pushing the queen toward political isolation.

Then came his boldest move: a proposal of marriage. Kota Rani, ever the protector of her people, eventually consented, hoping to secure peace for her son and the realm.

But Shahmir sought no alliance - only dominion. When he demanded to share the throne, Kota Rani refused him with scorn, declaring that a weaver could never sit beside a royal of ancient lineage.

Her defiance enraged Shahmir.
He laid siege to her fortress at Andarkot.
The woman who had safeguarded Kashmir from countless threats now faced betrayal from the man within her own gates. Her end remains cloaked in sorrow - either slain in the final assault or taking her own life in a last act of sovereign dignity.

With her death, a flame that had burned for millennia was snuffed out. Hindu rule in Kashmir came to an end.

Shahmir crowned himself Sultan Shams-ud-din, founding a new Islamic dynasty and altering Kashmir’s destiny forever.

Kota Rani's story is not just a tale of lost power it is the final sigh of a civilisation, a fierce reminder of courage, sacrifice, and the fragility of kingdoms in the face of calculated ambition. Who were Suhadeva and Udayanadeva ??

🟡 Suhadeva
– Not born a king.
– Likely a powerful noble or Kayastha bureaucrat
– May have bought the throne after the political chaos
– Ruled Kashmir (c. 1301–1320), then fled during a Turkic invasion

🟡 Udayanadeva
– Suhadeva’s brother
– Propped up as king by Commander Ramachandra
– Real power? His wife, Kota Rani
– Reigned till ~1338, then vanished from history

Their weak rule paved the way for Shah Mir, who overthrew Kota Rani.

📉 With that, 4,000+ years of Hindu rule in Kashmir ended.

#IndianRockCutTemples

Ellora Cave 10 – Vishvakarma (Carpenter's Cave)

#BuddhistCavesOfEllora

Cave 10 is famously called the Vishvakarma Cave – named after the divine architect.

Why?

Because the rock-cut ceiling mimics wooden rafters so precisely, it looks like a carpenter’s masterpiece.
Hence: “Carpenter’s Cave”
Seated Buddha in pralambapāda (legs down), in Dharmachakra mudra – the cosmic teacher.
But he’s not alone. He’s flanked by:
🪷 Pushpāṇi – lotus bearer, symbol of compassion & purity
⚡ Vajrapāṇi – vajra wielder, fierce protector of Dharma

#IndianRockCutTemples

1 Ellora – Cave 12 (Buddhist)

#BuddhistCavesOfEllora

📍 Cave 12 – Teen Tal / Teen Taal

This is the only 3-storey Buddhist monastery at Ellora.
Each level was carved out of a single basalt rock, with pillared halls, monk cells, and sanctums.
Not just a cave. This was a vertical university of Dharma.


🧘‍♂️ Main Deity
At the heart: a massive seated Buddha in dhyana mudra (meditation pose).
Celestial beings flank him, often interpreted as Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of compassion) and Tārā (a saviour goddess).

It marks the Mahayana and early Vajrayana influence.

#Indianrockcuttemples

1. Ellora - Part 6 (Cave 30-34)

#JainCavesOfEllora

🔍 Tucked away at the northern edge of Ellora lie its quietest wonders—the Jain Caves (30–34).

Carved in the 9th–10th century by the Rashtrakutas, they blend spiritual austerity with jaw-dropping detail.

Stillness meets stonework here.


While the caves are mostly Digambara, they include representations of female Jain devotees and hints of Ajivika presence, suggesting a more diverse spiritual landscape.

What makes this wall truly fascinating is the depiction of Arikas—female ascetics—right beside the Digambara Tirthankara.

Could it reflect Yapaniya's influence, which allowed women’s liberation?

#100templesofindia

65. Temple Ruins of Hampi - Karnataka

🛕 Hazara Rama Temple – The Royal Chronicle in Stone (Hampi)

The Hazara Rama Temple is one of the most elegant and historically rich temples in Hampi — once the private temple of the Vijayanagara royals, and a visual epic of the Ramayana etched in stone.

🪨 Ramayana Carvings

•The outer walls are a storyboard of the entire Ramayana, from Rama’s birth to his coronation.
•Panels show:
•Rama lifting Shiva’s bow
•Sita’s swayamvara
•Vanara army building the bridge
•Battle with Ravana
•Rama’s return to Ayodhya

#100TemplesOfIndia

13. Brahmeswara Temple – The Flame of Bhubaneswar’s Golden Age 🔱

📍Location & Date
Located in Ekamra Kshetra (Old Town Bhubaneswar)

Built in 1058 CE during the Somavamsi dynasty, by Queen Kolavati Devi, mother of King Udyotakesari

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, as Brahmeswara

The temple's inscription credits a queen for its commissioning — rare for the time.

The temple is built in the Pancha-Ratha Style of Architecture

The temple's structure follows the pancha-ratha (five chariot) style, characterized by five projections on each side of the temple's base. This design contributes to the temple's intricate and harmonious appearance.

Another thread purely focusing on Jammu and surrounding temples:

No. One is always Maa Vaishnavi—the guarding Devi of Jammu.

But I always suggest keeping her for the last 2 days,
Because you don’t feel your legs after the Yatra. Keep an entire day for temple runs in jammu city

Jammu City Temple Circuit

1.Raghunath Temple – Grand complex dedicated to Lord Ram; built by Dogra kings.

2.Ranbireshwar Temple – Massive Shivalinga and 1,000 miniature lingams; by Maharaja Ranbir Singh.

3.Bawe Wali Mata (Bahu Fort) – Guardian Devi of Jammu; ancient temple overlooking Tawi.

4.Panchvaktra Mahadev – Rare five-faced Shiva; mentioned in Rajatarangini.

5.Peer Kho Cave Temple – Shiva temple inside a natural cave by the river.

1.Book the train to Srinagar.
2.Stay at the Jyeshtha Devi temple rooms – use it as your base.
3.Hire a Hindu cab driver for the entire trip.
4.Visit different temples every day—take your time, no rush.
5.Return via train to Jammu or Delhi—whichever connecting option works best.

Simple. Sacred. Safe.

Link below to book rooms at Zeethyar

zeashtadevi.in/reservations.h… In Srinagar, begin your mornings with divine darshan—
🕉️ Atop the hills at Shankaracharya Temple, where silence meets the sky.
🕉️ At Hari Parvat, steeped in Shakti and legend.
🕉️ At Ganpatyar, echoing with ancient chants.
🕉️ And at the forgotten ruins of the old Shiva temple, where even broken stones still breathe devotion.

Ever wondered how many Hindu temples were destroyed over the last 800 years under Islamic rule?

And yet, look at how skillfully the narrative has been flipped — those with a long history of conquest now play the victim card.

https://twitter.com/ShahidBalPunj/status/1927923256545194002

#100TemplesOfIndia

100. Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Interior of the temple

The temple was built around 1030 CE during the reign of King Vidyadhara (Chandela dynasty).

It's considered the pinnacle of Nagara-style architecture.

The temple follows the traditional Panchayatana layout and a Sandhara plan (meaning it has a circumambulatory path).

It is built on a high plinth, and the interior unfolds in a sequence of chambers:

🐊 Makar Torana – Meaning & Use in Indian Temples

Two Makara Heads
These floral scrolls curve gracefully and meet at the center in a kalasha (pot), kirtimukha (face of glory), or a central deity like Lakshmi, Shiva, or Ganesha.

✨ Entrance Ceiling – Kandariya Mahadeva Temple
As you step into the Ardha Mandapa (entrance porch),

Look up as you enter Kandariya Temple —
the ceiling unfolds like a stone mandala, once adorned with graceful apsaras in tiny niches.
Today, only empty holes remain.
The figures were likely stolen, now scattered in European museums,
far from the sacred space they once lit up.

#100TemplesOfIndia

98. Devi Jagadambika Temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Devi Jagadambika Temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, worshipped here in her form as Jagadambika—Mother of the Universe.

🛕 Commissioned around 1000–1025 CE during the reign of King Ganda of the Chandela dynasty

Smaller than Kandariya Mahadeva—but no less divine.
Elegant shikhara. Soft curves.
A spiritual feminine presence carved in stone.

#100TemplesOfIndia

89. Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, Jayankondam, Tamil Nadu.

🛕 A UNESCO World Heritage marvel, Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple was built by Rajendra Chola I in 1035 CE to celebrate his victorious march to the Ganges.

🌊He brought Ganga water to sanctify the temple’s well, earning the epithet “Gangaikonda Cholan”-the Chola who conquered the Ganga


Inside and around the temple, you’ll find depictions of:

1. Lingam: The primary, formless aspect of Shiva is worshipped in the sanctum.

2. Lingōdbhava: Emergence of the Linga

3. Nataraja: Shiva as the cosmic dancer, symbolizing creation and destruction.

4. Ardhanarishvara: Half-Shiva, half-Parvati, representing the unity of masculine and feminine.
symbolising

Up until two decades ago, when I was still in Jammu, Diwali for me was a simple, one-day celebration.

It involved a bit of cracker bursting, a Puja, and some sweets. I wasn't aware of the diverse ways this festival is celebrated across Bharat. 1. Uttar Pradesh - Ganga Aarti & "Deepotsav," illuminating the entire city with millions of diyas and reenacting scenes from the Ramayana.

https://x.com/aaraynsh/status/1851845090345390168

#100templesofindia

79. Kamakhya Devi Temple (Guwahati - Assam).

It is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for followers of the Tantric tradition and one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.

Built in Nilachal style (Nangra + Local Assamese).
The main sanctum houses a rock fissure instead of an idol, from which a natural spring flows, representing the yoni of the goddess

The temple is known for its unique worship of the goddess’s yoni (female generative organ), symbolizing fertility and power

The temple celebrates the goddess's menstruation period, symbolizing fertility.


The current structure of the temple was rebuilt by King Naranarayan of the Koch dynasty in the 16th century after it was destroyed by Kalapahad, a Muslim general under the Bengal Sultanate.

However, it is believed that a temple had existed on the site much earlier, with its roots in pre-Vedic times.

#100templesofindia

78. NeelKanth Temple (Kalinjar - Bundhelkhand -UP).

Part 3- Main Neelkanth Temple.

Once a multi story Mandapa
Carvings on the door
Neelkantheshwar
Shiv Kartikaye Parvati


Garbha Grah

#100templesofindia

78. NeelKanth Temple (Kalinjar - Bundhelkhand -UP).

Neelakantha Temple, a millennia-old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is renowned for its unique 'Ekmukhi Shivalinga' and ancient rock carvings.

Built over 1000 years ago, it stands as one of India's oldest temples.

Primary object of worship for over a millennium was bluestone Shivalingam with silver eyes.

As per the mythology Lord Shiva came to Kalinjar to quench his thirst after consuming poison after the Samudra Manthan. Even today throat of the shiva lingam is always moist with water source inside the temple.

Hence the name Kaal + Jara destroyer of time Built by the Chandela ruler Parmardi Dev in the 10th century.
The main temple, once a multi floor structure is now reduced to only one floor.

Kashmir under Afghan (Pathan) rulers
(1752AD - 1819 AD)

The Pathan rule is the darkest period in the history of Kashmir

The people of Kashmir could no longer tolerate the misrule of Moghul satraps, and accordingly, when Ahmad Shah Abdali of Kabul was at Lahore in 1752,

Two Kashmir noblemen Mir Muquim Kant and Khwaj'a Zahir Didmari, waited upon him at Lahore and requested him to bring Kashmir under his control.

Little did they know what was in store for Kashmir post that

This was the time when Afghans ruled Kashmir and unleashed a reign of terror on the Kashmiri people, especially the Kashmiri Pandits.
Under persecution, most of the KPs migrated to places outside Kashmir.
Those who stayed back were either forcibly converted to Islam or ruthlessly killed. Killing & Conversions continued till a time when

It is said that only 11 KP families survived death.

Pursidam az kharabiye gulshan zi baghban, Afghan kashid guft ki Afghan kharab kard (I enquired of the gardener the cause of the destruction of the garden

Drawing a deep sigh he replied, “It is the Afghans who did it”)

The Afghan behaviour was beautifully summarised in a Persian couplet which read as "Sar buridan pesh in sangin dilan qul chidan ast" (These stone-hearted people thought no more of cutting of heads than of plucking a flower)

More on this in the coming days......... Abdullah Khan Isk Aquasi 1753-1754 - first Afghan chief

1. He lined up all the well-to-do noblemen of Kashmir and asked them to surrender their wealth or face the worst possible death.

2. He extracted one crore rupees from local merchants, and some traders committed suicide.

3. Houses of the poor and rich were plundered.

4. All the prosperity of the valley was gone, and the people could not even move on the streets, for fear of being robbed of even their scanty clothing.

5. Mass migration of people particularly Kashmiri Pandits also took place in this era.

6. Huge fines were imposed on people even living in poverty.

7. Any displeasure resulted in brutal death.

8. Pandits started a custom of "pot maharaz" during this period, an additional boy would join the groom, in case anything happened to groom "pot maharaz" would take place, In this period it became a mandatory custom because the invariable groom was killed by Pathans.

9. They showed the worst possible inhumane behaviour to the Pandits, Shias & Bombas of Jhelum Valley.

10. Pandits & Shias were tied up in grass \ leather bags and then sunk in Dal Lake for mere pleasure.

11. There is even a location which is still called "Bata Mazar " - Graveyard of Pandits

12. Red hot iron bars were applied to the body of a rich Muslim nobleman, Jalil by name.

13. Another, Qazi Khan had to pay an enormous fine of a lakh of rupees, but suspecting that he had not surrendered his all, his son was put to such physical torture that he ended his life by drowning himself in the river.

14. Pandit parents shaved the heads of their daughters & cut the noses of their daughters to destroy their beauty to avoid the wrath of Afghans as much as possible.

15. The Jazia poll tax on Pandits was revived.

16. Kashmiris wear pheran ( long cloak). Afghans made it mandatory to have two pockets on either side. It was for Afghan soldiers to mount on their shoulders and keep their feet in these pockets for ease, particularly during crossing rivers.

17. Faqir Ullah Kanth wanted to avenge his father's death, For a week, the furious Bombas, the traditional enemies of Kashmiris, satiated their thirst for murder and arson on the poor citizens.

18. Shrieks of orphaned children and the wailing of old and infirm women rent the sky.

19. For weeks, the streets of Srinagar emitted nauseating odour from putrefied bodies

20. Faqir Ullah Khan who ruled the Valley for one year (1767), slew a large number of leading Hindus and forcibly converted 2000 Hindus to Islam.

21. To escape Khan's fury, many left Kashmir leading to a fresh mass exodus of Pandits to the plains of India

#ManyFormsofShiv

9. Gajasurasamhara गजासुरसंहार.

The Slayer of the Elephant demon.

Pic 1,2,3: Gujari Mahal Palace
Pic 4: Thanjavur Palace


Parvati is by his side with a terrorized Skanda(firstborn son of Shiva), looking at Shiva in fear and tightly clinging to her.

Day 2 - begins with shaving hair

Shaving hair has significance in most religions Jainism Buddhism & even Islam

#KashmiriPanditYagonopavitCeremonies

#100templesofindia

Must Visit Temples of Vidisha
#GemsofVidisha

1. Neelkanteshwar Temple

https://x.com/MonaADhar/status/1731886215232630890?s=20

2. Gadarmal 42 Yogini Temple

https://x.com/MonaADhar/status/1730475902708973755?s=20