Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c57.30

v1.c57.30

*Brahmanical*—"It was early in the seventh century, when the activities of the Mahayana Buddhists on this site were drawing to a close, that the Hindu hierarchy began in their turn to prepare a series of columned halls in much the same architectural style as the Buddhist, but adapted to suit their own ritualistic needs. The Brahmanical group at Ellora extends along the west face of the hill for about half a mile, and consists of sixteen excavations numbered 13 to 29. The principal examples are : (No. 14) 'Ravana-ki-Khai' or Abode of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka (Ceylon); (No. 15) Das Avatāra, or the Ten Incarnations of Vishnu; (No. 16) the Kailasa or Siva's Paradise; (No. 21) Rameswara, or Lord of Ram; (No. 29) Dumar Lena, sometimes called Sita's Nani, or Bath of Sita. These resolve themselves, as follows, into four different types, most of them apparently taking their various shapes in order to conform to the changing requirements of the creed"—cf. Brown p. 86.