{"product_id":"unfolding-a-mandala-the-buddhist-cave-temples-at-ellora","title":"Unfolding a Mandala: The Buddhist Cave Temples at Ellora","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"59\" data-end=\"315\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"59\" data-end=\"73\"\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sri Satguru Publications\u003cbr data-start=\"98\" data-end=\"101\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"101\" data-end=\"112\"\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Geri H. Malandra\u003cbr data-start=\"129\" data-end=\"132\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"132\" data-end=\"145\"\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e English\u003cbr data-start=\"153\" data-end=\"156\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"156\" data-end=\"168\"\u003eEdition:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1997\u003cbr data-start=\"173\" data-end=\"176\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"176\" data-end=\"185\"\u003eISBN:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9788170305170\u003cbr data-start=\"199\" data-end=\"202\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"202\" data-end=\"212\"\u003ePages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 368 (Black \u0026amp; White Figures: 341, Map: 1)\u003cbr data-start=\"253\" data-end=\"256\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"256\" data-end=\"266\"\u003eCover:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr data-start=\"276\" data-end=\"279\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"279\" data-end=\"294\"\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7.4 inches x 24.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"317\" data-end=\"320\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"322\" data-end=\"340\"\u003eAbout the Book\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"342\" data-end=\"852\"\u003eEllora stands as a monumental testament to the rich and diverse religious architecture of India. Carved into the basaltic hills northwest of Aurangabad, the site is home to thirty-four rock-cut temples, each an iconic representation of the religious and artistic evolution spanning across Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Within the Buddhist caves, twelve temples reveal an intricate relationship between religious iconography and architecture, focusing specifically on the development of the Buddhist mandala.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"854\" data-end=\"1292\"\u003eThe book delves into the historical, artistic, and doctrinal significance of Ellora's Buddhist caves, exploring the mandalas carved in the temples and the insights they provide into early tantric Buddhist art. These caves, excavated between the seventh and eighth centuries, preserve a visual record of tantric Buddhist art’s evolution—from the relatively simple designs seen in Cave 6 to the complex, awe-inspiring sculptures in Cave 12.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1294\" data-end=\"1847\"\u003eWhat makes these caves unique is the preservation of iconographic details in a rock-cut environment, offering an unmatched opportunity to study images in their original, unaltered context. As the book elaborates, Ellora’s sculptures contain many new or unique images that were groundbreaking for the seventh and eighth centuries. The study presents the evolution of the mandala, its ritualistic function, and its transformation within the cave temples—offering a comprehensive analysis of the symbolism, iconography, and spiritual practices of the time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1849\" data-end=\"2281\"\u003eMalandra's approach is rooted in art historical methods, carefully exploring the relationship between the objects and the written texts, a challenge in the absence of direct textual sources that explicitly decode the iconography. This book offers crucial insights into the Buddhist iconographic landscape of the period and positions Ellora as a pivotal site in the broader context of early medieval Buddhist art and tantric rituals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2283\" data-end=\"2552\"\u003eThe author’s meticulous analysis of Ellora's twelve Buddhist caves underscores their importance not only as a sacred space but as a record of the dynamic and expansive nature of tantric Buddhism across India and beyond, influencing later Buddhist practices across Asia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"2554\" data-end=\"2557\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2559\" data-end=\"3077\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2559\" data-end=\"2579\"\u003eBack of the Book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2579\" data-end=\"2582\"\u003eEllora is one of India's grandest cave temple sites, and this book places its Buddhist caves within the broader context of Buddhist art and iconography. Ellora's twelve Buddhist cave temples preserve a century-long sequence of architectural and iconographical development, showcasing the evolution of Buddhist mandalas and their role in devotional practices. The book is an essential contribution to the understanding of Buddhist art in the Deccan region during the seventh and eighth centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shri Satguru Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50013183344944,"sku":"DRG.ShriSatguruPub_9788170305170","price":2125.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/9968\/4144\/files\/idi049.webp?v=1756393696","url":"https:\/\/www.retailmaharaj.com\/bn\/products\/unfolding-a-mandala-the-buddhist-cave-temples-at-ellora","provider":"Retail Maharaj","version":"1.0","type":"link"}