Ellora Cave 12

INDIA, Maharashtra, Aurangabad

This cave was created in the 7th century and is noted for its impressive architectural design. It is thought to be one of the later Buddhist caves excavated at Ellora.
The cave consists of three stories, with colonnaded portico and walkways constructed outside of each. A shrine and its antechamber are located at the center of the back wall on each story. The main halls of each story contain square columns spaced at regular intervals throughout. There are residence cells along the three sides of the first and second stories. On the third story, these cells are replaced by niches housing reliefs with seven seated Buddhas on each side of the back wall and Buddha Triads on the side walls. Stone staircases connect the three stories.
The cave is filled with Vajrayana Buddhist figures, such as Vajrapani, Tara, Bhrkuti, Aparajita, and Cundi, showing an emphasis on the female as well as the male.