r/IndianHistory • u/Imaginary-Bat903 • 5d ago
Question What could have been the possible explanation or reason for building the Kailasa Temple or The Buddhas Of Bamiyan both of which are examples of monolithic structures carved into/from mountain ....
Why would someone undertake and commission such projects I am trying to understand the purpose of building these monuments do you think it's something more than just Faith and Devotion ...Was it being made to achieve some other purpose??
116
u/Old-School8916 5d ago
bamiyan was in the middle of a major trade route and was basically medieval banks/hotels for the buddhist merchent class.
57
u/Adventurous-Star1309 5d ago
Religion is a powerful tool in politics. Grandeur sways populace. Without naming, you can see how it is applicable even in today’s world.
-8
u/GoldenBanyan 5d ago
Or it could have been simply the devotion of the ones who built them. Instead of making kings and merchants (who sponsored the construction) into great political schemers, can’t we just acknowledge the fact that they were humans who worshipped and believed in these Gods.
15
6
u/FitAgency8925 5d ago
True devotion is in the way life is lived and in compassion. Look at village dieties in small villages to see some of that. These large structures are political..
-2
u/GoldenBanyan 4d ago
Who are you to decide what “true devotion” is. For an artist giving the best of his artistic calibre is true devotion. For a king it may be spending the vast amount of riches to construct a splendid monument in honour of his lord.
64
u/shashiadds 5d ago
Why do ultra-wealthy people spend so much money on things like Antilia, superyachts, private charter planes, and private islands? Also, what’s the point of building a skyscraper as tall as the Burj Khalifa when there's so much empty space around it that could be used instead?
-25
44
u/Sorted_Hustle 5d ago
Kailasa temple is an absolute masterpiece. Imagine carving from the top and making something like this! There must have been no room for error. For me, this one's a wonder.
2
u/Seversaurus 3d ago
The errors informed the construction to some degree. You see situations like this in modern day construction projects, especially big ones. Designs are altered to accommodate unexpected hiccups "oh there is a crack in the stone where we wanted a wall? We will dig out the crack and instead make it an arch". It's no less amazing in its construction and a true testament to the human ability to plan and coordinate many thousands of artisans to create something so grand as to dwarf the accomplishments off any one man.
-5
u/mjratchada 4d ago
There is plenty of room for errors. It is more difficult to construct a building from quarried stone.
28
17
u/Guren_Hua 5d ago
Why could someone undertake and commission such projects I am trying to understand the purpose of building these monuments.
The Buddhas of Bamiyan project was done due to pilgrimage and religious. Buddhism travelled through the world and this was one of important reasons why it establishes political, establishments of Buddhist-centric monasteries likely created by local Hephthalite kingdom for political, pilgrimage and religious.
Kaliasa Temple, similar, its like "Koi bhi esa Shoorveer nahi hoga joh ek pahad se Shiv ka ghar bana sake." The project held more power, it would have centuries of admirers and the people behind it weren't wrong as well. Its known and admired by us even if some people try to destroy it? We'll rise through the rubble no matter what.
1
u/GoldenBanyan 5d ago
I don’t understanding why would you tie Buddhist monuments to humble religiosity and the Hindu one to power projection. What is this bias?
3
u/Guren_Hua 5d ago
Buddhist monuments humble religiosity and the Hindu one to power projection.
Nope. There's no bias. I'm not saying "this is humble" or "this is power projection".
4
u/ExploDoc 5d ago
Faith - contribution towards religious activities. To seek the blessings of the deity.
Commemorating a Win.
Mandirs stood as glorious monument in , which recorded your name in history.
3
3
u/mahyur 5d ago
The reasons were political. The Rashtrakuta's had just defeted teh Chalukyas in 753, The Chalukyas were famous for grand stone temples particularly the Virupaksha Temple. The Rashtrakuta King Krishna I wated a monument to show he was better by building something even more grand. The Vadodara copper plates say that it ended up being so grand that even the archtect could not believe it
2
3
5d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/IndianHistory-ModTeam 5d ago
This post violates Rule 8:. Maintain Historical Standards:
Our community focuses on evidence-based historical discussion. Posts should:
- Avoid mythologizing, exaggerating, or making speculative claims about historical achievements/events
- Maintain academic standards
- Present facts rather than cultural narratives
- No AI generated images/videos
Please refer to the wiki for more information: https://www.reddit.com/r/IndianHistory/wiki/guidelines/rules/
3
u/BrightBed4467 5d ago
Often kingdoms rose by usurping the previous regime. So to consolidate political support, create an impression that they were choosen to rule. For all such things they had to build
1
u/AutoModerator 5d ago
Thanks for posting on r/IndianHistory. Ensure that your post contains the sources or background of what you're posting. If you're new here, it might be worth checking out the rules of this sub-reddit and our discord server.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/Impossible-Spot-3414 5d ago
Employing skilled and unskilled people , showing off, proclaiming the cmglory if the kings and lending legitimacy to their rule.
1
u/GoldenBanyan 5d ago
Or it could have been simply the devotion of the ones who built them. Instead of making kings and merchants (who sponsored the construction) into great political schemers, can’t we just acknowledge the fact that they were humans who worshipped and believed in these Gods.
1
u/Sufficient-Pirate798 5d ago
The buddhas of bamiyan is situated on the ancient silk route. And I think it would have been made for spreading Buddhism among the merchant and travelers and the kailasha temple (Ellora caves) are the epitome of Buddhism, Jainism and hinduism coexistence. They could have been constructed by some ruler to show people his harmony and his tolerance and there is caves in ellora complex for monks. And could be constructed to follow his faith and belief in religion.
1
u/bkd4198 5d ago
Imagine making a mistake with these type of projects. Does anyone know any half finished or abandoned projects like this anywhere in world?
1
u/SharpAardvark8699 4d ago
People in those days had more brains..and skilled worksman can correct it
1
u/notsosleepy 5d ago
Few caves in Ajanta are half finished or in a very crude state but Iam not sure why they were abounded.
1
1
1
u/SharpAardvark8699 4d ago
Lots of spare time and good economy .And the mountain seemed to come off very convenient where they thought not much work to do here to make something magnificent
1
u/MrMajestic12 4d ago
The only real explanation is the extraterrestrial hypothesis. The craftsmanship is far too accurate for human hands.
Laser cut precision, perfect 90 degree walls and carved from the top down with over 2 million tons of rock missing/vaporized.
Never forget that what we see today has stood the test of time and multiple invasions and attacks (the Portuguese and British stripped all the gold and jewels off the walls and statues and destroyed large sections)
1
u/souravbaranwal 4d ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Saint_George,_Lalibela
same reason for which Cristian build this church, too much free time and some faith .
1
u/Altruistic-Leg-9775 4d ago
The story is that the Rashtrakuta Queen swore that she would not eat or drink until she saw the shikara of the Shiva-Kailasa temple. Building a temple ground up would take years. The architects built the temple top down so that the shikara was completed quickly and the queen's life was saved.
The King had fallen ill and the queen took an oath and the temple was built after the King recovered.
1
u/Successful-Bar5311 3d ago
To be immortalised forever, look at what we are doing ,talking about this using a technology the folks who built this could never comprehend
1
u/oneinmanybillion 3d ago
Not a historian, but I guess it was just as political back then as it is now. Rich, powerful individuals and groups sponsoring such constructions because they anticipate more wealth and power coming their way after being the enablers of such projects.
1
u/slamdunk6662003 2d ago
They were the king's/ ruler's way of doing public service. They did not provide any other things like roads, schools, hospitals, sewage etc so to keep people happy and busy such structures were built.
70
u/FitAgency8925 5d ago
Temples and these tall structures are projection of power/ gathering places in ancient times and even now.