The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (2 Vol Set)

the Bay of Bengal. It is traditionally
considered one of India’s seven sacred
rivers along with the Ganges, Godavari,
Indus, Narmada, Saraswati, and Yamuna.
Important sacred sites (tirthas) on the
Cauvery include Shrirangapatnam
and Tiruchirappalli as well as the
Cauvery Delta in Tamil Nadu’s Tanjore
district, which is filled with temple
towns. Since 1947, when India gained
independence, the rights to the
Cauvery’s water have become a major
dispute between Tamil Nadu and
Karnataka. Farmers in Tamil Nadu have
been demanding a more significant
share of the waters impounded in reser-
voirs in Karnataka.

Caves, Artificial

This was a common architectural form
in the western part of the state of
Maharashtra, particularly in the early
centuries of the common era. The earli-
est form was the chaitya or rock-cut
cave temple, which is specifically associ-
ated with Buddhist architectural sites. A
chaitya typically had a large chamber
sculpted into the side of a hill, usually

with a Buddha image at the far end and

a window above the entrance to admit

more light. These caves were excavated

and sculpted from the top down so that

no scaffolding was necessary. The sides

and central pillars were carved to mimic

wooden construction. Early Hindu

architectureadapted the chaitya form

but eventually moved beyond it to con-

struct free-standing temples. The most

impressive Hindu rock-cut temples are

the caves at Ellora, particularly the

Kailasanathatemple (late 8th c.), dedi-

cated to the god Shivain his form as the

Lord of Mount Kailas. The Kailasanatha

temple was sculpted out of solid rock

but carved to look as if it were built of

masonry. This temple marked the

height of the artificial cave as an archi-

tectural type, although the temples at

Elephantawere done later. After this

period, the emphasis tended to be on

free-standing temples.

Cekkilar

(12th c. C.E.) Author of the Periya

Puranam, a hagiographical account of

the sixty-three Nayanars. The Nayanars

Caves, Artificial

The Kailasanatha Temple in the state of Maharashtra is surrounded by artificial caves sculpted into solid rock.