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stone had once been adorned with images as fine as anything found in Europe from a much later period . I was speechless .
“ It ’ s without equal ,” my archaeologist friends son suggested . I nodded . “ My father says this is the greatest structure man has ever created . It might not be the largest , the most visible , the most popular , but it is the most perfect .”
Simply nodding , I shock hands with my learned friend and his translator and walked on . The day was becoming dangerously hot and there was so much more to be explored .
Like the pages of a history book the remaining section of temples morphed from Brahmanism to that of Jaina , explaining how religions merged to create newer forms and beliefs , and yet all sects traded ideas and philosophies whilst sharing the same area illustrating the spirit of tolerance , and characteristics of ancient India , which permitted these three religions to establish their sanctuaries and their communities in a single place , thus serving to reinforce a universal value of society , culture , politics and lifestyles . I wondered if such tolerance would be encouraged in the twenty first century .
Walking toward the exit gates the words of my archaeologist friend echoed , the complex of Ellora is indeed a unique achievement , a masterpiece of human creativity . How did they excavate the rock , even just the Kailasa Temple is an engineering feat that would be a struggle for today ’ s masters of construction , it is without doubt an exploit without equal considering it mimics ‘ constructed ’ structures despite being a single piece of stone .
Dazed by what had just been put before me , I walked from the compound , something tugged at my lower leg with the gentlest of touch . An elderly man , his face sad yet wisened beyond what I could comprehend , looked with that too familiar expression of India . I pointed to my camera ; he stared straight through it . What the hell , I handed over five hundred rupees , and snapped two quick shots . We both nodded a mutual understanding , after all , an initial charming con job had sent us in the direction of one of the greatest monuments to tolerance I will ever experience . LW
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