Cave of My Ancestors: Vishwakarma and the Artisans of Ellora

Exploring family stories reveals the rich history of a seventh-century Buddhist shrine.

As a young girl in Bombay, Kirin Narayan was enthralled by her father's stories about how their ancestors had made the ancient rock-cut cave temples at Ellora. Recalling those stories as an adult, she was inspired to learn more about the caves, especially the Buddhist worship hall known as the "Vishwakarma cave." Immersing herself in family history, oral traditions, and works by archaeologists, art hist...