Karle, Bhaja and Bedsa Caves Western Outskirts (Mumbai) It comprises of 109 caves carved out of basalt rock. Was it possible that on his way, he passed through Kanheri and donated an image? It seems that the inhabitants tried their best to utilize every drop of rain water, Dr Pandit states. However no tooth was discovered during Bird’s excavation as the stupa was already opened and emptied before his time. However, Debala Mitra is not in full support of it as he mentions that though we find female divinities in company of Bodhisattvas however full-fledged deities of the typical Vajrayana pantheon like those of Ellora are absent at Kanheri. V M Mani mentions that the nine devotees carved here are the ones who are mentioned in an inscription found in this cave, which are Nanno Vaidya, Rano Bhaskarah, Bharavin, Chelladeva, Boppai, Bhattakhasu etc. It was much dilapidated, and was penetrated from above to the base, which was built of cut stone. [13], This temple is 86.5 feet long by 39 feet 10 inches wide from wall to wall, and has thirty-four pillars round the nave and the dagoba, only 6 on one side and eleven on the other having bases and capitals of the Karle Chaitya-cave patterns, but not so well proportioned nor so spiritedly cut, while fifteen pillars round the apse are plain octagonal shafts. That puts the date of the inscription after 160 CE. However, it can be said that the style in clothing and makeup which is seen here closely resembles to what we see at other Buddhist center of the same period. As this sculpture is executed inside a niche, this suggests that this is a later addition which probably was carried in the Mahayana period. Rock-cut architecture is the practice of creating a structure by carving it out of solid natural rock. About the artists or superintendent of these excavations, J Stevenson points to a name ‘Dhenuka-kata’ which is found in Kanheri and Karle inscriptions. Most of the cisterns are connected to these tanks and each other with a network of small channels. In the cave it is occupied by a figure of Buddha on a simhasana, with Padmapani and another attendant or chauri-bearers. Each cave has a stone plinth that functioned as a bed. Before the merge of seven isles, after land reclamation during 19th and 20th century CE, this area was known as the Salsette island. Not so with the images above them, among which are several of Buddha and two standing figures of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteswara, which all may belong to a later period. Lastly, from a point near the west end of this last range, a series of nine excavations trend to the south, but are no way remarkable. Those are relatively plain in comparison to the caves built later. Cave 2 – This is a big excavation facing west. [13], In the lower part of the hall, where there are no cells, is a plain space, admirably suited for the pulpit of the priest who read Bana to the assembly. Kanheri Caves These were the result of architectural pursuits of Mauryan and Kushan rulers from 2 nd to 9 th centuries BC. Buddha on the base is shown standing putting his weight equally on both his legs, wearing a robe, and has a halo behind his head. The caves show ancient Indian religious architecture, which is similar to other cave structures of India like Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, and others. However here we see two panels depicting four donor couples. The aisle across the front is covered by a gallery under the great arched window, and probably the central portion of the veranda in front was also covered, but in wood. Kanheri was also fortunate in being connected to other inland trade centers via road. Dr. Suraj Pandit writes that Kanheri had developed its own peculiarities like a well-developed water system, its own agricultural land, satellite settlements and resources for subsistence. Name-Kanheri Caves Mumbai Date- 1st century BCE to the 10th century CE. Only two stone benches are provided, and they would hardly hold 100, but be this as it may, it seems quite evident that this cave is not a Vihara in the ordinary sense of the term, but a Dharmasala or place of assembly like the Nagarjuni Cave. [13], The next cave on the same side has a pretty large hall with a bench at each side, two slender square columns and pilasters in front of the antechamber, the inner walls of which are sculptured with four tall standing images of Buddha. A detailed Review of Kanheri Caves and Sanjay Gandhi National Park: Read this before you go. This resulted in continuous patronage from the merchant guilds for quite a long period. Two copper plates containing legible inscriptions, in the Lat or cave character, accompanied the urns, and these, as far as I have yet been able to decipher them, inform us that the persons buried here were of the Buddhist faith. The cave has two levels, but its construction has never been completed. also doubtless thriving towns.[13]. [13], What strikes every visitor to these Kanheri caves is the number of water cisterns, most of the caves being furnished with its own cistern at the side of the front court, and these being filled all the year round with pure water. There is a stupa at the apsidal end of this hall. This is an unfinished cave and faces west. Numerous inscriptions at Kanheri refers to gifts and endowments from traders hailing from these ancient sea-ports. There is no sculpture and no inscription found inside this excavation. The cultural exchanges between Monks of Kanheri and the Chinese monks are also believed to have influence on the Kanheri caves architecture. Among the places mentioned as the residences of donors to them, occur the names of Surparaka, the Supara of Greek and the Subara of Arab writers, the ancient capital of the northern Konkan; Kalyan, long a thriving port; Chemula, the Samylla of Greek geographers, on the island of Trombay; and Vasya perhaps Vasai or Bassein. [13], Upon the opposite side of the gulley is an immense excavation so ruined by the decay of the rock as to look much like a natural cavern; it has had a very long hall, of which the entire front is gone, a square antechamber with two cells to the left and three to the right of it. In front of many of the caves too there are holes in the floor of the court, and over their facades are mortices cut in the rock as footings for posts, and holdings for wooden rafters to support a covering to shelter the front of the caves during the monsoon. The question is whether this was left in between or did not survive the toll of time. Amitabha Buddha is shown above his head, who usually is depicted inside the jata-mukuta of Avalokiteshvara. Location- Sanjay Gandhi National Park Map- The building types: residential, official, religious, secular, educational The kanhenri caves in Mumbai were built in the year before Christ (BC) to serve as the Buddhist centers of education and letting out information to the world.… What is the significance of the six Buddhas depicted in bottom six panels? This would mean that there were two donor families consisting of two members, two bothers and their wives respectively. The pillars of the veranda are plain octagons without base or capital, and may be of any age. The westernDeccanbelieves that early cave temples mostly shrines a… "[13], The plan of the cave shows that the projecting shrine occupies precisely the position of the throne of the President in the above description. An inscription (No 5 of Gokhale) on the main Chaitya cave refers itself to the reign of the Satavahana king Sri Yajna Satakarni (167-196 CE). Kanheri Caves served as a center of Buddhism in Western India during ancient times, Sculpture of Buddha in a temple at Kanheri Caves, "Kanheri: The archaeology of an early Buddhist pilgrimage centre in western India", "How ancient Indian sculptures tell the story of our ships", Archaeological Survey of India, "Kanheri Caves", Walking through the Historical Timeline of Buddhism, Kanheri Caves Decoded is an online documentary video. K. Kanheri Caves; Media in category "Kanheri Caves" The following 200 files are in this category, out of 412 total. From what we know, it seems, as might be expected, the Mahawanso is correct. Dimensions of the inner hall as per Kail are 26 meters (85.3 feet) in length, 12.2 meters (40 feet) wide and 15.2 meters (49.9 feet) in height. Can this evidence be taken on its face value? Mirashi mentions that this tooth relic would be of the Buddhist monk in whose owner that stupa was erected as evident from the copper-plate charter. In the western direction is Borivli railway station and across the creek is the Arabian Sea. After digging to the level of the ground and clearing away the materials, the workmen came to a circular stone, hollow in the centre, and covered at the top by a piece of gypsum. Mitra also questions that why the sculptors carved these images at bottom but not at capital where these would be prominent and visible to the visitors. from the merchants and businessmen hailing from nearby trade centers like Sopara, Kalyan, Nasik, Paithan etc. The below panel has Buddha with Padmapani Avalokiteshvara. Beyond these is the ruin of a large stone stupa, on which has been a good deal of sculpture, and which was explored and examined by Mr. West. Ancient trade routes connected Sopara to north Indian centers like Ujjain and Bharuch. The smaller of the copper plates bears an inscription in two lines, the last part of which contains the Buddhist creed. The Buddha on top is seated on a raised platform with crossed legs and a halo behind his head. Presence of 15th century Bahmani dynasty coins found inside a votive stupa, probably extended this period further to 2-3 centuries. He is shown standing holding a lotus stalk in hands while the other hand is broken however it might be in abhaya-mudra. At some later time, this catchment area was taken by Hindus who constructed a temple and a matha dedicated to Shiva. On the other hand, whatever its date may be, it is certain that the plan of this Chaitya Cave is a literal copy of that at Karle, but the architectural details show exactly the same difference in style as is found between Cave 17 and Cave 3 at Nasik. There are two panels, one above another, at the end of this wall. Other sites like Tanjavur during the Cola period and Hampi during Vijayanagara period served as political as well as commercial centers with flourishing religious activities. Evidences from inscriptions and limited excavation at Kanheri suggests that it was functional and inhabited by the Buddhist monks at least till 11th century CE. Like the Buddhist caves at Ajanta and Ellora in the same state, the Kanheri Caves are a prime example of Indian Buddhist sculpture and architectural styles. It has two massive square pillars in the verandah, with necks cut into sixteen flutes as in the Darbar cave and some of the Elura Buddhist caves, it consequently is probably of the same age. Ruins of Old Portuguese church is found. They may with confidence be regarded as of the age of the cave. This excavation has 5 inscriptions in total. All the six panels at bottom depict Buddha in this attitude. Rock cutarchitecture is very important to understand the ancient and about the Indianhistory. In a large recess to the right of the porch is a seated figure of Buddha, and on his left is Padmapani or Sahasrabahu-lokeswara, with ten additional heads piled up over his own; and on the other side of the chamber is the litany with four compartments on each side. There are water-cisterns provided at the entrance of almost each cave at Kanheri. These caves were used by Buddhist and Jain monks as places of worship and residence. He suggests that the cave where the inscription is found was excavated temporarily while the stupa, in which the tooth relic was to be kept permanently, was under construction. But in one is a fine sculptured litany, in which the central figure of Avalokiteswara has a tall female on each side, and beyond each are five compartments, those on the right representing danger from the elephant, lion, snake, fire, and shipwreck;[17] those on the left from imprisonment (?) Mirashi and other scholars take this year of the Kalchuri Era which corresponds to 494-95 CE. On each side of the court is an attached pillar; on the top of that on the west side are four lions, as at Karle; on the other are three fat squat figures similar to those on the pillar in the court of the Jaina Cave, known as Indra Sabha, at Ellora; these probably supported a wheel. Marvel at the unique architecture style, magnificent sculptures and novel engineering techniques. The hall door is surrounded by mouldings, and on the back wall are the remains of painting, consisting of Buddhas. The first stupa from right is very much intact with his harmika still attached to the original rock above. Mortise holes on the front façade are evidence of existence of such a screen in the past. Kanheri had become an important Buddhist settlement on the Konkan coast by the 3rd century CE. The interior can scarcely be said to be begun. Kanheri Caves in Mumbai are a treasure house of beauty and history, Mumbai is undoubtedly the glamour capital of India, but within the city boundary, there are a … This throne is rested above a lotus whose stalk is held by two nagas at the bottom. It is located in Barabar hills. [13], The cave first met on the way up the hill, and the most important one in the whole series, is the great Chaitya cave. As per Qureshi, these couples are inferior in workmanship and compare poorly with those at Karle. In front has been a brick dagoba rifled long ago, and at the west end are several fragments of caves; the fronts and dividing walls of all are gone. He is accompanied with two chauri-bearers, one is holding a rod in his hand. Movement from aniconic forms to anthropomorphic forms of Buddha, and later veneration to votive stupas reflects the changes observed in the worship model of the Buddhists. [13], All over the hill from one set of caves to another steps are cut on the surface of the rock, and these stairs in many cases have had handrails along the sides of them. Ellora Caves is an archaeological site near to city of Aurangabad and well known for … Two huge pillars at the verandah supports a gigantic beam. Kanheri Caves are an extensive network of prehistoric cave formations located in the suburban region of Borivali in Mumbai. The oldest are relatively plain and unadorned, in contrast to later caves on the site, and the highly embellished Elephanta Caves of Mumbai. Inscription of the Chaitya cave (No 5 of Gokhale) mentions that the excavation is supervised by a Buddhist monk Seumala and executed by monk Bodhika. one large rounded mass of compact rock, under which a softer stratum has in many places been washed out by the rains, forming natural caves; it is in the stratum again below this that most of the excavations are situated. [12], The Island of Salsette, or Shatshashthi, at the head of Bombay harbour, is peculiarly rich in rock-Temples, there being works of this kind at Kanheri, Marol, Mahakali Caves, Magathane, Mandapeshwar Caves, and Jogeshwari Caves. Stevenson thinks that Dhekuka-kata stands for Xenocrates. Dating of this cave can be done with certainty, thanks to the foundation inscription (No 5 of Gokhale). These were included in the original scheme hence belong to the same period when this cave was executed. On the right side wall are shown four Buddha figures, all standing in almost similar postures. However Maitreya is the fifth Buddha of the present time, hence he should be accompanied with four other Manushi Buddhas instead of seven. This, however, is exactly what might be expected more than 1,000 years after the first convocation was held, and when the worship of images of Buddha had taken the place of the purer forms that originally prevailed. The location of the hill lying over an ancient trade route would have provided an opportunity for the merchant community to come into contact of the Buddhist monks. Stone benches are usually provided in the porch and in the cells. In this context, large and advance sculptures could not be executed before that phase. There are also two inscriptions of Yajna Sri Satakarni (170-199 CE), in cave No. There are around 109 caves carved from the basalt rock. Mortise holes on the dome suggests some wooden decoration in the past. He tells that these caves are located on three hills. The largest panel on this wall shows Buddha seated with pendant legs and accompanied with two Bodhisattvas, standing on either side. W. West in 1853.' The veranda has had a low screen wall connecting its two octagon pillars with the ends. The Island of Salsette, or Shatshashthi, at the head of Bombay harbour, is peculiarly rich in rock-Temples, there being works of this kind at Kanheri, Marol, Mahakali Caves, Magathane, Mandapeshwar Caves, and Jogeshwari Caves. (previous page) "Kanhery hill caves," an engraving by H. Clerget, from 'Le Tour du Monde', 1869.jpg 1,500 × 1,190; 457 KB This low wall is decorated with an animal frieze at the base and ornamental rail pattern above. At the ends of this veranda are two colossal figures of Buddha, about From what remains, it seems that he is holding a lotus stalk, which suggests that he is Padmapani Avalokiteshvara. Cave number 34 has unfinished paintings of Buddha on the ceiling of the cave. An argument in support is that why the builder take pain in carving a niche, instead a projected relief would be less time consuming in this case. This cave are cave No.4 on both sides of the Great Chaitya are probably older than the Chaitya cave, which seems to have been thrust in between these two caves at a later date; but this long room has been so much altered at different times that it is not easy to make out its original arrangements. Only brahmanical caves to be converted in Christian shrine. Ellora Caves. This contained two small copper urns, in one of which were some ashes mixed with a ruby, a pearl, small pieces of gold, and a small gold box, containing a piece of cloth; in the other a silver box and some ashes were found. 5.76 Km Qureshi tells that the vestibule here compares poorly with that of Bedsa and Karle. There was a plan to make it two storied however the plan was dropped probably due to defect in the rock. Ray writes that excavation carried out by Bird confirms that many votive stupas at Kanheri were donated by visiting pilgrims. Just above the ravine, on the south side, is a range of about nineteen caves, the largest of which is a fine vihara cave, with cells in the side walls. Buddha is shown seated with his legs pendant and in vyakhana mudra. Cave 90, sculptures of the back and right walls. The caves comprise vihara (monasteries), chaitya (halls) and dwellings, and were used by Buddhist monks between the 1st century BC and 10th century AD. The shrine is now empty, and whether it contained a structural simhasana or a dagoba is difficult to say. His conclusion is that Kanheri was able to attract Buddhist pilgrims even when the other similar monstaries were abondoned. It is widely accepted that these excavation were started during the Hinayana period. Now a question rises that why there was a need of multiple stupas in this shrine? Observing the third stupa of this cave, this can ascertained that the stupas were carved not top-bottom always. In the above panel are shown two standing Buddhas with devotees at their feet. On two sides of the central entrance on this screen are carved four donor couples. [13], There are two inscriptions in this cave, but neither seems to be integral, if any reliance can be placed on the architectural features, though the whole cave is so plain and unornamented that this testimony is not very distinct. In the left side of the court are two rooms, one entered through the other, but evidently of later date than the cave. West mentions a vast and open gallery under the south-western brow of the cave-hill which is the first sight a … [13], South of the last is another Chaitya cave, but quite unfinished and of a much later style of architecture, the columns of the veranda having square bases and compressed cushion-shaped capitals of the type found in the Elephanta Caves. The screen too, in front of this cave, though very much weatherworn and consequently difficult to draw, is of very nearly the same design that is in the Gautamiputra Cave at Nasik, and in its complication of discs and animal forms seems almost as modern as what can be found at Amravati. Moreover the other figures are intrusively carved, that is, these were added sometime later on the walls. They all have tiered base, above which an octagonal shaft rises, ending with a square abacus above a cushion capital. He is standing in varada-mudra (boon giving posture) and with one hand held his robe. J Stevenson interprets an inscription and tells that it reads ‘Buddha tooth cave’. But this probably is not the earliest inscription at the side. The Buddhist missionaries employed the caves as shrines and shelters conforming to the religious concepts of asceticism leading a monastic life. Kanheri has the second largest chaitya-griha in India after Karle caves near Lonavala in Pune. Significances of Kanheri Caves in Indian Architecture. The floor of this gallery is found to consist of the foundations of small brick dagobas buried in dust and debris, and probably sixteen to twenty in number, seven of which were opened To reach the Kanheri Caves, you have to cross a series of rock-cut stairs. Position of Kanheri provided a great advantge in sustaining itself for this long period, states Ray. 81,[10] and in the Chaitya cave No. This is the earliest definitive date of the Kanheri cave complex. The students studied the Buddhist Architecture of rock cut caves, water conservation in the caves and done sketching.They also studied site given nearby for their project of kiosk design. Most of the caves are located at the southern hill. If their parents are shown then they must be depicted as old couple however it does not appear to be so. The centre of the hall, 73 feet by 32, would, according to modern calculation accommodate from 450 to 500 persons, but evidently was intended for a much smaller congregation. The third stupa has an elaborate sculptural scheme. Franciscan monastery nearby. In the above row of eight panels, seven are depicting Buddha in this attitude while the last one depicts him seated with crossed legs over a lotus. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kanheri_Caves&oldid=1009081407, All Wikipedia articles written in Indian English, Wikipedia cave articles with unreferenced coordinates, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 February 2021, at 16:45. The cave complex comprises one hundred and nine caves.
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