DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0063
BARABAR. GROUP.
41
any direct comparison between them and the western Chaitya or
Church caves, it seems almost certain that none of the Barabar
caves were meant as residences, but were intended for sacred or
ceremonial purposes. The one most like a Vihara, or residence, is
the Nagarjuni cave, called " the Milkmaid's cave," but even there a
great hall 46 feet long, with rounded ends, and only one small door
in the centre of one side, seems too large for the residence of one
hermit, and it has none of those divisions into cells which are
universally found in all western Viharas.1 At the same time it
must be confessed that our knowledge of Buddhist ceremonial in
the age of Asoka does not enable us to say what kind of service
would be appropriate to such a hall. It may, however, have been a
Dharmasala or hall of assembly for the congregation ; a form of
building which was probably usual with the Buddhists in all ages
of their supremacy.
The case is somewhat different with the Kama Chopar cave, a rect-
angular hall measuring 33 feet by 14, which was excavated in the
19th year of Asoka. But here a vedi or stone
altar at one end clearly indicates a sacred
purpose. On the other hand, there can be no wk*LMl.....
doubt but that the Sudama and Lomas Bishi
caves, which are so nearly identical in form, *$£££%?££-
were real Chaityas. Instead, however, of the
circular dagobas, which in all instances occupy
the centre of the apsidal inner "termination of
the western caves, its place is here taken by a
circular chamber evidently meaning the same
thing. It is difficult for us now to decide at g^p
the present day whether it was inexperience
which prevented the early cave diggers from Ko. 5. Sudama Cave,
seeing their way to leave a free standing dagoba in their halls, or
1 The only erections I know of, at all like this eave in plan, are the residences of the
Isaga chiefs, in the hills south of the Asam valley. Two of these are represented in
Plate II. of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. xli. for 1872, which with
these rounded ends seem to resemble this so-called Milkmaid's cave in many respects.
The mode in which the ridge poles are thrust through the roof occurs frequently in the
sculptures at Bharhut and elsewhere.
3 At Kondiwte in the Isle of Salsette there is a very old cave, very similar to those at
Barabar, except that it is sunk perpendicularly into the hill side. It has a circular
41
any direct comparison between them and the western Chaitya or
Church caves, it seems almost certain that none of the Barabar
caves were meant as residences, but were intended for sacred or
ceremonial purposes. The one most like a Vihara, or residence, is
the Nagarjuni cave, called " the Milkmaid's cave," but even there a
great hall 46 feet long, with rounded ends, and only one small door
in the centre of one side, seems too large for the residence of one
hermit, and it has none of those divisions into cells which are
universally found in all western Viharas.1 At the same time it
must be confessed that our knowledge of Buddhist ceremonial in
the age of Asoka does not enable us to say what kind of service
would be appropriate to such a hall. It may, however, have been a
Dharmasala or hall of assembly for the congregation ; a form of
building which was probably usual with the Buddhists in all ages
of their supremacy.
The case is somewhat different with the Kama Chopar cave, a rect-
angular hall measuring 33 feet by 14, which was excavated in the
19th year of Asoka. But here a vedi or stone
altar at one end clearly indicates a sacred
purpose. On the other hand, there can be no wk*LMl.....
doubt but that the Sudama and Lomas Bishi
caves, which are so nearly identical in form, *$£££%?££-
were real Chaityas. Instead, however, of the
circular dagobas, which in all instances occupy
the centre of the apsidal inner "termination of
the western caves, its place is here taken by a
circular chamber evidently meaning the same
thing. It is difficult for us now to decide at g^p
the present day whether it was inexperience
which prevented the early cave diggers from Ko. 5. Sudama Cave,
seeing their way to leave a free standing dagoba in their halls, or
1 The only erections I know of, at all like this eave in plan, are the residences of the
Isaga chiefs, in the hills south of the Asam valley. Two of these are represented in
Plate II. of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. xli. for 1872, which with
these rounded ends seem to resemble this so-called Milkmaid's cave in many respects.
The mode in which the ridge poles are thrust through the roof occurs frequently in the
sculptures at Bharhut and elsewhere.
3 At Kondiwte in the Isle of Salsette there is a very old cave, very similar to those at
Barabar, except that it is sunk perpendicularly into the hill side. It has a circular