DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0092
70 EASTERN CAVES.
which bears an inscription of the same Chulakarina,1 but is of no
architectural significance. All these, consequently, may be of about
the same date, and if that is the age of Asoka, it makes it nearly
certain that the Hathi Grumpha with its Aira inscription must belong
to the earlier date ascribed to it above. If for no other reason at
least for this, because after carving these, and a great number of
small neatly chiselled cells, apparently of the same age, which exist
in these hills, some inscribed, some not, it is impossible to fancy any
king adopting a rude cavern, showing no marks of a chisel, as a
suitable place on which to engrave his autobiography.
Besides these smaller caves which, though numerous, hardly admit
of description, there are six larger Buddhist caves in these hills, in
which the real interest of the group is centred. Their names and
approximate dates may be stated as follows:—
The Ananta, on the Khandagiri hill 1 n™ , ikq
The Vaikuntha. Two-storeyed - J
x „.. n r No inscriptions. 150 to 50 b.o.
J ay a Vijaya -J
Bani ka Nur. Two storeyed ; no inscription; first century B.C.2
Ganesa. One storey ; no inscription ; first century a.d.
Ananta.
Though small, the Ananta is one of the most interesting caves of this
group.3 As will be seen from the annexed woodcut it is somewhat
1 These inscriptions and with the information here retailed, are abstracted from
Prinsep's paper in the sixth volume of his Journal, pp. W72.et seq., and Plates LIV.
and LVIII.
2 In his work on Buddha Gaya, just published, Babu Rajendralala Mitra, at p. 169,
assigns these caves to " the middle of the fourth century before Christ," say 350 B.C., or
about three centuries earlier than I place it.
3 When I was at Khandagiri this cave was not known, nor does Kittoe seem to have
been aware of its existence. Even now I have been unable to procure a photograph of
it, nor any drawing of its details, many of which would be extremely useful in determin-
ing its peculiarities. We must wait till some one who knows something of Buddhism
and Buddhist art visits these caves before we can feel sure of our facts. I wrote on April
last to Mr. Locke, who made the casts of its sculptures, asking for some further parti-
culars, but he has not yet acknowledged the receipt of my letter. I have, however,
through the intervention of my friend Mr. W. W. Hunter, B.C.S., been able to obtain
from the Commissioner at Katak nearly all the information I require. He instructed
which bears an inscription of the same Chulakarina,1 but is of no
architectural significance. All these, consequently, may be of about
the same date, and if that is the age of Asoka, it makes it nearly
certain that the Hathi Grumpha with its Aira inscription must belong
to the earlier date ascribed to it above. If for no other reason at
least for this, because after carving these, and a great number of
small neatly chiselled cells, apparently of the same age, which exist
in these hills, some inscribed, some not, it is impossible to fancy any
king adopting a rude cavern, showing no marks of a chisel, as a
suitable place on which to engrave his autobiography.
Besides these smaller caves which, though numerous, hardly admit
of description, there are six larger Buddhist caves in these hills, in
which the real interest of the group is centred. Their names and
approximate dates may be stated as follows:—
The Ananta, on the Khandagiri hill 1 n™ , ikq
The Vaikuntha. Two-storeyed - J
x „.. n r No inscriptions. 150 to 50 b.o.
J ay a Vijaya -J
Bani ka Nur. Two storeyed ; no inscription; first century B.C.2
Ganesa. One storey ; no inscription ; first century a.d.
Ananta.
Though small, the Ananta is one of the most interesting caves of this
group.3 As will be seen from the annexed woodcut it is somewhat
1 These inscriptions and with the information here retailed, are abstracted from
Prinsep's paper in the sixth volume of his Journal, pp. W72.et seq., and Plates LIV.
and LVIII.
2 In his work on Buddha Gaya, just published, Babu Rajendralala Mitra, at p. 169,
assigns these caves to " the middle of the fourth century before Christ," say 350 B.C., or
about three centuries earlier than I place it.
3 When I was at Khandagiri this cave was not known, nor does Kittoe seem to have
been aware of its existence. Even now I have been unable to procure a photograph of
it, nor any drawing of its details, many of which would be extremely useful in determin-
ing its peculiarities. We must wait till some one who knows something of Buddhism
and Buddhist art visits these caves before we can feel sure of our facts. I wrote on April
last to Mr. Locke, who made the casts of its sculptures, asking for some further parti-
culars, but he has not yet acknowledged the receipt of my letter. I have, however,
through the intervention of my friend Mr. W. W. Hunter, B.C.S., been able to obtain
from the Commissioner at Katak nearly all the information I require. He instructed