DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0207
PART II.—INTRODUCTION. 185
the Mahayana sect at as late a date as the seventh century. The
Junnar groups contain no excavation of note later than the second,
or early in the third century, a.d., and many of the caves are perhaps
one or two centuries earlier, while the earliest of those of Ajanta
may range from B.C. 150 to the end of the first century of the
Christian era.
5. The fifth section will include those at Marol or Kondivte, and
the earlier portions of the great series at Kanheri, in the island of
Salsette, at the head of Bombay harbour, which may be ascribed
to the period between B.C. 100 and a.d. 150.
These bring us down to nearly the end of the second century of
the Christian era, and include all the known examples belonging to
the first or Hinayana division of Buddhist Caves of Western India.
These, when looked at as a whole, are easily to be distinguished
from the more modern examples, first from their greater simplicity
in ornament, and it may also be said by their grandeur of con-
ception, as well as from the total absence of figures of Buddha or
of Saints as objects of worship.
The second or more recent series of Buddhist Caves belonging
to the Mahayana sect, extending from the fourth to nearly the eighth
century, comprises the following groups :—
1. A cave or two-storeyed hall in the Uparkot or Fort of Juna-
gadh, in Kathiawar probably of about a.d. 300 ; and,
2. Ajanta, the later members of the group, a.d. 250-650 or even
later; and with these may be joined the small group known as
Ohatotkach, near the village of Jinjala, about nine miles from
Ajanta, and which date from about 500 to 600 a.d.
3. The caves at Aurangabad in the north-west of the Nizam's
territories, are so much like the later ones at Ajanta in general
%le, though the arrangements differ, that we may refer them to
about the same age, though they belong to a different school of
Buddhists. They principally belong to the seventh century. Some
are even later than 650 a.d.
4. Nearly as important as either of these, is the well known
Buddhist group at Blura. Though somewhat overshadowed by the
splendour of the Brahmanical and Jaina caves which succeeded them
n tlle same locality, they are both extensive and interesting. They
may he considered as ranging from a.d. 450 to 700.
5- In the south of Malwa, near the village of Bagh, is a group of
•uddhist Caves belonging to one of the purer schools of the Hina-
the Mahayana sect at as late a date as the seventh century. The
Junnar groups contain no excavation of note later than the second,
or early in the third century, a.d., and many of the caves are perhaps
one or two centuries earlier, while the earliest of those of Ajanta
may range from B.C. 150 to the end of the first century of the
Christian era.
5. The fifth section will include those at Marol or Kondivte, and
the earlier portions of the great series at Kanheri, in the island of
Salsette, at the head of Bombay harbour, which may be ascribed
to the period between B.C. 100 and a.d. 150.
These bring us down to nearly the end of the second century of
the Christian era, and include all the known examples belonging to
the first or Hinayana division of Buddhist Caves of Western India.
These, when looked at as a whole, are easily to be distinguished
from the more modern examples, first from their greater simplicity
in ornament, and it may also be said by their grandeur of con-
ception, as well as from the total absence of figures of Buddha or
of Saints as objects of worship.
The second or more recent series of Buddhist Caves belonging
to the Mahayana sect, extending from the fourth to nearly the eighth
century, comprises the following groups :—
1. A cave or two-storeyed hall in the Uparkot or Fort of Juna-
gadh, in Kathiawar probably of about a.d. 300 ; and,
2. Ajanta, the later members of the group, a.d. 250-650 or even
later; and with these may be joined the small group known as
Ohatotkach, near the village of Jinjala, about nine miles from
Ajanta, and which date from about 500 to 600 a.d.
3. The caves at Aurangabad in the north-west of the Nizam's
territories, are so much like the later ones at Ajanta in general
%le, though the arrangements differ, that we may refer them to
about the same age, though they belong to a different school of
Buddhists. They principally belong to the seventh century. Some
are even later than 650 a.d.
4. Nearly as important as either of these, is the well known
Buddhist group at Blura. Though somewhat overshadowed by the
splendour of the Brahmanical and Jaina caves which succeeded them
n tlle same locality, they are both extensive and interesting. They
may he considered as ranging from a.d. 450 to 700.
5- In the south of Malwa, near the village of Bagh, is a group of
•uddhist Caves belonging to one of the purer schools of the Hina-