DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0236
214 EARLY BUDDHIST CAVE-TEMPLES.
and gives name to a sect of Brahmans; but its long occupation by
the Muhammaclans may well account for the disappearance of all
traces of early works in it.
The caves were first described by Sir Bartle Frerein 1849, and for
our purposes it may be as well to follow generally his arrangement
into three series,1 viz.: I. The southern group, near the village of
Jakhanwadi, consisting of 23 caves; II. Those in the south-east
face of the northern spur, about 19 caves; and III. Those facing
the valley of the Koina, which are more scattered, 22 caves ;—in all
63, besides many small excavations of no note and an abundance of
water-cisterns,—often two of them to a single cave.
The absence of pillars in the larger halls, the smallness of many
of the excavations, the frequency of stone benches for beds in the
cells, the primitive forms of the Chaityasor Dagobas, and the almost
entire absence of sculpture in these caves, combine to indicate their
early age. Unfortunately they are cut in a very coarse, soft, trap
rock, on which inscriptions could not be expected to remain legible
for long ages, if very many of them existed ; and only a portion of
one has been found, with the faintest trace of another. The letters
are rudely cut, but appear to belong to the same period as most of
the Karle inscriptions. Prom all such indications these caves may
be placed approximately as about of the same age as those of S'ailar-
wadi, and Kuda, Pala, &c, and not far from the age of the Junnar
and Nasik caves. They were all probably excavated before the
Christian era, but they are generally so much alike that few, if any,
can be considered as a century earlier.
They are mostly so small and uninteresting that they need not
be described in detail, only a few of the more noteworthy ana
characteristic being noticed. In the first group the most westerly
cave, No. I., has had a verandah, perhaps with two pillars and
corresponding pilasters ; but the front has been built up by a modern
Jogi. Beyond this is a hall, 22 feet by 11 and 7 feet high, with a
bench along the back and ends of it; and at the back of this again
are two cells with stone benches. Cave II. has a hall about 34 fee
square, and its verandah has been supported by two square pillars.
Cave Y. is a Chaitya facing south-west, and is of the same style as
one of the Junnar caves, but still plainer (Plate V., fig- 2)-
1 J. B. B. A. S. vol. III., p. 108 ct seqq.
and gives name to a sect of Brahmans; but its long occupation by
the Muhammaclans may well account for the disappearance of all
traces of early works in it.
The caves were first described by Sir Bartle Frerein 1849, and for
our purposes it may be as well to follow generally his arrangement
into three series,1 viz.: I. The southern group, near the village of
Jakhanwadi, consisting of 23 caves; II. Those in the south-east
face of the northern spur, about 19 caves; and III. Those facing
the valley of the Koina, which are more scattered, 22 caves ;—in all
63, besides many small excavations of no note and an abundance of
water-cisterns,—often two of them to a single cave.
The absence of pillars in the larger halls, the smallness of many
of the excavations, the frequency of stone benches for beds in the
cells, the primitive forms of the Chaityasor Dagobas, and the almost
entire absence of sculpture in these caves, combine to indicate their
early age. Unfortunately they are cut in a very coarse, soft, trap
rock, on which inscriptions could not be expected to remain legible
for long ages, if very many of them existed ; and only a portion of
one has been found, with the faintest trace of another. The letters
are rudely cut, but appear to belong to the same period as most of
the Karle inscriptions. Prom all such indications these caves may
be placed approximately as about of the same age as those of S'ailar-
wadi, and Kuda, Pala, &c, and not far from the age of the Junnar
and Nasik caves. They were all probably excavated before the
Christian era, but they are generally so much alike that few, if any,
can be considered as a century earlier.
They are mostly so small and uninteresting that they need not
be described in detail, only a few of the more noteworthy ana
characteristic being noticed. In the first group the most westerly
cave, No. I., has had a verandah, perhaps with two pillars and
corresponding pilasters ; but the front has been built up by a modern
Jogi. Beyond this is a hall, 22 feet by 11 and 7 feet high, with a
bench along the back and ends of it; and at the back of this again
are two cells with stone benches. Cave II. has a hall about 34 fee
square, and its verandah has been supported by two square pillars.
Cave Y. is a Chaitya facing south-west, and is of the same style as
one of the Junnar caves, but still plainer (Plate V., fig- 2)-
1 J. B. B. A. S. vol. III., p. 108 ct seqq.