DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0131
108
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book T.
Behar Caves.
is very
has no
Sudania
As might be expected from what we know of the history of the
localities, the oldest caves in India are situated in Behar, in the neigh-
bourhood of Rajagriha, which was the capital of Bengal at the time of
the advent of Buddha. There is, indeed, one cave there which claims
to be the Satapanni cave, in front of which the first convocation was
held b.c. 543. It is, however, only a natural cave very slightly im-
proved by art, and of no architectural importance.
The most interesting group is situated at a place called
Barabar, sixteen miles north of (Java. One there, called the
Kama Chopar, bears an inscription which records the excavation
of the cave in the nineteenth year of Asoka (b.c. 245).1 It
simple, and, except in a doorway with sloping jambs,
ircbitectural feature of importance. A second, called the
or Nigope cave (Woodcut No. 42), bears an inscription
by Asoka in the twelfth year of his reign,
the same year in which most of his edicts
are dated, 260 or 2G4 b.c., and, consequently,
is the oldest architectural example in India.
It consists of two apartments: an outer, 32 ft.
'.) in. in length, and 19 ft. (5 in. in breadth,
and beyond this a circular apartment, 1 !t ft.
in diameter, in the place usually occupied by
the solid dagoba ; - in front of which the roof
hangs down and projects in a manner very
much as if it were intended to represent
thatch. The most interesting of the group is that called Lomas
Rishi, which, though bearing no contemporary inscription, certainly
belongs to the same age. The frontispiece is singularly interesting
as representing in the rock the form of the structural chaityas of the
age. These, as will be seen from the woodcut (Xo. 43), were apparently
constructed with strong wooden posts, sloping slighly inwards,
supporting a longitudinal rafter morticed into their heads, while
three small blocks on each side are employed to keep the roof in form.
Between the pillars was a framework of wood, which served to
support five smaller rafters. Over these lies the roof, apparently
Xigope Cave, Sat Gliurba group.
Cunningham, ' ArohtBological Re- occupied the cell; in the later it may
ports,' vol. i. p. 45.
- At Kondooty, near Bombay, there is
a ehaitya cave of much more modern
date, which possesses a circular chamber
like this. In the older examples it is
probable a, relic ot some sacred symbol
have been an image of Buddha. No
plans or details of the Kondooty temple
have, so far as I know, been published.
I speak from information derived from
M.S. drawings.
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book T.
Behar Caves.
is very
has no
Sudania
As might be expected from what we know of the history of the
localities, the oldest caves in India are situated in Behar, in the neigh-
bourhood of Rajagriha, which was the capital of Bengal at the time of
the advent of Buddha. There is, indeed, one cave there which claims
to be the Satapanni cave, in front of which the first convocation was
held b.c. 543. It is, however, only a natural cave very slightly im-
proved by art, and of no architectural importance.
The most interesting group is situated at a place called
Barabar, sixteen miles north of (Java. One there, called the
Kama Chopar, bears an inscription which records the excavation
of the cave in the nineteenth year of Asoka (b.c. 245).1 It
simple, and, except in a doorway with sloping jambs,
ircbitectural feature of importance. A second, called the
or Nigope cave (Woodcut No. 42), bears an inscription
by Asoka in the twelfth year of his reign,
the same year in which most of his edicts
are dated, 260 or 2G4 b.c., and, consequently,
is the oldest architectural example in India.
It consists of two apartments: an outer, 32 ft.
'.) in. in length, and 19 ft. (5 in. in breadth,
and beyond this a circular apartment, 1 !t ft.
in diameter, in the place usually occupied by
the solid dagoba ; - in front of which the roof
hangs down and projects in a manner very
much as if it were intended to represent
thatch. The most interesting of the group is that called Lomas
Rishi, which, though bearing no contemporary inscription, certainly
belongs to the same age. The frontispiece is singularly interesting
as representing in the rock the form of the structural chaityas of the
age. These, as will be seen from the woodcut (Xo. 43), were apparently
constructed with strong wooden posts, sloping slighly inwards,
supporting a longitudinal rafter morticed into their heads, while
three small blocks on each side are employed to keep the roof in form.
Between the pillars was a framework of wood, which served to
support five smaller rafters. Over these lies the roof, apparently
Xigope Cave, Sat Gliurba group.
Cunningham, ' ArohtBological Re- occupied the cell; in the later it may
ports,' vol. i. p. 45.
- At Kondooty, near Bombay, there is
a ehaitya cave of much more modern
date, which possesses a circular chamber
like this. In the older examples it is
probable a, relic ot some sacred symbol
have been an image of Buddha. No
plans or details of the Kondooty temple
have, so far as I know, been published.
I speak from information derived from
M.S. drawings.