DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27191#0213
Chap. VI.
WESTERN VIHARA CAVES.
177
of the larger one, and is in all respects similar, except that
its dimensions are only 22 ft. by 17 ft., and the roof has fallen
in. Between the two a mass of rock is left in order to admit
of a stair being cut in it leading to the surface of the rock
above; but what stood on the platform there has not been
investigated.
The other caves, at Barabar and Nag&rjuni, if not exactly
chaityas in the sense in which that term is applied to the
western caves, were at least oratories, places of prayer and
worship, rather than residences. One Ajivika ascetic may have
resided in them, but for the purpose of performing the necessary
services. There are no separate cells in them, nor any division
that can be considered as separating the ceremonial from the
domestic uses of the cave, and they must consequently, for the
present at least, be classed as chaityas rather than viharas.
The case is widely different when we turn to the caves in
Orissa, which are among the most interesting, though at the
same time the most anomalous, of all the caves in India.
With possibly one or two exceptions belonging to other sects,
they were evidently excavated for the Jains. Till comparatively
recently, however, they were mistaken for Buddhist, but this
they clearly never were ; hence they must be described in a
subsequent section of this work (Book V. chapter ii., in Vol. ii.).
Western Vihara Caves.
The oldest cave in western India is probably a small vihara
to the west of the Bhaja group, which is unique of its kind. It
faces north and consists of a
verandah \y\ ft. in length
by 7 ft. wide at the east end
and 9b ft. at the west, with a
hall,also of somewhat irregular
form, 16 ft. deep by 16 ft. 7 in.
across, exclusive of a bench
21 in. broad along the east
side. The accompanying plan
(Woodcut No. 96) will show
the arrangement of the four
cells entering from the hall
and one from the verandah,
in three of which are stone
beds ; besides, there are three
cells, or cubicles, with a separate entrance outside the verandah
to the left, each with its stone bed—usually an indication of
early date.
VOL. I.
96. Plan of small Vihara at Bhaja.
(From a plan by Mr. H. Cousens.)
Scale 25 ft. to 1 in.
M
WESTERN VIHARA CAVES.
177
of the larger one, and is in all respects similar, except that
its dimensions are only 22 ft. by 17 ft., and the roof has fallen
in. Between the two a mass of rock is left in order to admit
of a stair being cut in it leading to the surface of the rock
above; but what stood on the platform there has not been
investigated.
The other caves, at Barabar and Nag&rjuni, if not exactly
chaityas in the sense in which that term is applied to the
western caves, were at least oratories, places of prayer and
worship, rather than residences. One Ajivika ascetic may have
resided in them, but for the purpose of performing the necessary
services. There are no separate cells in them, nor any division
that can be considered as separating the ceremonial from the
domestic uses of the cave, and they must consequently, for the
present at least, be classed as chaityas rather than viharas.
The case is widely different when we turn to the caves in
Orissa, which are among the most interesting, though at the
same time the most anomalous, of all the caves in India.
With possibly one or two exceptions belonging to other sects,
they were evidently excavated for the Jains. Till comparatively
recently, however, they were mistaken for Buddhist, but this
they clearly never were ; hence they must be described in a
subsequent section of this work (Book V. chapter ii., in Vol. ii.).
Western Vihara Caves.
The oldest cave in western India is probably a small vihara
to the west of the Bhaja group, which is unique of its kind. It
faces north and consists of a
verandah \y\ ft. in length
by 7 ft. wide at the east end
and 9b ft. at the west, with a
hall,also of somewhat irregular
form, 16 ft. deep by 16 ft. 7 in.
across, exclusive of a bench
21 in. broad along the east
side. The accompanying plan
(Woodcut No. 96) will show
the arrangement of the four
cells entering from the hall
and one from the verandah,
in three of which are stone
beds ; besides, there are three
cells, or cubicles, with a separate entrance outside the verandah
to the left, each with its stone bed—usually an indication of
early date.
VOL. I.
96. Plan of small Vihara at Bhaja.
(From a plan by Mr. H. Cousens.)
Scale 25 ft. to 1 in.
M