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BHAJA CAVES

INTRODUCTION
BHAJA CAVES
- HIGH-WATER MARK OF
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE
LOCATION
-12 FROM LONAVLA STATION
- NORTH-EAST
BUILT IN: 160 B.C.

As structures excavated in stone


were the most durable, rock cut
architecture came to the fore
inIndiaduring the reign of Emperor
Ashoka who was looking for a lasting
medium to commemorate and
spread the teachings of Buddha.
The style of architecture turned out
to be especially suited to the
Sahayadri ranges, as the hills were
composed of alternating horizontal
strata of harder and softer volcanic
trap rock making excavation easy.
There are about 1000 rock cut caves
inWestern India, a large number of
which are around Lonavala.

Bhaja (1844 N; 7329 E) is one


to the important Buddhist centres
of Hinayana faith in Maharashtra.
The group consists of 22
excavations and located on a hill
near Bhaja village, Maval Taluka in
district Pune.
The importance of Bhaja is
further enhanced by the presence
of two more monastic complexes
namely Bedsa and Karla.
All the caves are belonging to the
Hinayana phase and are datable
from 3rd century BC to 2nd
century AD.

There are eighteen caves in total and each other


of them is adorned with magnificently chiseled
images of Lord Buddha with different postures.
Also embellishing the Bhaja caves are the
images of some animals and situations of some
of the Buddhist tales.
The twelfth cave, also the biggest one,
comprises of a prayer hall and boasts of splendid
ancient Buddhist architecture.
In the last cave is a 'Dancing couple' structure, a
must see attraction of Bhaja.
One of the oldest caves in India, Bhaja Caves
comprises of a number of Viharas, which are
mainly used as hostels for the Buddhist monks
being taught there.
Last , are the amazing stupas inside as well as
outside the caves.

The excavations here consist


ofchaityagrhas,viharasand
podhis.
The most prominent is
thechaityagrha. It is
considered to be the earliest
of its kind and a close copy
of wooden proto type.
On plan it consist of a large
apsidal hall measuring 17.08
m in length and 8.13 m in
width.
However the group was
under occupation as
attested from some of the
painted Buddha images in
thechaityagrha.

The hall is divided into a


central nave and side
aisles by 27 pillars in tow
straight road which meats
in a semi circle at the
back.
The ceiling of the nave is
vaulted and original
wooden beams are fixed.
The pillars are plain
octagons and they taper
inwards.
The inward slope of pillars
is required in a wooden
structure to cope up with
the outward thrust from
the top

A stupa is placed at the back


measuring 3.45 m in diameter
for worship.
The stupa has a prominent
hemispherical dome on a
cylindrical drum crowned by a
railing pattern (harmika) and
provision of hole for a top for
inserting a wooden umbrella.
At present, the entrance of the
hall is completely open.

The evidence of mortise


holes indicates the presence
of a wooden faade below
the chaitya arch and also
wooden screen of the chaitya
window.
The faade of
thechaityagrhais highly
decorated and present a true
replica of a 2nd century B.C.
wooden architecture.
On either side of the central
arch are series of miniature
chaitya arches over railing
patterns.

Cave 18 is a monastery and


consists of a rectangular hall
with a front pillared verandah.
The hall has two cells each on
the back and right side, while
on the left side is a bench.
Unlike the pillars of
thechaityagrhathe pillars
have square base and top with
octagonal shape at the middle.
Two doors from the verandah
lead to the hall; they are
flanked by lavishly
bejeweleddvarapalas.

The verandah of this monastery has


two famous sculptural reliefs which
are most important.
One depicts a royal personage
attended by two women, driving in a
chariot driven by four horses, which
tramples on a demonish figure.
The person in royal attire has been
identified by some as Sun god
Surya.
To the left of the door is depicted a
person driving an elephant carrying
anankusa(elephant goad), with
attendants carrying a banner and
spear. The figure has been identified
by some as Indra

Apart from Cave 18, which is highly decorative


and elaborate, the group of Caves at Bhaja
has other monasteries of simple type, halls
with verandah, the former having cells, on
one, two or three sides.
Some exceptions are also noticeable, like the
ones with a circular cell and a stupa inside;
circular cell with oblong verandah etc.
One irregular excavation is identified as a
cemetery, which has fourteen rock-cut stupas,
some inscribed with the name ofsthaviras.

THANK YOU

By ; Krupa fotaria
Swapnil mistry
Nikhil shah
Tumuda mori
Archana rijwani
Toral parekh
Ratnesh agrawal
Mrugesh gadia

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