Caves Bhaja

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 in India during 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 in Western India, a large number of which are around Lonavala.

• Bhaja (18°44’ N; 73°29’ 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 of chaityagrhas, viharas and podhis.

• The most prominent is the chaityagrha. 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 the chaityagrha.

• 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 façade below the chaitya arch and also wooden screen of the chaitya window.

• The façade of the chaityagrha is 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 the chaityagrha the 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 bejeweled dvarapalas.

• 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 an ankusa(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 of sthaviras.

THANK YOU

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