Rock-Cut Caves
- Construction of rock-cut caves is the extension of the Mauryan period but this period saw the development of two types of rock caves – Chaityas and Viharas.
- Chaityas – They were mainly quadrangular chambers with flat roofs and used as prayer halls.
- Viharas – Viharas were residential halls for the Buddhist and Jain monks developed during the Mauryan period.
- Associated with Hinayana Buddhism.
- Buddha was symbolically represented by a lotus, wheel, stupa, etc.
- Open courtyards and stone screen walls were created in front of cave gateways.
- For Example: Karle caves, Sittanavasal caves, Kanheri caves, and Junagadh caves.
Different Caves
- Kanheri Caves
- They are located near Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- They cover the period from 2nd to 9th century CE.
- They belong to the Hinayana phase of Buddhist architecture.
- However, additions were made when Mahayana Buddhism was gaining ground. Ex: 5th-century image of Buddha.
- It has around 100 caves.
- Bhaja Caves
- Location – Pune, Maharashtra
- They are believed to have been excavated in the 2nd century BCE.
- It belongs to the Hinayana Buddhism sect.
- These caves are notable for their indications of the awareness of wooden architecture.
- The carvings prove that the tabla – a percussion instrument – was used in India for at least 2300 years.
- Karla Caves
- Karla Caves are located on Banaghta hills near Mumbai.
- It belongs to the Hinayana period of Buddhist architecture.
- The chaitya here is among the largest and the best preserved in the country.
- Many traders and Satavahana rulers donated generously for the construction of these caves.
- The main cave called the Great Chaitya cave, or Cave No.8, features a large, intricately carved chaitya, or prayer hall, dating back to 120 CE.
- Sittanavasal Caves
- Location – Tamil Nadu
- Its name is a distorted form of Sit-tan-na-va-yil, a Tamil word that means “the abode of great saints”.
- This is the only place in Tamil Nadu where we can see Pandya paintings.
- The monument is a rock-cut monastery or temple created by Tamil Rama. It is called the Arivar Koil and is a rock-cut cave temple of the Arihant (Jainism).
- It contains remnants of notable frescoes from the 7th century.
- Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves
- Location – Odisha
- They were made under the Kalinga King Kharavela in the 1st-2nd century BCE.
- They were possibly carved out as residences of Jain monks.
- Udayagiri caves are famous for the Hathigumpha inscription which is carved out in Brahmi script.