Kuda Caves

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Pilgrimage to
Buddha's
Holy Sites
The Four Main Sites
Lumbini · Bodh Gaya
Sarnath · Kushinagar
Four Additional Sites
Sravasti · Rajgir
Sankissa · Vaishali
Other Sites
Pataliputra · Gaya · Kosambi
Kapilavastu · Devadaha
Kesariya · Pava
Nalanda · Varanasi
Later Sites
Sanchi · Mathura
Ellora · Ajanta · Vikramshila
Ratnagiri · Udayagiri · Lalitgiri
Bharhut · Barabar Caves

Kuda Caves are located in the small village of Kuda, on the eastern side of the north shore of Murud-Janjira in south Konkan, India. These fifteen Buddhist caves are small, simple, and were excavated in first century B.C.[1]

The verandah of Chaitya has several reliefs of the Buddha, carved with symbols of lotus, wheel and Nagas. Later in 5th / 6th century the Buddhist branch of the Mahayana took over the caves and added their sculptures.[1] The first cave has ancient writing on its wall. The sixth cave entrance is adorned with elephants.[2]

The thirty inscriptions describe donations by lay Buddhists and Buddhist monks. Other donors include an iron monger, a banker, a gardener, a writer, physician, a flower vendor and a minister.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ahir, D. C. (2003). Buddhist sites and shrines in India : history, art, and architecture (1. ed. ed.). Delhi: Sri Satguru Publ. pp. 197–198. ISBN 8170307740. 
  2. Gunaji, Milind (2010). Offbeat tracks in Maharashtra (2nd ed. ed.). Mumbai: Popular Prakashan. pp. 222–223. ISBN 8179915786. 


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