Barabar Caves

Barabar Caves
Coordinates	25°00′18″N 85°03′47″E / 25.005°N 85.063°E / 25.005; 85.063Coordinates: 25°00′18″N 85°03′47″E / 25.005°N 85.063°E / 25.005; 85.063

Pilgrimage to
Buddha's Holy Sites
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Bodh Gaya Kushinagar Lumbini Sarnath
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Rajgir Sankassa Sravasti Vaishali
Other Sites
Devadaha Gaya Kapilavastu Kesaria Kosambi Nalanda Pava Pataliputra Varanasi
Later Sites
Ajanta Caves Barabar Caves Bharhut Ellora Caves Lalitgiri Mathura Pandavleni Caves Piprahwa Ratnagiri Sanchi Udayagiri Vikramaśīla

The Barabar Caves are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India,^[1] mostly dating from the Maurya Empire (322–185 BCE), some with Ashokan inscriptions, located in the Bela Ganj Block of Gaya district, Bihar, India, 24 km north of Gaya.

These caves are situated in the twin hills of Barabar (four caves) and Nagarjuni (three caves) - caves of the 1.6 km distant Nagarjuni Hill sometimes are singled out as Nagarjuni Caves. These rock-cut chambers date back to the 3rd century BC, Maurya period,^[2] of Ashoka (r. 273-232 BCE) and his grandson Dasaratha Maurya. Though Buddhists themselves, they allowed various Jain sects to flourish under a policy of religious tolerance.^[1]

The caves were used by ascetics from the Ajivika sect,^[3] founded by Makkhali Gosala, a contemporary of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, and of Mahavira, the last and 24th Tirthankara of Jainism.^[4] Also present at the site are several rock-cut Buddhist and Hindu sculptures.^[5]

Most caves at Barabar consist of two chambers, carved entirely out of granite, with a highly polished internal surface and exciting echo effect. The first chamber was meant for worshippers to congregate in a large rectangular hall, and the second, a small, circular, domed chamber for worship, this inner chamber probably had a small stupa like structure, at some point, though they are now empty.

The caves gained international renown as they featured – relocated to a fictitious Marabar – in the book A Passage to India by English author E. M. Forster.

Caves at Barabar Hill

Barabar Hill contains four caves, namely, Karan Chaupar, Lomas Rishi, Sudama and Visva Zopri. Sudama and Lomas Rishi Caves are the earliest examples of rock-cut architecture in India,^[2][6] with architectural detailing, made in the Mauryan period, and became a trend the subsequent centuries,^[7] like the larger Buddhist Chaitya, that were found in Maharashtra, such as in Ajanta and Karla Caves, and greatly influenced the tradition of South Asian rock-cut architecture.^[3] Barabar caves have magnanimous arches which are few in ancient history.

Barabar Caves

General view of cave temples in the Barabar Hills, Bihar. Mauryan architecture in the Barabar Mounts. Grotto of Lomas Rishi. 3rd century BCE.

Sudama and Lomas Rishi Caves at Barabar, Bihar, an 1870 photograph. Plan of the Barabar Caves and an elevation of the entrance to the Lomas Rishi Cave, Barabar, Bihar.

• Lomas Rishi cave: The arch-like shape facade of Lomas Rishi Caves, imitate the contemporary timber architecture. On the doorway, a row of elephants proceed towards stupa emblems, along the curved architrave.^[8]

• Sudama cave: This cave was dedicated by Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka in 261 BC. The arches of Sudama cave are of bow shape. The caves consist of a circular vaulted chamber with a rectangular mandapa.^[9]

• Karan Chaupar (Karna Chaupar):^[10] Consists of single rectangular room with polished surfaces, contains inscription which could be dated to 245 BC.

• Visva Zopri: Reachable by Ashoka steps hewn in cliff, consists of two rectangular rooms.

Nagarjuni Caves

Nearby caves of Nagarjuna are smaller and younger than Barabar caves ^[11] The three caves are:

• Gopi (Gopi-ka-Kubha): According to inscription, devoted by the king Dasaratha to Ajivika followers circa 232 BC.

• Vadithi-ka-Kubha cave (Vedathika Kubha): Located in crevice.

• Vapiya-ka-Kubha cave ^[12] (Mirza Mandi): Also devoted to Ajivika followers by Dasaratha.

See also

• Kumhrar
• Edicts of Ashoka
• A Passage to India

Further reading

• Mauryan Architecture and Art - Rock cut architecture The Archaeology of Early Historic South Asia: The Emergence of Cities and States, by Frank Raymond Allchin, George Erdosy. Cambridge University Press, 1995, ISBN 0-521-37695-5. Page 247
• Introduction The Cambridge Companion to E.M. Forster, by David Bradshaw, Contributor David Bradshaw, Cambridge University Press, 2007, ISBN 0-521-83475-9. Page 188.

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Culture of peace Frontline, Volume 25 - Issue 18 :: Aug. 30-Sep. 12, 2008.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sculptured doorway, Lomas Rishi cave, Barabar, Gaya British Library
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Entrance to one of the Barabar Hill caves British Library.
4. ↑ Barabar Hills: Where the Buddhist Emperor Ashoka built caves for the Ajivakas www.buddhanet.net.
5. ↑ Rock sculptures at Barabar British Library.
6. ↑ Architectural history www.indian-architecture.info.
7. ↑ An overview of archaeological importance of Bihar Directorate of Archaeology, Govt. of Bihar.
8. ↑ Part of the elephant frieze over the doorway at the Barabar caves. 1790 British Library.
9. ↑ Sudama and Lomas Rishi Caves at Barabar Hills, Gaya British Library.
10. ↑ Karna Chowpar cave, Barabar Hills. British Library.
11. ↑ Barabar and Nagarjuna Caves.
12. ↑ Gopi & Kalpi caves, Barabar, Gaya. British Library.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barabar Caves.

• Series of images of Barabar Caves
• Detailed notes on The Barabar Caves and its use as Marabar Caves in E.M. Fosters Passage to India
• Barabar Caves and Nagarjuni Caves, description by Wondermondo
• Barabar Caves - First ever Caves of India

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