Bava Pyara caves

Bava Pyara caves (also known as Baba Pyara caves) are an example of ancient man-made caverns. The caves are a part of the Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups situated in the eastern part of Junagadh of the Indian state of Gujarat.

The Bava Pyara caves were visited by James Burgess, an English archaeologist and founder of The Indian Antiquary. He concluded that they were affiliated with both Buddhism and Jainism. According to Burgess these caves were initially built for Buddhists bhikkhus and were in a later period occupied by Jain ascetics. He was not certain about the exact age of the ancient caves. One fragmentary inscription was found in Bava Pyara cave that affirms its affiliation to Jainism, because one term in that inscription is exclusively used by Jains. The inscription was read as "केवलज्ञान संप्राप्तानां जीतजरामरणानां ".[1][2]

The term kevalgyan was used exclusively by Jains. Scholar H. D. Sankalia attributes these caves to Jainism because of some auspicious symbols typical of Jainism that are depicted above the door's frame. Sankalia recorded about eleven auspicious symbols, "Nandhyavarta", "Swastika", "Darpan", "Bhadrasana", "Meen Yugal" and "Purna Ghata". Such symbols were also found on Ayagpattas from Kankali Teela Mathura. About five such symbols are found in another cave of Bava pyara Caves. These symbols are in a bad state and not recorded, although they were identified as 1.) Darpan 2.) Meen Yugal 3.) Purna Ghat 4.) Meen Yugal 5.) Darpan. On a small entrance of one of the caves in the second row at the south end are two symbols depicting Vyala figures. Burgess and Sanklia failed to notice them. According to Dhakay, on the basis of the Vyala figure, the Bava pyara cave is from the 2nd or 3rd century AD.[3] Sanklia claimed that the Chaityagrah containing cave should be at least from the 2nd century BC, and caves with symbols carving should be hailed from 2nd or 3rd century AD.

References

  1. Aspects of Jaina art and architecture, Umakant Premanand Shah, Madhusudan A. Dhaky Gujarat State Committee for the Celebration of 2500th Anniversary of Bhagavān Mahāvīra Nirvāna : distributors, L.D. Institute of Indology, 1975, page no. 75
  2. Journal of the Oriental Institute, Volume 49, page no. 83
  3. Aspects of Jaina art and architecture, Umakant Premanand Shah, Madhusudan A. Dhaky Gujarat State Committee for the Celebration of 2500th Anniversary of Bhagavān Mahāvīra Nirvāna : distributors, L.D. Institute of Indology, 1975, page no. 77–78

External links

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