Barabar Caves

Barabar Caves

Barabar Caves, staircase and cave entrance
Location in Bihar, India
Alternate name Barābār, Satgharva, Satgharwa
Location Jehanabad district, Bihar, India
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
Type Caves
Part of Barabar and Nagarjuni hills
History
Founded 322–185 BCE

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 Makhdumpur region of Jehanabad district, Bihar, India, 24 km (15 mi) 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 (0.99 mi)-distant Nagarjuni Hill are sometimes singled out as the Nagarjuni Caves. These rock-cut chambers date back to the 3rd century BCE, Maurya period,[2] of Ashoka (reigned 273–232 BCE) and his grandson, Dasharatha 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 were featured – located in a fictitious Marabar – in the book A Passage to India by English author E. M. Forster.[6] These were also shown in the book The Mahabharata Secret by Indian author Christopher C. Doyle.

Caves at Barabar Hill

Barabar Hill contains four caves: Karan Chaupar, Lomas Rishi, Sudama and Visva Zopri. Sudama and Lomas Rishi are the earliest examples of rock-cut architecture in India,[2][7] with architectural detailing made in the Mauryan period. Similar examples include the larger Buddhist Chaitya, found in Maharashtra, such as in Ajanta and Karla Caves. The Barabar caves greatly influenced the tradition of South Asian rock-cut architecture.[3] In addition, the Barabar caves have large arches which are few in ancient history.

Barabar Caves

Nagarjuni Caves

The nearby caves of Nagarjuna are smaller and younger than the Barabar caves.[11] The three caves are:

See also

Further reading

References

  1. 1 2 Culture of peace Frontline, Volume 25 – Issue 18 :: 30 August – 12 September 2008.
  2. 1 2 "Sculptured doorway, Lomas Rishi cave, Barabar, Gya". www.bl.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Entrance to one of the Barabar Hill caves". www.bl.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  4. ↑ Barabar Hills: Where the Buddhist Emperor Ashoka built caves for the Ajivakas www.buddhanet.net.
  5. ↑ "Rock sculptures at Barabar". www.bl.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  6. ↑ Bradshaw, David (12 April 2007). The Cambridge Companion to E. M. Forster. Cambridge University Press. pp. 188–. ISBN 978-0-521-83475-9.
  7. ↑ Architectural history www.indian-architecture.info. Archived 2008-09-14 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ "Part of the elephant frieze over the doorway at the Barabar caves. 1790". www.bl.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  9. ↑ "Sudama [and] Lomas Rishi Caves at Barabar [Hills], Gya". www.bl.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  10. ↑ "Rocky outcrop with Karna Chowpar cave, Barabar Hills.". www.bl.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  11. ↑ Barabar and Nagarjuna Caves
  12. ↑ "Gopi & Kalpi caves, Barabar, Gaya.". www.bl.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barabar Caves.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.