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Since the 3rd century BC, India’s caves have been revered. Natural caves were the most rudimentary caves, which were utilised for various purposes by locals, including shelter and worship. Caves carved out of massive rocks eventually evolved due to their longevity compared to other materials such as wood. These constructions became more advanced and architecturally richer with time. Caves were first discovered in the western Deccan region.
The Monastery Temple Caves History
The construction of caves in India is assumed to have begun in prehistoric times. These tunnels were used by Jain and Buddhist monks as places of dwelling and worship. Initially, the caverns were uncovered in western India. Rock-cut architecture in India is more abundant and diverse than any other rock structure observed around the world. Cave architecture thrived in both North and South India. Both monarchs and citizens were patrons of these monuments. Individual contributions were significantly more important in the development of cave buildings. Because these monuments pertain to Jainism, Buddhism, Vaishnavism, and Shaivism, the cavern architecture of India crosses religious borders. These aren’t restricted to any one religion. The Mauryans were cave masters and regarded as the progenitors of rock-cut cave building. Some examples of these caves are Ellora Caves, monastery-temple caves, Viharas, and Chaityas of Buddhists.
Different Types of Cave Architectures in India
1. Stone-Age Caves
India’s earliest caves date back to the Stone Age. Many caves have also been discovered in the Himalayas, Vindhyas, and the Western Ghats. The best example is the Bhimbetka caves in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district. Natural caves of this age exist, and humans did not hack these. These caverns are plain, with no decorations. They’re almost back to their original state. The caverns’ value is negligible as a result of their construction.
2. Mauryan Age Caves
Artificial and man-made caverns made their first appearance during the Mauryan Age. During the reign of the emperor Ashoka and his grandson Dasharatha, these caves were carved out. During Ashoka’s rule, four caverns were carved in the Barabar hills, while three caves were carved during Dashratha’s reign in the Nagarjuni hills. Gopi Cave, Vapiya Cave, and Vadidhi Caverns are among the caves found in the Nagarjuni Hills. Simple, rectangle rock-cut halls make up these caverns. In certain cavern architecture, the roof and doorway are semi-circular. There are 21 rooms in these caverns. Both the back and front chambers are available. The monks used the back chamber for residential purposes, while the front half was used for religious gatherings. The inside walls and roofs have been polished. The polish of the Ashokan pillar is remarkably similar to this finish.
3. Caves in Eastern India
Cave architecture thrived in Odisha, in Eastern India. The Khandagiri-Udayagiri hills near Bhuvneshwar include a considerable number of caves. During King Kharavela (193 BC–170 BC), several caves were carved out. These caves are associated with Jainism. These monastery-temple caves can be found in the form of Viharas and chaityas. Chaitya refers to a place of worship, while Vihara refers to a monk’s home. Viharas served as educational institutes as well.
Cave Architecture During the Gupta Age
During the Gupta period, cave building remained popular. Ajanta, Udaigiri, Bagha, and Mandargiri all have monastery-temple caves of this period. Ajanta Caves 16, 17, and 19 were carved during this period. Bagha is situated in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district. This location has nine caverns. These were carved during the Gupta period. These caves are Buddhist. The Udayagiri caves are in Madhya Pradesh, near Vidisha. These caverns are associated with Vaishnavism and Shaivism. At the entrance to various Udayagiri caves, huge pictures of Vishnu can be found. The Mandar caves are situated in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district. These monastery temple caves are associated with Jainism.
Cave architecture Post Gupta and Early Medieval Age
Ellora Caves
Ellora caves have a total of 34 caves. Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism are all represented in these caverns. The Buddhists own caves 1 through 12. Hinduism is characterised by caves 13 through 29. Jainism is represented by caves 30 to 34. These were carved between 600 and 1000 AD. These cover a distance of roughly 2 kilometres. As caverns belonging to all three faiths were cut simultaneously, the Ellora caves are the best illustration of religious tolerance and a liberal progressive viewpoint in ancient India. Ellora Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Maharashtra, India, and one of the world’s greatest rock-cut monastery-temple cave complexes. The location features Buddhist monuments and artwork. Many representations of Vajrayana Buddhism can be found in Buddhist caves. Buddhist caves are large, with one, two, and three stories. The excavated dual-story caverns can also be found in Ajanta, but the triple-story caves in Ellora are a one-of-a-kind achievement. On the descending side of the hill, Ellora cave shrines were hollowed out. As a result, most temples have courtyards.
Ajanta Caves
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Ajanta Caves, known for their ancient Buddhist paintings. The Ajanta Caves are found in Maharashtra, India, in the Aurangabad district. The site contains 29 Buddhist cavern monuments dug out of rocks from the 2nd century BCE to roughly 480 or 650 CE and features brilliant rock-cut sculptures and murals.
The Monastery Temple Caves History
The construction of caves in India is assumed to have begun in prehistoric times. These tunnels were used by Jain and Buddhist monks as places of dwelling and worship. Initially, the caverns were uncovered in western India. Rock-cut architecture in India is more abundant and diverse than any other rock structure observed around the world. Cave architecture thrived in both North and South India. Both monarchs and citizens were patrons of these monuments. Individual contributions were significantly more important in the development of cave buildings. Because these monuments pertain to Jainism, Buddhism, Vaishnavism, and Shaivism, the cavern architecture of India crosses religious borders. These aren’t restricted to any one religion. The Mauryans were cave masters and regarded as the progenitors of rock-cut cave building. Some examples of these caves are Ellora Caves, monastery-temple caves, Viharas, and Chaityas of Buddhists.
Conclusions
These caverns from medieval and ancient times provide a glimpse of many architectural styles from various religions and periods. The caves’ motifs, relics, sculptures, and murals not only provide us with a wealth of information about ancient times. They give us an impression of various customs, traditions, and lifestyles the inhabitants follow. But they also demonstrate great structural artistry and engineering accomplishments, attracting thousands of architectural enthusiasts and tourists throughout the year.
