BHAJA CAVES

Dr.Sadashiv Devkar
Assist. Professore
Dept Of A.I.H.C & Archaeology
PAH, Sholapur University, Solapur
 INTRODUCTION

• BHAJA CAVES
- HIGH-WATER MARK OF BUDDHIST
ARCHITECTURE

•LOCATION
-12 FROM LONAVLA STATION
- NORTH-EAST

•BUILT IN: 160 B.C.

• As structures excavated in stone were the
most durable, rock cut architecture came
to the fore in India during the reign of
Emperor Ashoka who was looking for a
lasting medium to commemorate and
spread the teachings of Buddha.
• The style of architecture turned out to be
especially suited to the Sahayadri ranges,
as the hills were composed of alternating
horizontal strata of harder and softer
volcanic trap rock making excavation
easy.
• There are about 1000 rock cut caves
in Western India, a large number of which
are around Lonavala.
• Bhaja (18°44’ N; 73°29’ E) is one to the
important Buddhist centres of Hinayana
faith in Maharashtra.
• The group consists of 22 excavations
and located on a hill near Bhaja village,
Maval Taluka in district Pune.
• The importance of Bhaja is further
enhanced by the presence of two more
monastic complexes namely Bedsa and
Karla.
• All the caves are belonging to the
Hinayana phase and are datable from
3rd century BC to 2nd century AD.
• There are eighteen caves in total and each other of them
is adorned with magnificently chiseled images of Lord
Buddha with different postures.
•  Also embellishing the Bhaja caves are the images of some
animals and situations of some of the Buddhist tales.
• The twelfth cave, also the biggest one, comprises of a
prayer hall and boasts of splendid ancient Buddhist
architecture.
• In the last cave is a 'Dancing couple' structure, a must see
attraction of Bhaja.
• One of the oldest caves in India, Bhaja Caves comprises
of a number of Viharas, which are mainly used as hostels
for the Buddhist monks being taught there.
• Last , are the amazing stupas inside as well as outside the
caves. 
• The excavations here consist
of chaityagrhas, viharas and po
dhis.
• The most prominent is
the chaityagrha. It is
considered to be the earliest of
its kind and a close copy of
wooden proto type.
• On plan it consist of a large
apsidal hall measuring 17.08 m
in length and 8.13 m in width.
• However the group was under
occupation as attested from
some of the painted Buddha
images in the chaityagrha.
• The hall is divided into a
central nave and side aisles by
27 pillars in tow straight road
which meats in a semi circle at
the back.
• The ceiling of the nave is
vaulted and original wooden
beams are fixed.
• The pillars are plain octagons
and they taper inwards.
• The inward slope of pillars is
required in a wooden
structure to cope up with the
outward thrust from the top
• A stupa is placed at the back measuring
3.45 m in diameter for worship.
• The stupa has a prominent
hemispherical dome on a cylindrical
drum crowned by a railing pattern
(harmika) and provision of hole for a top
for inserting a wooden umbrella.
• At present, the entrance of the hall is
completely open.
• The evidence of mortise holes
indicates the presence of a wooden
façade below the chaitya arch and
also wooden screen of the chaitya
window.
• The façade of the chaityagrha is
highly decorated and present a true
replica of a 2nd century B.C.
wooden architecture.
• On either side of the central arch
are series of miniature chaitya
arches over railing patterns.
• Cave 18 is a monastery and consists
of a rectangular hall with a front
pillared verandah.
• The hall has two cells each on the
back and right side, while on the left
side is a bench.
• Unlike the pillars of
the chaityagrha the pillars have
square base and top with octagonal
shape at the middle.
• Two doors from the verandah lead
to the hall; they are flanked by
lavishly bejeweled dvarapalas.
• The verandah of this monastery has
two famous sculptural reliefs which are
most important.
• One depicts a royal personage attended
by two women, driving in a chariot
driven by four horses, which tramples
on a demonish figure.
• The person in royal attire has been
identified by some as Sun god Surya.
• To the left of the door is depicted a
person driving an elephant carrying
an ankusa(elephant goad), with
attendants carrying a banner and spear.
The figure has been identified by some
as Indra
• Apart from Cave 18, which is highly decorative and
elaborate, the group of Caves at Bhaja has other
monasteries of simple type, halls with verandah, the
former having cells, on one, two or three sides.
• Some exceptions are also noticeable, like the ones with a
circular cell and a stupa inside; circular cell with oblong
verandah etc.
• One irregular excavation is identified as a cemetery,
which has fourteen rock-cut stupas, some inscribed with
the name of sthaviras.
THANK YOU