CAVE ARCHITECTURE

The Cave Architecture In India is assumed to have begun during ancient times. These caves were
mostly used by the Buddhist and the Jain monks as the places of worship and residence. The caves
were excavated in the western India. Cave architecture in ancient India was a product of the socio
religious conditions prevailing in that time of period. The cave Architecture is important from the
perspective of UPSC IAS Examination which falls under the General Studies Paper 1 and particularly
in the Art and Culture section and Ancient Indian History.

Cave Architecture In Ancient India:

India’s cave architecture is assumed to have started in ancient times. Generally Buddhist and Jain
monks used these caves as places of worship and the residence. The caves were discovered in the
western India. The Maurya’s were the masters of the cave architecture and are credited as being the
forefathers of the rock-cut cave architecture.

History & Origin of Cave Architecture:

Caves in India have been regarded with reverence since time immemorial. The most primitive caves
were the natural ones that were used for different reasons by natives of such areas as places of worship
and shelters.
  Facts supported by data indicate employment and modifications of such caves since the
Mesolithic period (6000 BC).
 Rock-cut designs carved on overhanging rocks form the early examples of architectural
craftsmanship of human being on such structures.
 The arrival of Buddhist missionaries saw use of such natural caves as Varsha vasa - that is
places of dwelling during rainy season - and also as temples thus enabling them to lead a
monastic life in accordance with the aesthetic nature of Buddhism. 

Caves excavated out of colossal rocks gradually evolved because of their durability in comparison to
other construction material such as wood and with time these structures became more enhanced and
richer architecturally.

 The western Deccan region saw initial excavation of caves. The region has the early cave
temples predominantly Buddhist shrines and monasteries that trace back between 100 BC and
170 AD.
 Many Jain cave basadi that is shrines and temples also form early example of rock cut
architecture.
 The Barabar caves located in the Jehanabad district in the state of Bihar, India, are the oldest
surviving caves in India showcasing rock-cut architecture. Rock-cut Hindu and Buddhist
sculptures can be seen in these caves many of which dates back to around the 3rd century BC
during the reign of the Maurya Empire (322–185 BCE).

Some of the other earliest cave temples reflecting cave architecture are situated in the state of
Maharashtra, India, including the 2nd century BC Bhaja Caves, the 1st century BC

 Bedse or Bedsa Caves,

 the Karla or Karle Caves dating back between 2nd century BC to 5th century AD,
 the 1st century BCE to 10th century CE developed Kanheri Caves and
 some of the Ajanta Caves tracing back between 2nd century BCE to around 480 or 650
CE.

Types of caves:
Buddhist Caves
Some of the finest instances of Cave Architecture are found in the ancient Buddhist caves, and the
greater chunk of around 1200 existing cave temples is Buddhist. The earliest caves comprising cave
temples associated with Buddhism include the Karla Caves, the Bhaja Caves, the Kanheri Caves, the
Ajanta Caves, and the Bedsa Caves.

Hindu Caves

The Hindu caves located in different places across India are extensions of Buddhist Cave Architecture
with certain alterations in design and architecture suiting the Hindu customs and traditions. The
structures depict the themes from great Hindu epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The most
famous features of Hindu Cave Architecture are the existence of the Ratha (chariot) and mandapa, which
developed during the Dravidian period.

Jain Caves
The Jain caves situated in different sites across the Indian subcontinent marked the end of Cave
Architecture. The extremely embellished sculptures of these caves show the tales of Tirthankaras of the
Jain Pantheon. Elaborately painted ceilings can also be found in Sittanavasal in Tamil Nadu and Ellora in
Maharashtra.

Cave Architecture In Ancient India

India’s cave architecture is assumed to have started in ancient times. Generally Buddhist and Jain monks
used these caves as places of worship and the residence. The caves were discovered in the western India.
The Maurya were the masters of the cave architecture and are credited as being the forefathers of the
rock-cut cave architecture

1. Ajanta Caves

1) The Ajanta Caves are a group of rock-cut caves located near Aurangabad, Maharashtra between the
Sahyadri ranges on the Waghora river.

2) These caves were accidentally discovered by the British Officer while hunting a tiger in 1819 AD.
3) The Ajanta Cave consists of the 29 Caves, 25 among them are Viharas which are also known as
residence caves and 4 of them are used as Chaitya that is known as prayer halls.

4) The caves were built during the Hinayana period of Buddhism while the 24 were built during the
Mahayana period.

5) The Chaityas were used by the Buddhist monks as sites of prayer. It contained a pillar hall with stupa
at the centre.

6) The Ajanta Caves were constructed between 200 BC and 658 AD.

7) The caves were inscribed by the Buddhist monks under the patronage of the vakataka kings.

8) The paintings in the caves are painted with Fresco and they exhibit a high level of naturalism. The
colours used in the paintings were made from local plants and Minerals.

9) The outline of the painting was in red colour and the inside were painted hereafter. The most
remarkable element in the painting is the absence of blue colour.

10) The paintings depicted the Buddhism theme including Buddha’s life and Jataka stories.

11) The caves find mention in the travel journals of Chinese Buddhist Pilgrims Fa Hien and Hieun
Tsang.

12) The Ajanta Caves are declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

2. Ellora Caves
a) The Ellora Caves are located in the state of Maharashtra. It is also known as Verun Leni.

b) These caves were carved out in the 5th century onwards. They are rock cut Caves.

c) It is famous for the Kailash Temple which is the largest Monolithic excavation in the world. The
Kailash temple was built by Krishna I.

d) Indra Sabha and Jagannatha are the Jain temples present in Ellora. These caves form part of the
Sahyadri ranges of the Western Ghats.

e) It consists of 34 caves of which 17 relates to Brahmanical faith, 12 Buddhist and 5 Jains. Unlike
the Ajanta Caves, all the faiths, i.e., Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism are represented in the Ellora
Caves.
f) There is a presence of a double storey case at Ellora. Also, triple storey caves can be seen.

3. Elephanta Caves

a. The Elephanta Caves date back to the 8th century.

b. The caves were carved out from solid basalt rock.

c. These caves were originally a Buddhist site but later it was dominated by
the Shaivite faith.

d. They were contemporary of the Ellora Caves.

e. They are known for the sculpture particularly the Trimurti figure of Shiva as
well as Ravana shaking the Kailash, Tandav dance of Shiva,
Ardhanarishvara and other notable sculptures.

f. The caves were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

4. Barabar Caves

The Barabar Caves include a cluster of 4 Caves:

a. The caves were built for the ajivika sect.

 b. The cave is linked to all the major religions of the time including
Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.

5. The Bagh caves

a) The Bagh caves date back to the 6 century AD.

b) The caves were constructed on the banks of the Bagh river in Madhya Pradesh.

c) The Caves are similar to the architecture of the Ajanta Caves. They are earthlier and
more human than those at Ajanta.

d) These were executed in tempera.

e) These paintings are materialistic rather than spiritualistic. Unfortunately, their

condition is now such that they can only be appreciated at the site.

6. Junagadh Caves
 a. Junagarh caves are located in the Junagadh region of Gujarat.

b. These are Buddhist Caves.

c. That is the presence of a 30-50 ft high fortress called the upper court
in front of the prayer hall.

7. Nashik Caves

a. The Nashik Caves date back to the first century AD.

b. The caves were constructed during the hinayana period however the Maharana influence can be seen in
the later period

c. . The caves series of 24 Buddhist Caves.

d. The caves are also referred to as Pandav Leni.

e. There is a remarkable water management system which is evident from the presence of a water tank

covered out of a solid rock

8. Mandapeshwar Caves

a. The Mandapeshwar cave is also referred to as the Mount Perier cave.

b. The caves are located in Borivali near Mumbai and were built during the late Gupta
period.

c. It was initially a Brahmanical cave which later got transformed into a Christian cave.
 d. Sculptures of Nataraja, Ardhanariswari can be seen in the ruins of the Caves

9. Karle Caves
a. Karle caves were built around the beginning of the Christian era.

b. The cave pattern is similar to the art of the Bhaja Caves though they are much larger
and spectacular.

c. The Chaitya Karle cave is dug deep into the rock and is located to the North of the
Bombay Pune Highway.

d. The Great Chaitya (cave number 8) is India’s largest Rock cut chaitya.

10. Sudama Caves

a. The Sudama cave represents the earliest example of rock cut architecture in
India.

b. The caves belong to the Maurya period.

c. The cave we dedicated by Ashoka in 261 BC.

d. ` It consists of a rectangular chamber connected to the circular chamber.

Significance of Cave Architecture

These caves of ancient and medieval ages give us a glance of different architectural styles of different
periods and religions. The relics, motifs, murals and sculptures of the caves not only enlighten us with a
lot of information of those ancient times giving us an impression of various traditions, customs and
lifestyles followed by the inhabitants but also illustrate considerable accomplishment with regard to
structural engineering and artistry of those times thus attracting thousands of tourists and architectural
enthusiasts round the year.

Conclusion: