Architecture Karla Caves

1 architecture

1.1 great chaitya cave

1.1.1 yavana (greek) donors


1.2 sri pulumayi
1.3 other chaityas , viharas
1.4 later imitations

architecture

path karla caves.

the karla cave complex built rocky hillside around 60 kilometres (37 mi) pune, large windows cut rock light cave interiors. caves among large numbers of similar caves excavated in sahyadri hills in 1st millennium ce. there altogether 16 caves in group, 3 of them being mahayana caves. of caves lenas, major exception being great chaitya, cave no. 8.

great chaitya cave

the main cave, called great chaitya cave, or cave no.8, features large, intricately carved chaitya, or prayer hall, dating 120 ce. largest rock-cut chaitya in india, measuring 45 metres (148 ft) long , 14 metres (46 ft) high. hall features sculptures of both males , females, animals such lions , elephants.

this great chaitya cave, largest in south asia, constructed , dedicated in 120 ce western satraps ruler nahapana.

chronology


the great chaitya, partially obscured view, in 19th century.

the great chaitya cave of karla follows, improves upon, several other chaitya caves had been built in western india under royal sponsorship. thought chronology of these chaitya caves follows: first cave 9 @ kondivite caves, cave 12 @ bhaja caves , cave 10 of ajanta caves, around 1st century bce. then, in chronological order: cave 3 @ pitalkhora, cave 1 @ kondana caves, cave 9 @ ajanta, which, more ornate designs, may have been built century later, cave 18 @ nasik caves, , cave 7 @ bedse caves, culminate final perfection of great chaitya @ karla caves.

characteristics

the chaitya follows usual pattern period, unusually large. exceptional preserving original elements in wood: prominent lateral ribs , other roof timbers, , umbrella on stupa. chaitya hall survives in rock-cut examples, these replicate in stone form of examples in wood , thatch. in rock-cut chaityas, roof timbers replicated in stone, considerable visual effect, in others actual timber used, purely aesthetic rather structural reasons. in of these cases timber has long decayed away, example in chaitya @ cave 3, kanheri caves. here, although replaced under lord curzon in 19th century, original.

r. c. majumdar quoting james fergusson explains:

ressembles christian church in arrangement; consisting of nave , side-aisles terminating in apse or semi-dome, round aisle carried... fifteen pillars on each side separate nave aisle; each pillar has tall base, octagonal shaft, , richly ornamented capital, on inner front of kneel 2 elephants, each bearing 2 figures, man , woman, 2 females, better executed such ornaments are; behind horses , tigers, each bearing single figure

an important inscription relates nahapana in great chaitya (valukura thought ancient name karla caves):

great chaitya inscription 13 of nahapana.


success!! usabhadata, son of dinaka , son-in-law of king, khaharata, kshatrapa nahapana, gave 3 hundred thousand cows, made gifts of gold , tirtha on river banasa, gave devas , bramhanas sixteen villages, @ pure tirtha prabhasa gave 8 wives brahmanas, , fed annually hundred thousand brahmanas- there has been given village of karajika support of ascetics living in caves @ valuraka without distinction of sect or origin, keep varsha.


yavana (greek) donors

left pillar no.9 of great chatya. pillar donated yavana circa 120 ce, 5 other pillars. inscription of pillar reads: dhenukakata yavanasa/ yasavadhanana[m]/ thabo dana[m] i.e. (this) pillar (is) gift of yavana yasavadhana denukakata . below: detail of word ya-va-na-sa in old brahmi script: .

there inscriptions private donors, contributed parts of great chaitya, including self-described yavana (asiatic greek or indo-greek) donors, donated 6 of pillars, although names buddhist names. account half of known dedicatory inscriptions on pillars of chaitya.

3rd pillar of left row:


(this) pillar (is) gift of yavana sihadhaya dhenukataka


4th pillar of left row:


of dhamma, yavana dhenukakata


9th pillar of left row:


(this) pillar (is) gift of yavana yasavadhana denukakata


5th pillar of right row:


pillar gift of yavana vitasamghata umehanakata


13th pillar of right row:


(this) pillar (is) gift of yavana dhamadhaya denukakata


15th pillar of right row:


(this) pillar (is) gift of yavana chulayakha dhenukakata . next inscription buddhist swastika.

the city of dhenukakata thought danahu near city of karli. said donor in inscription has vaniya-gama (a community of merchants).

the yavanas known donation of complete cave @ nasik caves (cave no.17), , donations inscriptions @ junnar caves.

sri pulumayi

inside great chaitya, facing inscription of nahapana , posterior generation, there inscription satavahana ruler sri pulumayi, is, vasishthiputra pulumavi (130-159 ce):

in seventh year of king sri pulamavi, son of vasithi, in fifth fortnight of summer, on first day, on above, maharathi somadeva son of vasithi, son of maharathi mitradeva son of kosiki, of okhalakiyas, there given community of valuraka, of valuraka caves, village taxes ordinary , extraordinary, income fixed or proportional.

other chaityas , viharas

view of hermitages.



another portion of caves.

within complex great many other carved chaityas, viharas, or dwelling places caves monks. notable feature of these caves arched entrances , vaulted interiors. names of donors inscribed on pillars in brahmi script in these caves. outside facade has intricate details carved in imitation of finished wood. central motif large horseshoe arch. there ashokan pillar @ front, closed stone facade , torana in between.

one of vihara cells bears inscription of satavahana ruler vasishthiputra pulumavi (130-159 ce).

success!! on second day of third fortnight of winter in twenty fourth year of king sri pulumavi, son of vasithi, pious gift of lay worshiper harapharana, son of setapharana, sovasaka, living in abulama, nine-celled hall, has been given universal sangha, special property of mahasamghikas, in honor of parents , securing welfare , happiness of beings. in twenty first year had been completed , ...... me budharakhita , mother ...., lay worshipper. ......a pious gift of budharakhita s mother.

later imitations

great chaitya hall @ kanheri in mumbai. late imitation of great chaitya @ karla caves.



cave 19 @ ajanta caves modeled after karla great chaitya, built in 5th century ce.

several chaitya caves built in imitation of great chaitya @ karla. case of great chaitya @ kanheri, in northern suburb in mumbai, built during reign of yajna sri satakarni (circa 150 ce). according fergusson, plan of chaitya cave @ kanheri literal copy of @ karle, architectural details show same difference in style found between cave 17 (period of nahapana circa 115 ce) , cave 3 (period of sri pulumavi, circa 170 ce) @ nasik caves.

some caves @ ajanta, such cave 19, built in 5th century ce, modeled after karla great chaitya.