Nasik Caves - Knowledge

1682:" Success ! Order of the king, to be made over to Samaka, the officer at Govadhana, In the name of the king Satakani Gotamiputa and of the king's queen mother whose son is living, Samaka, the officer at Govadhana, shall be addressed with the usual civility and then shall be told thus: " We have here on mount Tiranhu formerly given to the mendicant ascetics dwelling in the cave which is a pious gift of ours, a field in the village of Kakhadi; but this field is not tilled, nor is the village inhabited. Matters being so, that royal village of ours, which is now here on the limit of the town, from that field we give to the mendicant ascetics of Tiranhu one hundred -100 - nivartanas of land, and to that field we grant immunity, (making it) not to be entered (by royal officers), not to be touched (by any of them), not to be dug for salt, not to be interfered with by the district police, and (in short) to enjoy ail kinds of immunities; invest it with those immunities, and take care that the donation of the field and the immunities are duly registered." Verbally ordered ; the deed written down by Lota, the door-keeper; (the charter) executed by Sujivin in the year 24, in the 4th fortnight of the rainy season, on the fifth -5th- day. The donation had been made in the year 24, in the 2nd fortnight of summer, on the 10th day." 1052: 1569:

village of Samalipada, .......by the Maha-Aryaka, you must deliver to be owned by the Bhikshus of the school of the Bhadayaniyas dwelling in the Queen's Cave, to produce a perpetual rent for the care of the cave meritoriously excavated; and to this village of Samalipada we grant the immunity belonging to monk's land, (making it) not to be entered (by royal officers), not to be touched (by any of them), not to be dug for salt, not to be interfered with by the district police, (in short) to enjoy all kinds of immunities. With all these immunities you must invest it; and this donation of the village of Samalipada and the immunities take care to have registered here at Sudasana. And by the (officers) entrusted with the abrogation of the (previous) donation of the Sudasana village it has been ordered. Written by the Mahdsendpati Medhnna ....., kept (?) by the ....... of deeds (?). The deed was delivered in the year 22, the 7th day of the . . fortnight of summer; executed by .... . (?). With a view for the well-being of the inhabitants of Govadhana, Vinhupala proclaims the praise of the Lord: Obeisance to the Being exalted in perfection and majesty, the excellent Jina, the Buddha."

2270: 1394: 2782: 838: 3628: 2640: 3215: 3795: 3933: 3921: 3819: 3831: 2150: 2086: 1185: 2456: 1639:, - two hundred - 200 - nivartanas, - that our field - two hundred - 200 - nivartanas - we confer on those Tekirasi ascetics; and to that field we grant immunity, (making it) not to be entered (by royal officers), not to be touched (by any of them), not to be dug for salt, not to be interfered with by the district police, and (in short) to enjoy all kinds of immunities; with those immunities invest it; and this field and these immunities take care to have registered here. Verbally ordered; written down by the officer Sivaguta; kept by the Mahasamiyas. The deed was delivered in the 18th year, on the 1st day of the 2nd fortnight of the rainy season; executed by Tapasa." 1225: 2806: 2652: 3187: 3843: 1762: 2554: 1173: 1017: 826: 1002: 732: 814: 708: 2530: 1880: 802: 696: 1197: 978: 3687: 3909: 720: 2542: 1211: 2518: 2853: 1386: 962: 1750: 1738: 1726: 2616: 1716:, with bell-shaped capitals, surmounted by elephants with small drivers and female riders. There has also been a plain doorway and two grated windows leading into the cave, but only the heads of them remain. From the unusual height and the chisel marks in the lower part, apparently recent, it seems as if the floor of this cave had been cut away into a cistern below it. Indeed, when the cave ceased to be used as a monastery, from the breaking through of the floor into the water cistern below, the floor seems to have been quite hewn out to form a cistern. This seems to have been done in many cases here. 990: 3163: 2420: 2444: 1072: 3199: 2138: 1868: 1856: 1161: 2432: 3640: 2821: 2794: 2074: 2062: 1621: 1892: 1805: 2408: 3652: 2628: 82: 2050: 858: 3616: 3229: 3855: 1924: 1912: 2566: 3807: 1237: 2833: 50: 3711: 2332:, Dedapura, Govardhana and Sorparaga has given the shelter of quadrangular rest-houses, who has made wells, tanks, and gardens, who has out of charity established free ferries by boats on the Iba, Parada, Damana, Tapi, Karabena and Dahanuka, and erected on both banks of these rivers shelters for meeting and such for gratuitous distribution of water, who has given thirty-two-thousand stems of coconut trees at the village Nanamgola to the congregation of Charakas at Pimditakvada, Govardhana, Suvarnamukha and the Ramatirtha in Sorparaga, 3134:, 25 feet 4 inches by 10 feet, and 23 feet 3 inches high. The cylinder of the dagoba is 5.5 feet in diameter and 6 feet 3 inches high, surmounted by a small dome and very heavy capital. The gallery under the great arch of the window is supported by two pillars, which in all cases in the Chaitya caves are in such a form as strongly to suggest that a wooden frame was fastened between them, probably to hold a screen, which would effectually shut in the nave from observation from outside. Five octagonal pillars, with high bases of the 3507: 3467: 2739:

capitals, the latter surmounted by elephants and their riders, and the frieze above carved with the plain "rail pattern". They stand on a paneled base; but the landing between the central pair is opposite the left window in the back wall of the veranda, to the right of which is the principal door, but to the left of the window is also a narrower one. The veranda has then been prolonged to the west, and another door broken out to the outside beyond the right attached pillar; at this end of the veranda also is an unfinished cell.

3897: 3439: 1272: 1051: 2730:. The shrine has never been finished. On the wall of the back aisle is a standing figure of Buddha, 3.5 feet high; in the left side of the hall, 2 feet 3 inches from the floor, is a recess, 18.5 feet long and 4 feet 3 inches high by 2 feet deep, intended for a seat or perhaps for a row of metallic images; a cell has been attempted at each end of this, but one of them has entered the aisle of the Chaitya-cave just below, and the work has then been stopped. On the right side are four cells without benches. 2109: 1249: 3295: 2770: 2866: 1829: 3241: 3175: 3022: 1675: 1613: 1549: 3699: 3451: 2506: 89: 57: 2604: 2876: 3427: 1817: 549: 2100: 3965: 3783: 192: 3010: 3487: 2681: 33: 592: 3499: 3879:'s house, the lower part of which has all been quarried away. It probably consisted of a veranda with two small chambers at the back. The frieze is still pretty entire, and whilst preserving the copies of wooden forms, it is ornamented with a string of animal figures as in that of Cave 1; the ends of the projecting beams represented as bearing it, are carved with conventionalized forms of the Buddhist 3527:

discussing, is impossible to say. On the right-hand side, and nearer the front, are three small circular elevations in the floor much like ordinary millstones. They may be seats also for members of the clergy, or bases on which to set small moveable dagobas. But when the cave was altered and extended backward, the floor seems also to have been lowered a few inches to form the low dais and these bases.

584: 2871: 2881: 1595:, builder of Cave No.10, thereby confirming the capture of territory by the Satavahanas over the Western Satraps. Since his mother made the final dedication of the cave during the reign of his son (inscription No.2 above), Gautamiputra Satakarni may have started the cave, but not finished it. The inscription is on the east wall of the veranda in Cave No. 3, under the ceiling. 3491: 3347:, 14 feet 3 inches square, with six cells, two on each side; their doors are surmounted by the Chaitya-arch ornament connected by a frieze of "rail pattern" in some places wavy. In the front wall are two lattice windows, and in the veranda two slender square pillars, the middle portion of the shaft being chamfered to an octagonal shape. 3106:, with which it consequently is in all probability coeval (1st century CE). The carving over the doorway, which represents the wooden framework which filled all openings, of a similar class, at that age, is of a much more ornamental character than usual, or than the others shown on this facade. Animals are introduced as in the 2269: 1443:

broad and long as the folds of the lord of serpents; whose fearless hand was wet by the water poured out to impart fearlessness; of unchecked obedience towards his mother; who properly devised time and place for the pursuit of the triple object (of human activity); who sympathised fully with the weal and woe of the citizens;

3561:(170-199 CE), stating that "after having been under excavation for many years " it was then carried to completion by the wife of the commander-in-chief. It is quite clear, however, that the inner and outer parts were excavated at widely different ages. This inscriptions shows, as the inscriptions of Yajna Sri Satakarni in 628:

in its representing a brilliant phase in the Rock-Cut architecture of the second century CE. There are altogether 24 excavations though many of these are small & less important. Beginning at the east end they may conveniently be numbered westward. They are almost entirely of an early date and were excavated by the

1421:, in the second -2nd- fortnight of summer, on the thirteenth -13th- day, the great queen Gotami Balasiri, delighting in truth, charity, patience and respect for life; bent on penance, self-control, restraint and abstinence; fully working out the type of a royal Rishi's wife; the mother of the king of kings, Siri- 3037:

Chaitya, although earlier and much smaller and simpler in design. It is the only Chaitya cave of the group, belongs to a much earlier date; and though none of the three inscriptions on it supplies certain information on this point, yet the name of Maha Hakusiri, found in one of them, tends to push it

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The cave is later than the Chaitya next it, and the veranda a little later in style than the Nahapana Cave No.10. The interior with an image of the Buddha, was probably executed at a later date, around the 6th century CE. Fergusson states later in his book that, from an architectural standpoint, Cave

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cave. The hall measures 22 feet 10 inches wide by 32 feet 2 inches deep, and has a back aisle screened off by two columns, of which the elephants and their riders and the thin square members of the capitals only are finished. The steps of the shrine door have also been left as a rough block, on which

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Cave No.23 is a large, nondescript, irregular cave, about 30 feet deep, with three shrines. To judge from the holes in the floor and roof it might be supposed that the front and partitions in it had been of wood; the whole façade, however, is destroyed. In front are several cisterns; on the floor is

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In the shrine, too, is the colossal image of Buddha, 10 feet high, seated with his feet on a lotus flower and holding the little finger of his left hand between the thumb and forefinger of his right. He is attended by two gigantic chauri-bearer with the same distinguishing features as the dvarapala.

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type of cave, meant to provide shelter to Buddhist monks. It is, with cave No10, the largest Vihara cave in the Pandavleni Caves complex. The hall is 41 feet wide and 46 deep, with a bench round three sides. The cave has six pillars on the front porch, roughly similar to those of the early cave No10

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The group of 24 caves was cut in a long line on the north face of a hill called Trirasmi. The main interest of this group lies not only in its bearing on its walls a number of inscriptions of great historical significance belonging to the reign of Satavahana & Kshaharatas or Kshatrapas. But also

619:. It seems there was always a conflict between Satavahanas and the Kshatrapas over supremacy. However, all the 3 kings fully supported Buddhism. The inscriptions also confirm that apart from the kings, local merchants, landlords too supported and donated huge sums for the development of these caves. 603:

The caves were called Pundru which in Pali language means "yellow ochre color". This is because the caves were the residence of Buddhist monks who wore "the chivara or the yellow robes". Later on, the word Pundru changed to Pandu Caves (as per Ancient Monuments Act 26 May 1909). Decades later people

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The caves are located high in the mountains of Trirashmi. Some caves are intricately connected by stone-cut ladders that join them to the other caves. Steps lead to the caves from the bottom of the hill. The peak of the Trirashmi Caves is also accessible by trekking of about 20 mins but the path is

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The façade has four octagonal pillars between antae, the shafts more slender than in any of the other caves, but the bases of the same pattern disproportionately large, as if the shafts had been reduced in thickness at a later date. They stand on a paneled base, with five low steps up to it between

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Cave No.11 is close to Cave No.10, but at a somewhat higher level. In the left end of the veranda is the fragment of a seat; the room inside is 11 feet 7 inches by 7 feet 10 inches, having a cell, 6 feet 8 inches square, at the left end, and another, not quite so large, at the back, with a bench at

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and grandmother of a Maharaja, gives to the Sangha of monks in the person of the fraternity of the Bhadavaniyas; and for the sake of the embellishment of that cave, with a view to honour and please the great queen his grandmother, her grandson lord of patha, making over the merit of the gift to his

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The hall is surrounded by a low bench as in Cave 3, and in the middle of the floor is a low platform, about 9 feet square, apparently intended for an asana or seat; but whether to place an image upon for worship, or as a "seat of the law", where the Thera or high priest might sit when teaching and

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whose face was beautiful and pure like the lotas opened by the rays of the sun; whose chargers had drunk the water of three oceans; whose face was lovely and radiant like the orb of the full moon; whose gait was beautiful like the gait of a choice elephant; whose arms were as muscular and rounded,

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and Bhimasena; liberal on festive days in unceasing festivities and assemblies; not inferior in lustre to Nabhaga, Nahusha, Janamejaya, Sagara, Yayati, Rama and Ambartsha; who, vanquishing his enemies in a way as constant as inexhaustible, unthinkable and marvelous; in battles fought by the Wind,

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The caves can be traced back up to the 1st century BCE by inscriptions recording donations. Out of the twenty-four caves, two caves are a major attraction - the main cave which is the Chaitya (prayer hall) has a beautiful Stupa; the second one is cave no. 10 which is complete in all structural as

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Cave No.20 is another large Vihara, its hall varying in width from 37.5 feet at the front to 44 feet at the back and 61.5 feet deep. Originally it was little over 40 feet deep, but at a much later date it was altered and extended back by one "Marma, a worshipper," as recorded on the wall. It has

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of that fraternity, the Bhadayaniyas dwelling in the Queen's Cave, to produce a perpetual rent for the care of the cave meritoriously excavated, - in exchange for this gift, -the village of Sudasana,- we give the village of Samalipada, here in the Govadhana district on the Eastern road; and this

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who had inherited from a long line of ancestors the privilege of kingly music; the abode of traditional lore; the refuge of the virtuous; the asylum of Fortune; the fountain of good manners; the unique controller; the unique archer; the unique hero; the unique Brahmana; in prowess equal to Kama,

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Cave No.10 by the shorter and less elegant form of the bell-shaped portion of them, and by the corners of the frame that encloses the torus having small figures attached; both alike have a series of five thin members, overlapping one another and supporting four animals on each capital, bullocks,

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the middle pair. A low screen wall in front is nearly quite destroyed, except at the east end, where a passage led to a large irregular and apparently unfinished apartment with two plain octagonal pillars with square bases between pilasters in front, and having a water-cistern at the entrance.

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The inside hall is about 43 feet wide by 45 feet deep, and is entered by three plain doors, and lighted by two windows. It has five benched cells on each side and six in the back; it wants, however, the bench round the inner sides that can be found in Cave No.3; but, as shown by the capital and

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These caves are some of the oldest in Maharashtra. Some of them are large and contain numerous chambers - these rock-cut caves served as a viharas or monasteries for the monks to meet and hear sermons. They contain interesting sculptures. One of the vihara caves is older and finer in sculptural

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The veranda is somewhat peculiar, and it would seem that, at first, a much smaller cave was projected, or else by some mistake it was begun too far to the left. It is ascended by half a-dozen steps in front between the two central octagonal pillars with very short shafts, and large bases and

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Cave No.2 is a small excavation that may have been originally a verandah, 11.5 feet by 4.25 feet, with two cells at the back; but the front wall and dividing partition have been cut away, and the walls nearly covered with sculpture, consisting of sitting and standing Buddhas with attendant

1962:; the frieze also, like those that remain on the other small caves between Nos.4 and 9, is carved with the simple rail pattern. At each end of the verandah is a cell, donated by "Dakhamitra, the daughter of King Kshaharata Kshatrapa Nahapana, and wife of Ushavadata, son of Dinika." 1466:

race; who restored the glory of the Satavahana family; whose feet were saluted by all provinces; who stopped the contamination of the four varnas; who conquered multitudes of enemies in many battles; whose victorious banner was unvanquished; whose capital was unassailable to his

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Kings. Cave No 3 is a large vihara or monastery with some interesting sculptures. Cave No 10 is also a vihara and almost identical in design to Cave No 3, but is much older and finer in detail. It is thought to be nearly as old as the Karla Cave near Lonavala. Cave No 18 is a

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The verandah has apparently had two wooden pillars, and the projecting frieze is carved with the "rail pattern", much weather worn, and apparently very old. On the remaining fragment of the back wall of the verandah, close under the roof, is a fragment of an inscription of

3145:, or a screen as at Karle, cannot be determined with certainty, unless by excavating largely among the debris in front. There was probably something of the kind, but the Viharas, inserted so close to it on either side, must have hastened the ruin of the side walls of it. 476:

of the 1st century BCE. The style of some of the elaborate pillars or columns, for example in caves 3 and 10, is an important example of the development of the form. The location of the caves is a holy Buddhist site and is located about 8 km south of the centre of

1065:'s Cave 3 (right). The capitals of Cave No.3 are "much poorer in proportion", with a "shorter and less elegant form of the bell-shaped portion, and the corners of the frame that encloses the torus having small figures attached", pointing to a later period imitation. 3260:

The cave has several inscriptions. Inscription No.19 appears on the 5th and 6th pillars on the right aisle of the Chaitya, and explains that the cave received some perfecting by the wife of a government official, but the government in question remains unnamed:

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eight cells on each side, one on the right rather a recess than a cell, two on the left with stone beds, while in the back are two cells to the left of the antechamber and one to the right, with one more on each side of the antechamber and entered from it.

689:, with four columns between pilasters in front of a narrow verandah, but they are all left square masses. A cell has been begun at each end of the verandah. The front wall has been more recently partly blasted away. There are no inscriptions in this cave. 3542:, that minor details are scarcely recognisable. These dvarapalas, however, hold lotus stalks, have the same elaborate head-dresses, with a small dagoba in the front of one, and a figure of Buddha in the other, and have the same attendants and 2349:

Thence I went to the Pokshara tanks, and there I bathed and gave three-thousand cows and a village. A field has also been given by him, bought at the hands of the Brahmana Asvibhuti, son of Varahi, for the price of four-thousand - 4,000 -

3887:, the prongs in one case being changed into cats or some similar animals; seated on the lower beam under the rock at the west end is carved an owl, and at each end of the ornamented "rail pattern" is a rider on a sort of female centaur. 1103:, with all the details of a wooden framing copied in it. The upper part of the frieze in this case is richly carved with a string course of animals under a richly carved rail, resembling in its design and elaborateness the rails at 3350:

The cave is exceedingly plain style, and the remarkable rectangularity of all its parts, agree perfectly with what might be expected in a Vihara of the first or second century BCE. Its close family likeness to Cave No.12 at

1560:, commands Sivakhandila, the officer at Govadhana: The village of Sudisana here in the Govadhana district on the Southern road, which by us, in the 19th year, on the 13th day of the 2nd fortnight of summer, , . . . . by the 793:

Between this and the next cave are a tank with two openings above it, a large scarped out place, and two decayed recesses, one of them a tank, and all along this space are blocks of rock blasted out, or fallen down from

1107:, with which this vihara must be nearly, if not quite contemporary. The pillars stand on a bench in the veranda, and in front of them is a carved screen, supported by three dwarfs on each side the steps to the entrance. 1071: 3412:

Cave No19 is located on the ground floor, to the left of the entrance of Cave No.18, and right under cave No.20. Cave No.19 has one inscription mentioning the dedication by a government officer during the rule of king

1462:; who never levied nor employed taxes but in conformity to justice; alien to hurting life even towards an offending enemy; the furtherer of the homesteads of the low as well as of the twice-born; who rooted out the 3754:

Among the many repetitions of Buddha and attendants is a small figure on the wall that cuts off the third shrine from the larger portion of the cave, of Buddha reclining on his right side as represented entering

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well inscriptions. Both the caves have pictures of Buddha over the rocks. The caves are facing eastwards. So it is recommended to visit the caves early morning as in sunlight the beauty of carvings is enhanced.

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Cave 19 is at a rather lower level even than the Chaitya cave, and some distance in advance of it, but the front and interior have been so filled up with earth as to conceal it from general view. It is a small

1299:. There is also another long inscription (inscription No.3) by Sri Pulumavi himself, also in the 22nd year of his reign. There are also inscriptions (inscriptions No.4 and No.5) at the entrance of the cave by 2586:

Cave No.15 seems to be only the inner shrines of a two-storeyed cave, the whole front of which has disappeared, and the upper is only accessible by a ladder. Both have on each of their three walls a sitting

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gateways; the side pilasters are divided into six compartments, each filled mostly with two men and a woman, in different stages of some story which seems to end in the woman being carried off by one of the

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Inscription No.10. of Ushavadata runs the length of the entrance wall, over the doors, and is here visible in parts between the pillars. The imprint was cut in 3 portions for convenience. Cave No.10, Nasik

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temples, and of which larger representations are found at Ajanta, Kholvi, and Aurangabad. All these, and the female figures of Tara, Lochana, and Mamukhi found in the shrines, clearly show that this was a

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Cave No.4 is much destroyed and full of water to a considerable depth. The frieze is at a very considerable height, and is carved with the "rail pattern". The veranda has had two octagonal pillars between

3265:"By Bhatapalika, the grand-daughter of Mahahakusiri and daughter of the royal officer Arahalaya from Chalisilana, wife of the royal officer Agiyatanaka, of the treasure office, mother of Kapananaka, this 2035:, explaining his viceroy built and donated the cave (see above in the article). This cave, from the reign of Nahapana is thus dated circa 120 CE. It is earlier than the other viharas of the reign of the 3450: 3042:. The carving, however, over the door and the pilasters with animal capitals on the façade on each side the great arch, and the insertion of the hooded snake, will, on comparison with the façades at 1439:, Anupa, Vidabha, Akaravanti; lord of the mountains Vindhya, Chhavata, Parichata, Sahya, Kanhagiri, Macha, Siritana, Malaya, Mahendra, Setagiri, Chakora; obeyed by the circle of all kings on earth; 530:

worship hall believed to be similar in date to the Karla Caves. It is well sculptured, and its elaborate facade is particularly noteworthy. The cave houses the statues of Buddha, Jain Tirthankara

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donated 3000 gold coins for this cave as well as for the food and clothing of the monks. The main inscription on the doorfront (inscription No.10) is the earliest known instance of the usage of

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a raised stone bench and a circular base as if for a small structural dagoba; and all the shrines as well as many compartments on the walls are filled with sculptures of the Buddha attended by

1488:, the Moon, the Son, the Asterisms and the Planets, (appeared to be himself) plunging into the sky from the shoulder of his choice elephant; (and) who (thus) raised his family to high fortune, 3606:. This means probably that the cave was carved during the beginning of the end of the 2nd century CE. It also shows that the Satavahanas reclaimed the area of Nasik under Sri Yajna Satakarni. 453:

word for caves), are a group of 23 caves carved between the 1st century BCE and the 3rd century CE, though additional sculptures were added up to about the 6th century, reflecting changes in

1798:. An inscription at Cave No.7 explains it is a gift by a female ascetic named Tapasini to the Samgha. Two inscriptions at Cave No.8 explain the cave is a gift by a fisherman name Mugudasa. 2354:, which (field) belonged to his father, on the boundary of the town towards the north-western side. From it food will be procured for all monks, without distinction, dwelling in my cave." 568:

The cave has images of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, sculptures representing the King, farmers, merchants and rich iconography depicting a beautiful amalgamation of Indo - Greek architecture

2860:" inscription on the back wall of the veranda, over the entrance, is about 3 meters in length (photograph and rubbing). Detail of the word "Yo-ṇa-ka-sa" (adjectival form of "Yoṇaka", 545:. The interiors of the caves were popular meeting places for the disciples, where sermons were delivered. There are water tanks that have been skilfully carved out of the solid rock. 1916: 4101:"Pandavleni Caves Tour,Pandavleni Caves Tour in India,Pandavleni Caves in India,Pandavleni Cave Temples in India,Buddhist Caves of Pandavleni,Pandavleni Caves Travel in India" 3279:

This inscription is slightly less ancient than the inscription on the doorway, suggesting that it was inscribed some time in the later phases of the construction of the cave.

2781: 2685: 862: 565:. Another (cave No. 18) is a chaitya (type of cave used for chanting and meditation). It is similar in age to some of the Karla Caves and has a particularly elaborate facade. 3594:

Cave No.20 has one large inscription, claiming that the unfinished cave was completed by the wife of a great general named Bhavagopa, during the 7th year of the rule of king

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Chaitya. Those of the sanctuary are represented, and belong to a widely distant age. Like No.17, it has a side door near the left end of the veranda, and a cell in that end.

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the side and back. In the front room is carved, on the back wall, in low relief, a sitting figure and attendants on a lion throne, and on the right-end wall a fat figure of

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The woodwork that once occupied the front arch, and the roof of the nave has long ago disappeared. Whether there ever were pillars in advance of the present facade as at

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rule in the western Deccan during the 1st century." in Guide to Monuments of India 1: Buddhist, Jain, Hindu - by George Michell, Philip H. Davies, Viking - 1989 Page 374

3686: 1116:, while those in the veranda of this cave are so much poorer in proportion, that one is tempted to suppose this belongs to a later period, when art had begun to decay. 1635:, lord of Benakataka of Govadhana, commands Vinhupalita, the officer at Govadhana: The Ajakalakiya field in the village of Western Kakhadi, previously enjoyed by 2496:

for "a garment to the ascetic residing in it during the rains". To the left is a tank, and then for thirty yards everything has been blasted and quarried away.

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The doorway is evidently of an early date, and the ornament up the left side is almost identical with that found on the pillars of the northern gateway at

1951:. The six pillars (two of them attached) have more elegant bell-shaped capitals than those in Cave No. 3, and their bases are in the style of those in the 1086:

The veranda has six octagonal columns without bases between highly sculptured pilasters. The capitals of these pillars are distinguished from those in the

3421:. King Krishna, also called Kanha, is said to have ruled in the 1st century BCE (100-70 BCE), which makes Cave No.19 one of the earliest to be excavated. 2595:

works. Beyond them, another fifty feet has been quarried away by blasting, which has been continued along the outer portion of the terrace of Cave No.17.

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Usabhdatta’s wife (Nahapana’s daughter), Dakshmitra also donated one cave for the Buddhist monks. Cave 10 - 'Nahapana Vihara' is spacious with 16 rooms.

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The details of this cave and No.10 are so alike that the one must be regarded as a copy of the other, but the capitals in No.10 are so like those of the

3086:, which, with its more ornate designs, may have been built about a century later, Only then appears Cave 18 at Nasik Caves, to be followed by Cave 7 at 2916:, a northerner from Dattamittri. By him, inspired by true religion, this cave has been caused to be excavated in mount Tiranhu, and inside the cave a 1527:

himself, in the 22nd year of his reign, and records the gift of a village for the welfare of the monks dwelling in the cave built by his grandmother.

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One of the most important Nasik Caves inscription was made by Gautamiputra's mother the great queen Gotami Balasiri, during the reign of her grandson

1804: 1991:, by whom he was finally vanquished, this cave predates by one generation Cave No. 3, completed in the 18th year of the reign of Gautamiputra's son 667:

Since the caves were inhabited by the Mahayana as well as the Hinayana sects of Buddhism, one can see a nice confluence of structural and carvings.

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Cave No.11 has one inscription mentioning it is the gift of the son of a writer: " the benefaction of Ramanaka, the son of Sivamitra, the writer."

5826: 5056: 2194:" Success ! This cell, the gift of Dakhamitra, wife of Ushavadata, son of Dinika, and daughter of king Nahapana, the Khshaharata Kshatrapa." 1979:. Outside the veranda, too, on the left-hand side, have been two reliefs of this same god, evidently the later insertions of some Hindu devotee. 49: 961: 2492:

or hermitages, with one, two, and three cells respectively. The first has an inscription of a certain Hamanaka, mentioning an endowment of 100

2014:

building of Southern Asia. Cave No. 10 and the Karla Caves Chaitya are extremely similar in style, and thought to be essentially contemporary.

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temple. The pillars in front of the entrance to the first shrine are also of a much more modern type than in any of the other caves in Nasik.

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circa 120 CE. Inside, 18 monk cells are laid out according to a square plan, seven on the right side, six in the back, and five in the left.

2639: 1657:, describes a correction to the previous inscription, as the donated lands and villages turned to be inappropriate. The inscription reads: 1393: 5831: 3543: 3539: 2805: 2407: 2591:

with the usual standing attendants, similar to what we find in Caves No.2 and 23, and in the later Ajanta Caves. These are, apparently,

2455: 4857: 4055: 3794: 420: 3932: 3920: 3818: 2324:, who causes one-hundred-thousand Brahmanas to be fed the (whole) year round, who has given eight wives to Brahmanas at the religious 5821: 4940: 4605: 2220:, son of Dinika, son-in- law of king Nahapana, the Kshaharata Kshatrapa, (...) inspired by (true) religion, in the Trirasmi hills at 4902: 2346:, and those Malayas fled at the mere roar (of my approaching) as it were, and were all made prisoners of the Uttamabhadra warriors. 1761: 3602:, after having been started by the ascetic Bopaki. There are similar inscriptions of Sri Yajna Satakarni in cave 3 and cave 81 at 1314:

of Gautamiputra Satakarni, mentioning his valour, his military victories, and then her gift of a cave in the Nasik Caves complex.

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in cave No.19 (located on the upper sill of the right window). Also called the "Krishna inscription" from the King's name in the

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Cave No.3 pillars (back view). They have no base, and "stand on a bench in the veranda, and in front of them is a carved screen".

4100: 1413:: 𑀲𑀓 𑀬𑀯𑀦 𑀧𑀮𑁆𑀳𑀯) mentioned in the Nasik cave 3 inscription of Queen Gotami Balasiri (end of line 5 of the inscription). 5836: 5101: 3830: 1351:

race" and "restored the glory of the Satavahana family". The Khakharata refers to the Kshaharata dynasty, the family branch of

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The antechamber is slightly raised above the level of the hall, from which it is divided by two richly carved columns between

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Cave 17 is the third large Vihara, though smaller than Nos.3, 10, 20, and has been executed close to the upper portion of the

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father, grants to this meritorious donation (vis. the cave) the village Pisajipadaka on the south-west side of mount Tiranhu.

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The most important passages on this inscription related to the military victories of Gautamiputra Satakarni, in particular:

837: 5861: 3286:("The gift of the village of Dhambhika, of the Nasik people"). Inscription No.21 records the donation of the rail pattern. 3168:

Exterior of cave No.18. Cave No.17 is visible on the right, cave No.20 on the left, and a corner of cave No,19 bottom left.

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caves complex. It was built and dedicated to the Samgha in the 2nd century CE by Queen Gotami Balasiri, mother of deceased

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The site has an excellent ancient water management system and skillfully chiseled out of solid rock are several attractive

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pattern but without capitals, on each side the nave, and five without bases round the dagoba, divide off the side aisles.

5856: 5049: 3842: 2908:) Dharmadeva. It is located on the back wall of the veranda, over the main entrance, and is inscribed in large letters: 2541: 5841: 4802: 3740:

such as has only been seen in the two shrines high up on the scarp at Caves No.14 and 15, but so like what is found at

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under royal sponsorship. It is thought that the chronology of these early Chaitya Caves is as follows: first Cave 9 at

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Cave No.12 has one inscription mentioning it is the gift of a merchant named Ramanaka. Cave No.13 has no inscriptions.

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World Heritage Monuments and Related Edifices in India, Volume 1 ʻAlī Jāvīd, Tabassum Javeed, Algora Publishing, 2008

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inspired by (true) religion, in the Trirasmi hills at Govardhana, has caused this cave to be made and these cisterns.

1749: 1737: 1224: 1016: 937:, it will be found very much ruder and less bold, but the style of headdress agrees with that on the screen walls at 4378:

Southern India: A Guide to Monuments Sites & Museums, by George Michell, Roli Books Private Limited, 1 mai 2013

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Cave No.1: except the ornamental frieze over the front, no part of this cave is finished; it has been planned for a

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Inscriptions in caves 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19 and 20 are legible. Other inscriptions note the names Bhattapalika,

5801: 5671: 3908: 2419: 1001: 3186: 2565: 2431: 1210: 813: 707: 2752:, but is actually a bit earlier in style than Cave No.10 of Nahapana at Nasik, but at no great interval of time. 2132: 3806: 3710: 3329:"Under King Kanha of the Satavahana family this cave has been caused to be made by the officer in charge of the 3198: 1725: 1498:, (this) cave to be made quite equal to the divine mansions (there). And that cave the great queen, mother of a 977: 5846: 5727: 5042: 4975: 4961: 4647: 4410:

Indian Epigraphy: A Guide to the Study of Inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and the Other Indo-Aryan Languages

825: 413: 2505: 2149: 1867: 1855: 1196: 1160: 731: 5811: 5182: 3538:, 9.5 feet high, with an attendant female, but so besmeared with soot for the cave has been long occupied by 933:, or doorkeeper, holding up a bunch of flowers. If the carving on this door be compared with any of those at 2793: 1891: 719: 5806: 5542: 3378:𑀲𑀸𑀤𑀯𑀸𑀳𑀦𑀓𑀼𑀮𑁂 𑀓𑀦𑁆𑀳𑁂 𑀭𑀸𑀚𑀺𑀦𑀺 𑀦𑀸𑀲𑀺𑀓𑁂𑀦 𑀲𑀫𑀡𑁂𑀦 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑁂𑀡 𑀮𑁂𑀡 𑀓𑀸𑀭𑀺𑀢 632:

sect. Mostly, the interior of the caves are starkly plain, in contrast to the heavily ornamented exterior.

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Inscription No.20 explains that the decoration above the doorway was a donation of the people of nearby

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The next inscription of the cave is very important in that it seems to record the appropriation by king

4259: 3639: 3414: 3367: 3300: 2820: 2239:, son of Dinika, son-in- law of king Nahapana, the Kshaharata Kshatrapa, has bestowed this cave on the 2073: 1624:

The two inscriptions of Gautamiputra Satakarni, written one after another. Cave No.3, Inscription No.4.

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A halk-flower medallions design on a pillar of Cave No.19, typical of early designs such as those of

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These are a group of twenty-four Hinayana Buddhist caves whose excavation was financed by the local

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The interior measures 38 feet 10 inches by 21 feet 7 inches, and the nave, from the door up to the

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and cisterns. This cave made for the sake of his father and mother has been, in order to honor all

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https://web.archive.org/web/20130926230100/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_maha_pandulenacaves.asp

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One more inscription over one of the small cellars mentions its gift by a lay devotee named Mamma.

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Cave No.17 has one inscription, mentioning the gift of the cave by Indragnidatta the son of the

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and shield emblems, in a very ornamental form, but almost identical with those existing in the

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Chaitya No. 18 participates to a chronology of several other Chaitya caves which were built in

1988: 1632: 1584: 1422: 1300: 1292: 1062: 882: 462: 4982: 4818: 4667: 4621: 4311: 3572:

The pillars of the veranda have the water-pot bases, and the bell-shaped capitals of those in

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All this points to about the 7th century CE or later, as the age of alteration of this cave.

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The next inscription is located right under the inscription of the Queen, only separated by a

5755: 5003: 4792: 4531: 4504: 4408: 4379: 4367: 1828: 641: 4637: 4127:"Pandavleni Caves - Pandavleni Caves Nashik, Pandu Lena Caves, Pandu Lena Maharashtra India" 3771:

Cave No.23 has one inscription recording the building of the cave in year 2 of the reign of

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Chaitya pillars (left) compared to Pandavleni Caves Cave No10 pillars (right), all built by

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A final inscription, written as a continuation of the previous one, and only separated by a

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The various inscriptions confirm that Nashik in that period was ruled by 3 dynasties – the

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devotional practices. The Buddhist sculptures are a significant group of early examples of

4603: 4140: 2603: 1139:. This suggest that the two viharas cannot be very distant in date from the two Chaityas. 8: 5643: 5247: 5187: 4761: 3595: 3558: 3531: 3511: 2967:", which was the current Greek Hellenistic form, is used in the inscription, instead of " 2769: 2137: 1947:

Cave No. 10 is the second largest Vihara, and contains six inscriptions of the family of

1923: 1713: 1363:

The full inscription, located on the back wall of the veranda above the entrance, reads:

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Cave No.24 has one inscription recording the gift of the cave by a writer named Vudhika.

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Two inscriptions in Cave 10 mentions the building and the gift of the whole cave to the

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Cave No.3 was completed and dedicated to the Samgha during the reign of Satavahana king

945:, and in the paintings in Cave X at Ajanta, which probably belong to about the same age. 542: 5459: 5204: 2692:

Cave No.17 was built by a devotee of Greek descent, who presents his father as being a

1816: 531: 1494:

caused, as a pious gift, on the top of the Tiranhu mountain similar to the top of the

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A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century

4971: 4957: 4798: 4673: 4643: 4537: 4510: 4414: 4104: 2947: 2325: 2317: 1975:

in low relief on the back wall, which has been long afterwards hewn into a figure of

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started calling it Pandav Caves - a misnomer which is used for every cave in India.

5699: 5666: 5615: 5449: 5308: 5192: 5159: 4008: 3741: 3547: 3426: 2376: 1911: 1564:

of Dhanamkata who here on mount Tiranhu ......, has been given to be owned by the

1310:, in order to record the gift of Cave No3. The full inscription consists in a long 910:

The central door into this vihara is rudely sculptured in a style that reminds the

450: 1124:

The architecture of the Nahapana cave (Cave No.10) is very similar to that of the

5709: 5676: 5579: 5444: 5348: 5328: 5154: 5126: 5096: 4609: 3566: 3565:

caves, that the Satavahanas had reclaimed the area of Kanheri and Nasik from the

2309: 2169: 2028: 1931: 1463: 1398: 1356: 1348: 1334: 1291:(2nd century CE), explaining that Queen Gotami Balasiri, mother of glorious king 649: 572: 362: 277: 1271: 5765: 5658: 5571: 5490: 5454: 5378: 5303: 5262: 5144: 5073: 4755: 4013: 3782: 3515: 3063: 2955: 2901: 2221: 1406: 1342: 538: 2977:

The Yavanas are also known for their donations with inscriptions at the Great

5795: 5750: 5485: 5464: 5428: 5418: 5413: 5408: 5368: 5275: 5252: 5197: 5121: 3998: 3388:

family, this cave has been caused to be made by the officer in charge of the

3308: 3079: 3059: 3039: 2986: 2939: 2889: 2697: 2339: 2291: 1928: 1794:

Cave No.6 has an inscription, mentioning its dedication by a merchant to the

1636: 1592: 1410: 312: 282: 151: 138: 4968:

The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India, Volume 1: Buddhist, Jain, Hindu

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Exterior of caves No.21 and 22 (with pillars of Cave N.20 in the forefront).

3514:(170-199 CE), in the 7th year of the reign of which the cave was completed. 3294: 2316:

who has given three-hundred-thousand cows, who has made .gifts of money and

852: 5775: 5694: 5625: 5403: 5333: 5313: 5298: 5224: 5149: 5116: 3970: 3772: 3749: 3745: 3352: 3115: 3083: 3071: 2865: 2040: 1992: 1557: 1538: 1524: 1374: 1288: 1147: 1132:. Conversely, the architecture of Cave No.3 is very similar to that of the 934: 780: 770: 616: 392: 302: 272: 3481: 1303:(2nd century), in the 18th year of his reign, who claims a great victory. 5732: 5704: 5686: 5620: 5523: 5495: 5393: 5358: 5353: 5323: 5318: 5290: 5219: 5177: 5086: 4003: 3993: 3988: 3573: 3418: 3374:, which is the oldest known Satavahana inscription, dated to 100-70 BCE: 3371: 3356: 3135: 3107: 3091: 3087: 3067: 3047: 3034: 2982: 2972: 2885: 2749: 2153: 2007: 1952: 1402: 1338: 1125: 1110: 938: 510: 502: 498: 494: 482: 342: 120: 5034: 3021: 1906: 1674: 1612: 1548: 5742: 5398: 5373: 5363: 5270: 5214: 5111: 4391: 3472:

Plan and inside elevation of cave No.19, "Krishna vihara" (100-70 BCE).

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name sometimes given to the Trirashmi Caves has nothing to do with the

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Empires: Perspectives from Archaeology and History by Susan E. Alcock

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Sādavāhanakule Kanhe rājini Nāsikakena Samaṇena mahāmāteṇa leṇa kārita

3074:, around the 1st century BCE. Then, in chronological order: Cave 3 at 2383:

on an elephant: all are small, clumsily carved, and evidently of late

5780: 5635: 5505: 5423: 5280: 5234: 4794:

The Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformations in Art and Religion

4316: 3760: 3737: 3733: 3535: 3307:. This is the oldest known Satavahana inscription, circa 100-70 BCE. 3289: 2943: 2321: 2320:

on the river Barnasa, who has given sixteen villages to the gods and

2190:

Over the doorway of the left cell appears the following inscription:

2006:

Nahapana is also known for his association with the Great Chaitya in

1202: 1023: 1008: 930: 347: 322: 249: 206: 1995:. Cave No.10 is probably contemporary with Cave No. 17, built by an 5480: 5081: 3765: 2958: 2875: 2592: 2306: 2302: 2287: 2181: 2173: 2161: 2032: 1976: 1948: 1935: 1678:

Inscription of Gautamiputra Satakarni, Cave No.3, Inscription No.5.

1654: 1616:

Inscription of Gautamiputra Satakarni, Cave No.3, Inscription No.4.

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and another symbol. The inscription (inscription No.3) was made by

1520: 1499: 1459: 1436: 1352: 1330: 1104: 1087: 1058: 899: 758: 629: 562: 490: 454: 387: 352: 244: 1484:, the Rakshasas, the Vidyadharas, the Bhutas, the Gandharvas, the 1378:(back wall of the veranda, above the left window of the entrance) 5607: 5169: 3880: 3876: 3756: 3752:, that there can be no hesitation in ascribing it to a late age. 3603: 3562: 3389: 3360: 3330: 3304: 3266: 3111: 3030: 2998: 2978: 2917: 2787:

Entrance. The inscription is visible, in part, over the entrance.

2714: 2489: 2384: 2343: 2329: 2011: 1955: 1565: 1561: 1495: 1481: 1455: 1326: 1136: 1133: 1129: 1113: 942: 777:"Success! On the ..... day of the fifth -5th- fortnight of summer 561:

detail and is thought to be nearly as old as the Karla Cave near

553: 548: 527: 473: 469: 332: 327: 317: 297: 287: 221: 216: 4888: