Barabar Caves

The Barabar Caves are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India , mostly dating from the Mauryan period (322–185 BCE), and some with Ashokan inscriptions, located in the Jehanabad District of Bihar, India, 18 km north of Gaya.

These caves are situated in the twin Hills of "Barabar" and "Nagarjuni", dating back to the 3rd century BC, Maurya period [http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO0000125S1U00056000 Sculptured doorway, Lomas Rishi cave, Barabar, Gaya] "British Library".] , of Ashoka (r. 273 BC to 232 BC.) and his son, "Dasaratha", though Buddhists themselves [http://www.flonnet.com/stories/20080912251806500.htm Culture of peace] "Frontline", Volume 25 - Issue 18 :: Aug. 30-Sep. 12, 2008.] , who allowed various Jain sects, to flourish under his policy of religious tolerance, these caves were used by ascetics from the Ajivika sect [http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO000001003U0045A000 Entrance to one of the Barabar Hill caves] "British Library".] , founded by "Makkhali Gosala", a contemporary of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, and of Mahavira, the last and 24th Tirthankara of Jainism [ [http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/pilgrim/pg_01.htm Barabar Hills: Where the Buddhist Emperor Asoka built caves for the Ajivakas] www.buddhanet.net.] . Also found at the site were several rock-cut, Buddhist and Hindu sculptures [ [http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO000001003U00046000 Rock sculptures at Barabar] "British Library".] .

The area was also the setting for the opening of E.M. Forster's book, 'A Passage to India', the author also visited the site, and later used it, as the "Marabar caves" in his book [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Patna/Cracks_appear_in_Barabar_caves/articleshow/2127306.cms Barabar caves] "Times of India", Jun 16, 2007.] [ [http://www.hausarbeiten.de/faecher/vorschau/45050.html The Structure of E. M. Forster's "A Passage to India"] "he visited India beforehand in 1912 and in 1921."] .

Caves at Barabar Hills

"Sudama" and "Lomas Rishi Caves" are the earliest examples of rock-cut architecture in India [ [http://www.indian-architecture.info/ Architectural history] www.indian-architecture.info.] , with architectural detailing, made in the Mauryan period, and became a trend the subsequent centuries [ [http://yac.bih.nic.in/Da-01.htm An overview of archaeological importance of Bihar] Directorate of Archaeology, Govt. of Bihar.] , like the larger Buddhist Chaitya, that were found in Maharashtra, such as in Ajanta and Karla Caves, and greatly influenced the tradition of South Asian rock-cut archtecture . Near by caves of Nagarjuna are smaller and younger than Barabar caves [ [http://www.culturopedia.com/Places/places.html Barabar and Nagarjuna Caves] .]

Most caves at Barabar consist of two chambers, carved entirely out of granite, with a highly polished internal surface. The first chamber was meant for worshippers to congregate in a large rectangular hall, and the second, a small, circular, domed chamber for worship, this inner chamber probably had a small stupa like structure, at some point, though they are now empty.

* Lomas Rishi cave: The arch-like shape facade of Lomas Rishi Caves, imitate the contemporary timber architecture. On the doorway, a row of elephants proceed towards stupa emblems, along the curved architrave [ [http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019WDZ000001767U00000000 Part of the elephant frieze over the doorway at the Barabar caves. 1790] "British Library".] .

* Sumdama cave: This cave was dedicated by, Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka in 261 BC, and consist of a circular vaulted chamber with a rectangular mandapa [ [http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO0000125S1U00055000 Sudama and Lomas Rishi Caves at Barabar Hills, Gaya] "British Library".] .

* Vadithi-ka-Kubha cave

* Vapiya-ka-Kubha cave [ [http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO0000125S1U00058000 Gopi & Kalpi caves, Barabar, Gaya.] "British Library".] .
* Karna Chaupar cave [ [http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO0000125S1U00099000 Karna Chowpar cave, Barabar Hills.] "British Library".] .

Further reading

* [http://books.google.com/books?id=Q5kI02_zW70C&pg=PA247&lpg=PA247&dq=Barabar+Caves+india&source=web&ots=IIDwfukdu-&sig=PmUtkodfN_DMGXsDkH0utYz6I6g&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result Mauryan Architecture and Art - Rock cut architecture] "The Archaeology of Early Historic South Asia: The Emergence of Cities and States", by Frank Raymond Allchin, George Erdosy. Cambridge University Press, 1995, ISBN 0521376955. Page 247
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2419/stories/20071005505506600.htm History of Rock cut caves in India]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=EoNAuVouPN4C&pg=PA188&lpg=PA188&dq=Barabar+Caves+india&source=web&ots=4tTT-YhU6w&sig=ajx7bjcrgxtfv0vhoR43ORkuI8g&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=9&ct=result Introduction] "The Cambridge Companion to E.M. Forster", by David Bradshaw, Contributor David Bradshaw, Cambridge University Press, 2007, ISBN 0521834759. Page 188.

References

ee also

* Kumhrar

External links

* [http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/bce_299_200/barabar/barabar.html Series of images of "Barabar Caves"]
* [http://www.mapability.com/travel/p2i/barabar.html Detailed notes on "The Barabar Caves" and its use as Marabar Caves in E.M. Fosters "Passage to India"]