View source for Ghatotkacha Caves

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Ghatotkacha Caves
| image = Ghatotkach cave.jpg 
| caption = Ghatotkacha Cave
| map_relief = =yes
| type = 
| locmapin = India 
| coordinates = {{Coord|20.552620|N|75.584977|E|display=title,inline}}<!-- {{Coord}} -->
| location = 
| area = 
| built = 
| architect = 
| architecture = 
| governing_body = Archeological Survey of India
}}
{{BuddhasHolySites}}
The '''Ghatotkach Caves''' are located 18&nbsp;km to the west of [[Ajantha, Maharashtra|Ajantha]], near Jinjala village, [[India]].<ref name=AHIR />  
The caves include three [[Buddhist]] [[caves]], one is a [[chaitya]] and two are [[vihara]]s. The caves were excavated in the 6th century AD, and were influenced by [[Mahayana Buddhism]].<ref name=AHIR />

The caves have an inscription by Varahadeva, a minister of the [[Vakataka]] dynasty under King [[Harishena]] (r. c. 475 – c. 500 CE).<ref name="SpinkVol5P180">{{cite book |last1=Spink |first1=Walter |title=Ajanta: History and Development, Volume 5 Cave by Cave |date=2006 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=9789047411871 |page=180 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UNOvCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA180&lpg=PA180 |language=en}}</ref> Varahadeva is also known for a decatory inscription in Cave 16 at [[Ajanta caves]] in which he affirms his devotion to the Buddhist faith: "regarding the sacred law as his only companion, (he was) extremely devoted to the Buddha, the teacher of the world".<ref name="SpinkVol5P180"/>

The inscription at Ghatotkacha Cave is about the [[Buddha]], the [[Dhamma]] and the [[Sangha (Buddhism)|Sangha]].<ref name=AHIR>{{cite book|last=Ahir|first=D. C.|title=Buddhist sites and shrines in India : history, art, and architecture|year=2003|publisher=Sri Satguru Publ.|location=Delhi|isbn=8170307740|pages=191–192|edition=1.}}</ref> At the same time, Varahadeva proudly affirms his Hindu heritage.<ref name="SpinkVol5P180"/> The inscription gives a long genealogy of the donor's family. It includes mention of a person named Soma, who had Kshatriya as well as Brahmana wives.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Upinder|title=History of Ancient and Early Medieval India; From the Stone Age to the 12th Century|publisher=Pearson Education|year=2009}}</ref>

The [[Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation]] advises that the caves are only for the adventurous traveller as access is difficult.<ref>{{cite book|title=Vision Tourism 2020 - Aurangabad District Perspective Draft Plan|date=November 2010|publisher=Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation|location=Aurangabad|url=http://aurangabad.nic.in/htmldocs/vision2020/10_groupnotourism.pdf|access-date=28 June 2013}}{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

{{multiple image|perrow=4|total_width=600|caption_align=center
| align    = center
| direction =horizontal
| header=
| image1   = Ghatotkach caves.jpg
| caption1 = The Ghatotkacha Caves and their environment.
| image2   = Plan of the Ghatotkacha cave.jpg
| caption2 = Plan of the main Ghatotkacha cave
| image3   = Ghatotkacha cave inscription.jpg
| caption3 = Ghatotkacha cave inscription
| image4   = Ghatotkacha cave inscription (translation, 1963).jpg
| caption4 = Ghatotkacha inscription (translation)
| footer=
}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA5oUHC0zHI Video of the caves]

==References==

{{Reflist}}


{{Indian Buddhist Caves}}
[[Category:Buddhist caves in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist sites in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Buddhist sites in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Caves of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Indian rock-cut architecture]]
[[Category:Former populated places in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist monasteries in India]]
[[Category:Architecture of India]]
[[Category:Caves containing pictograms in India]]

{{Buddhism-stub}}