Kamal Guha at 10:21, 23 November 2023

2023-11-23T10:21:14Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Dharashiv Caves
| native_name = धाराशिव लेणी
| native_name_lang = marathi
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type =
| image_skyline = Dharashiv cave main hall front.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Dharashiv cave main hall
| pushpin_map = India#India Maharashtra
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Maharashtra, India<ref>{{cite web|title=Location of Dharashiv Caves, Osmanabad|url=http://wikimapia.org/1712358/Dharashiv-Caves|publisher=WikiMapia|access-date=14 July 2015}}</ref>
| coordinates = {{coord|18|11|44|N|76|0|36|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 =महाराष्ट्र

[[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Osmanabad district|Osmanabad]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| unit_pref =
| area_footnotes =
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| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 =
| demographics1_title1 =
| demographics1_info1 =
| timezone1 =
| utc_offset1 =
| postal_code_type = Dating
| postal_code = 5th century AD
| area_code_type = Discovery
| area_code = 10th Century
| registration_plate =
| website =
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-MH]]
| footnotes =
}}
'''Dharashiv caves''' are the nexus of 7 caves located 8 km away from [[Osmanabad]] city in Balaghat mountains in [[Maharashtra]] state of [[India]].<ref name="osmanabad online">{{cite web|title=Dharashiv caves|url=http://www.osmanabadonline.in/city-guide/dharashiv-caves|website=osmanabad online|access-date=13 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Osmanabad|url=http://www.incredibleindia.org/en/travel/destination/solapur/solapur-things-to-do/solapur-excursions|website=Incredible India|access-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714053932/http://www.incredibleindia.org/en/travel/destination/solapur/solapur-things-to-do/solapur-excursions|archive-date=14 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Sakal>{{cite news|title=दयनीय अवस्थेत धाराशीव लेण्या!|url=http://www.esakal.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=5676853451568452978&SectionId=14&SectionName=मराठवाडा&NewsDate=20120724&Provider=-&NewsTitle=दयनीय%20अवस्थेत%20धाराशीव%20लेण्या!|access-date=13 July 2015|newspaper=[[Sakal]]|date=24 July 2012|language=mr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714051417/http://www.esakal.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=5676853451568452978&SectionId=14&SectionName=%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BE&NewsDate=20120724&Provider=-&NewsTitle=%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%20%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A4%20%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%20%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE!|archive-date=14 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The caves were taken note by Archaeological Department of India and mentioned in the book ''Archaeological survey of India'' by [[James Burgess (archaeologist)|James Burges]].<ref name=nic.in>{{cite web|title=Dharashiv Caves - Historical Background|url=http://osmanabad.nic.in/newsite/touristPlaces/DharashivCaves.htm|website=Osmanabad |access-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611100028/http://osmanabad.nic.in/newsite/touristPlaces/DharashivCaves.htm|archive-date=11 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Dharashiv Caves have been declared as [[Protected area]] by [[Government of Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite news|title=ऐतिहासिक धाराशिव लेण्यांचे अस्तित्व धोक्यात|url=http://www.lokmat.com/storypage.php?catid=315&newsid=619701|access-date=13 July 2015|publisher=[[Lokmat]]|date=16 April 2014|language=mr}}</ref>

==History==
Dharashiv caves are believed to be built around 5th-7th century. First cave has been discovered in 10th century during the age of [[Rashtrakuta dynasty|Rashtrakutas]],<ref name=nic.in/> while there have been debates over caves whether they are Buddhist or Jain creations.<ref name="osmanabad online"/> It is believed that these caves were originally Buddhist, but were later converted into monuments of the Jain religion.<ref name=nic.in/>

==Caves==
{{multiple image
|image1 = Lord_Mahaveer_at_dharashiv_cave.jpg
|caption1 = [[Mahavir Swami]]
|width1 = 125
|image2 = Indien2012 1223 Osmanabad Darashiva Leni.jpg
|caption2 = [[Parshvanatha]]
|width2 = 150
}}
There are 7 caves, 1st cave is harnessed by 20 pillars of scaffolding. Cave No. 2 is among major caves and modeled on the plan of the [[Vakataka]] caves at [[Ajantha caves|Ajantha]]. It has a central hall measuring 80 feet by 80 feet, with 14 cells for the residence of the Bhiksus and garbhagraha with a statue of the [[Gautam Buddha]] in Padmasana. 3rd cave resembles with 1st, while later caves are Jain caves.<ref name="osmanabad online"/><ref name=nic.in/>

==Current status==
Dharashiv caves are claimed by both [[Buddhist]] and [[Jain]] traditions. However research done by [[James Burgess (archaeologist)|James Burges]] on 1200 caves in [[Maharashtra]] state showed that Dharashiv caves were originally a Buddhists caves in 5th century AD, while in 12th century some caves were converted to Jain caves.<ref name=divya>{{cite news|title=धाराशिव लेणींचा ठेवा : दीड हजार वर्षांचा इतिहास|url=http://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/MAH-MAR-dharashiv-leni-sankatat-2367776.html|access-date=14 July 2015|publisher=Divya Marathi|date=21 August 2011}}</ref><ref>http://ekpravas.blogspot.in/2011/08/dharashiv-caves.html</ref>

==See also==
* [[Ajanta Caves]]
* [[Ellora Caves]]
* [[Tulja Bhavani Temple]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Indian Buddhist Caves}}
{{Buddhist sites in Maharashtra}}
{{Jain Caves in India}}

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Osmanabad district]]
[[Category:Buddhist caves in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist sites in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Indian rock-cut architecture]]
[[Category:Caves of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Jain rock-cut architecture]]
[[Category:12th-century Jain temples]]

Dharashiv Caves - Revision history

Kamal Guha at 10:21, 23 November 2023