Ilushikpub at 07:24, 23 December 2024

2024-12-23T07:24:49Z

New page

{{short description|Caves in Maharashtra, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox cave
| name = Manmodi Caves
| photo = Bhimasankar group Chaitya.jpg
| photo_caption = The [[Chaitya]] at Bhimashankar caves, a part of Manmodi Caves, Junnar, India.
| map = India#Maharashtra
| relief = yes
| coords = {{Coord|19.1859|N|73.8843|E|type:landmark_region:IN-MH|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Junnar]]
| geology = Basalt
| entrance_count =
}}

The '''Manmodi Caves''' are a complex of a rock-cut caves about 3 km to the south of the city of [[Junnar]] in [[India]].<ref name="Brancaccio 34">{{cite book |last1=Brancaccio |first1=Pia |title=The Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformations in Art and Religion |date=2010 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-18525-8 |pages=34 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m_4pXm7dD78C&pg=PA34 |language=en}}</ref> Other caves surrounding the city of Junnar are: [[Tulja Caves]], [[Shivneri Caves]] and [[Lenyadri]] caves.<ref name="Brancaccio 34" />

It is thought that the caves were positioned on natural trade routes, formed by passes leading from the coast to the basaltic plateau of the [[Western Ghats]].<ref name="Brancaccio 34" /> One of the caves in Manmodi has an epigraph mentioning the [[Western Satrap]] [[Nahapana]] bearing the title of Mahakshatrapa (Great [[Satrap]]).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brancaccio |first1=Pia |title=The Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformations in Art and Religion |date=2010 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-18525-8 |pages=61 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m_4pXm7dD78C&pg=PA61 |language=en}}</ref>

== Description ==
The Manmodi hill lies south from [[Junnar]], at a distance of about a 3 km. It contains three groups of excavations, the second of which is nearest to the road, and the first a considerable way along the north-west face of the hill, near where it turns to the north-east.<ref name="Fergusson 258">{{cite book |last1=Fergusson |first1=James |last2=Burgess |first2=James |title=The cave temples of India |date=1880 |publisher=London : Allen |pages=258ff |url=https://archive.org/stream/cavetemplesofind00ferguoft}}</ref>

The caves are classified in three groups, also having specific names:<ref>{{cite web |title=Lenyadri Group of Caves, Junnar – Ticketed Monument – ArchaeologicalSurvey of India |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_maha_junnarcaves.asp |website=asi.nic.in |publisher=Archaeological Society of India |access-date=4 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410125940/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_maha_junnarcaves.asp |archive-date=10 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Bhutalinga (भूत लेणी) group, with an inscription by a [[Yavana]] donor.
* Amba-Ambika (अंबा-अंबिका) group
* Bhimasankar (भीमाशंकर) group, southeast of Manmodi hill, with the inscription of Ayama, minister of [[Nahapana]] in 124 CE.

=== Bhutalinga group of caves ===
==== The Chaitya ====
[[File:Manmodi Chaitya Cave Junnar.png|thumb|left|Manmodi Chaitya Cave. Woodcut from Photograph, 1880.]]
[[File:Manmodi Yavana Chamdana inscription.jpg|thumb|left|Dedicatory inscription by the [[Yavana]] donor.<ref name="JB95">{{cite book |last1=Burgess |first1=Jas |title=Archaeological Survey Of Western India |date=1883 |page=95 |url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.35775/2015.35775.Archaeological-Survey-Of-Western-India#page/n173/mode/2up}}</ref>]]
These caves are the most western caves in the Manmodi group ({{coord|19.1880|73.8784|display=inline}}). The principal cave here is an unfinished [[Chaitya]]-cave. The door is nearly the whole width of the nave, and it has apparently had a small semi-circular aperture or window over it, but the lintel is broken away. This arch of the window, however, is not adjusted to the arch of the roof inside, which is much higher, nor does it occupy the relative position in the great arch on the façade assigned to the window in later examples at [[Ajanta Caves|Ajanta]], [[Nasik Caves|Nasik]], etc.<ref name="Fergusson 258" /> The Chaitya-hall on the Manmodi hill is said to belong to the period of the [[Western Satrap]] ruler [[Nahapana]], as is the case for the Great Chaitya at [[Karla Caves]].<ref name="Chatterjee">{{cite book |last1=Chatterjee |first1=Ramananda |title=The Modern review: a monthly review and miscellany |date=1927 |publisher=Prabasi Press Private, Limited |page=661 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wfl593aYDz4C |language=en |quote=The Scythian monarch Nahapana (...) The Chaitya-hall on the Manmodi hill at Junnar in the Nasik district also belongs to the period of the Scythian monarch}}</ref>

[[File:Bhutalinga caves chaitya.jpg|thumb|The Chaitya today.]]
[[File:Manmodi Chaitya Yavanasa inscription.jpg|thumb|224px|The [[façade]] of the Chaitya Hall was donated by a [[Yavana]], according to the inscription on the central flat surface of the lotus (''yavanasa Chaṁdānaṁ deyadhama gabhadā[ra]''). Detail of the "Ya-va-na-sa" portion in old [[Brahmi script]]: [[File:Brahmi y 2nd century CE.jpg|12px]][[File:Brahmi v 2nd century CE.gif|12px]][[File:Brahmi n.svg|12px]][[File:Brahmi s.svg|12px]], circa 120 CE.<ref name="RT">Religions and Trade: Religious Formation, Transformation and Cross-Cultural Exchange between East and West, BRILL, 2013 [https://books.google.com/books?id=AXdfAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA97 p.97 Note 97]</ref>]]
Over the opening of the entrance, the place usually occupied by the window is divided fan-wise into seven petal-shaped compartments with a semi-circular centre, round the edge of the inner member of which is an inscription, in one line, of [[Brahmi]] characters. This is an inscription by a [[Yavana]] donor, appearing on the central flat surface of the lotus over the entrance: it mentions the erection of a hall-front for the Buddhist Samgha, by a Yavana donor named Chanda:<ref name="RT" />
{{quote|''"yavanasa Chaṁdānaṁ deyadhama gabhadā[ra]"'' 
𑀬𑀯𑀦𑀲 𑀙𑀁𑀤𑀸𑀦𑀁 𑀟𑁂𑀬𑀥𑀫 𑀕𑀪𑀤𑀸𑀭 
"The meritorious gift of the [[façade]] of the (gharba) hall by the [[Yavana]] Chanda"|Inscription on the façade of the Manmodi Chaitya.<ref name="JB95"/><ref>{{cite book |title=Journal of the Epigraphical Society of India |date=1994 |publisher=The Society |pages=iv |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z4NjAAAAMAAJ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Archaeological Survey of Western India |date=1879 |publisher=Government Central Press |pages=43–44 |url=https://archive.org/stream/archaeologicals01indigoog |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Karttunen |first1=Klaus |title=Yonas and Yavanas in Indian Literature |journal=Studia Orientalia |year=2015 |volume=116 |page=214 |url=https://journal.fi/store/issue/view/4184/199}}</ref>}}

In the middle compartment of the larger semi-circle is a standing female figure with a lotus flower on each side, the next compartments have elephants standing on lotus flowers and holding water-jars, as so often represented beside the figures of [[Lakshmi|Sri]] or [[Lakshmi]] on old Buddhist works. In the next compartment on each side stands a male figure, his hands joined over or in front of his head, doing ''puja'' towards the central figure; and in the two outer spaces are females in similar attitudes, with a lotus flower and bud beside each. The style of art in which the figure of Sri Lakshmi is here represented is so similar to that employed for the same purpose at [[Bharhut]], that there can be little doubt that they are of about the same age. The material, however, in which they are executed, and their purposes are so different, that it would be impossible, from that alone, to say which of the two is the earliest.<ref name="Fergusson 258" />

Over and outside these the façade of the great arch projects, with ribs in imitation of wooden rafters under it. On each side the finial is a male figure: that on the left holds a [[chauri]] and has wings, and some animal's head above his jaunty turban; the other holds some object in his right hand, and behind each shoulder are two snake-heads with their tongues
hanging out. Right and left of these are [[Stupa|dagobas]] in high relief, but roughly formed; and on the right of the arch is a tree with objects hanging in it, but it has never been quite finished, parts being only outlined.<ref name="Fergusson 258" />

[[File:Bhutalinga Chaitya inside.jpg|thumb|left|Inside of the Chaitya.]]
On the projecting frieze over all are seven Chaitya-window ornaments, with smaller ones between their finials, and two on the faces of each jamb. Inside the cave, three octagonal
pillars on the right side are blocked out, as is also the dagoba, but without the capital. There is a horizontal soft stratum in the rock, which has probably led to the work being relinquished in its present unfinished state. This is very much to be regretted, as the whole design of this cave is certainly the most daring, though it can hardly be called the most successful, attempt on the part of the early cave architects to emancipate themselves from the trammels of the wooden style they were trying to adapt to lithic purposes.<ref name="Fergusson 258" />

At [[Barabar]] in the [[Lomas Rishi]] they only introduced elephants and trellis work, which we know from the [[Sanchi]] gateways were probably executed in wood and could easily have been so introduced. It would, however, have been very difficult to execute such a seven-leafed flower as this, in pierced work, even in wood, but it was an artistic mistake to introduce it above the real constructive opening, on a false front, as is done in this instance. The system here begun was afterwards carried to an extreme issue in the [[Gandhara]] monasteries, where figures were introduced everywhere, and the architecture only used as a frame such as we employ for pictures. Though its employment here is a solecism, this bas- relief is one of the most interesting pieces of sculpture for the history of the art, to be found in the whole range of the western caves.<ref name="Fergusson 258" />

==== Buddhist cells ====
[[File:Bhutalinga Buddhist cells.jpg|thumb|The Buddhist cells with individual [[Chaitya]]-window arches.]]
Higher up the rock, on the east or left side of this, are four cells with neatly-carved façades, each door having a [[Chaitya]]-window arch over it, projecting about 15 inches; and between the arches are two dagobas with chhatris in half relief; while over the shoulder of each arch is a smaller one as an ornament, and the Buddhist-rail pattern along the tops. There is one plain cell beyond these, and under the five are some others filled up with earth; while rather higher up on the east are four more. Under these latter is a [[vihara]] with two
cells in the back and two in the left or east side, but the front is gone. It communicates by a passage with another to the west of it, nearly filled up with mud, and west of the Chaitya-cave are two small cells high up in the rock.<ref name="Fergusson 258" />

=== Amba-Ambika group of caves ===
[[File:Amba-Ambika caves.jpg|thumb|350px|The Amba-Ambika group of caves.]]
Near the south-east end of the hill is the second group, consisting of an unfinished Chaitya-cave and a number of ruined cells and viharas ({{coord|19.1858|73.8843|display=inline}}). This Chaitya-cave is somewhat on the plan of the [[Bedsa]] one, that is, it has two octagonal columns in front, supporting the entablature above the great window. These columns are of the style occurring at the [[Ganesa Lena]], with water-pot bases and capitals; but otherwise this cave is quite unfinished: the aisles have not been commenced; the capital of the dagoba is roughly blocked out, and portions of a square mass of rock from which to hew out the dome of it; but a great fault in the rock at the back of the cave seems to have stopped further operations.<ref name="Fergusson 258" />

[[File:Amba-Ambika Chaitya hall.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Chaitya]] hall. Excavation was halted due to a major fault in the rock, that fills the cave with water in the rainy season.]]
The front is quite rough, but, if finished, would probably have been similar to the Bedsa Chaitya cave. It is almost covered with inscriptions, but from their positions and the roughness of the surfaces on which they are carved, it may naturally be inferred that they are only the work of visitors, perhaps long after the work was relinquished. Few of them can be
made out with any certainty. The cave faces north by east, and the floor is much filled up with mud. At the east side of it is a cell, also deep in earth, in which is a dagoba, the chhatri or umbrella carved on the roof, but the staff has been broken, evidently with a view to convert it into the usual [[Saiva]] emblem.

==== Jainism Cells ====
[[File:Amba-Ambika cell.jpg|thumb|Paintings of [[Tirthankara]] in a cell of the second level.]]
There are portions of other cells, and a fragment of an inscription beside some modern steps leading up to five cells above. The two at the west end are converted into one by cutting away the partition, and on the walls are three defaced figures perhaps of [[Jainism|Jain figures]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Qureshi|first=Dulari|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7GVEAQAAIAAJ&q=Amba+Ambika+Group+of+Caves+jain|title=The Rock-cut Temples of Western India|date=2010|publisher=Bharatiya Kala Prakashan|isbn=978-81-8090-202-4|language=en}}</ref> This is dedicated to the goddess [[Ambika (Jainism)|Ambika]] also the sasanadevi or patron goddess of the 23rd [[Tirthankara]] [[Neminatha]]. Here Brahmans worship the mutilated image of [[Jainism|Jain]] as a Shiva goddess.<ref name="Fergusson 258" />

In the outer wall of another of these cells there have been a standing ([[Kayotsarga]]) and a sitting figure of [[Tirthankara]], but these are now almost obliterated.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rao|first=P. R. Ramachandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iIToAAAAMAAJ&q=Amba+Ambika+Group+of+Caves+jain|title=Andhra Sculpture|date=1984|publisher=Akshara|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Fergusson 258" />
[[File:Jain Godess Ambika.jpg|thumb|Jain [[Tirthankara|TIrthankara]] Image]]
=== Bhimasankar group of caves ===
[[File:Bhimashankar Group in the Manmodi caves.jpg|thumb|350px|The Bhimasankar group of caves.]]
[[File:Bhimasankar group of caves in Manmodi.jpg|thumb|350px|Part of the Bhimasankar group of caves.]]
[[File:Silver coin of Nahapana British Museum.jpg|thumb|A minister of [[Western Satraps]] ruler [[Nahapana]] contributed to the constructions in Manmodi Caves, circa 124 CE.]]
[[File:Manmodi Bhimasankar inscription of Nahapana.jpg|thumb|The Nahapana inscription.]]
[[File:Manmodi caves Nahapana.jpg|thumb|The name "Nahapāna" (𑀦𑀳𑀧𑀸𑀦) in [[Brahmi]] in the Nahapana inscription.]]
The third group is round a comer of the hill to the south-east of these last, and at a considerably higher level, some of them almost inaccessible ({{coord|19.1803|73.8870|display=inline}}). The first reached is a recess over a cell or cistern, with an inscription:<ref name="Fergusson 258" />

{{quote|Sivasamaputasa Simtabhati ? no deyadhama pati. 
"For a pious gift of charity, from Simtabhati, son of Sivasarman"}}

A little beyond this, on the left side of a recess over the side of a water cistern, is another inscription in three lines, of which, however, the first letters are obliterated; still it is possible make out that it was [constructed by] "Ayama, the minister of Mahakshatrapa Svami [[Nahapana]]."<ref name="Fergusson 258" /> This inscription bears a [[Saka era]] date of year 46, which is 124 CE.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mirashi |first1=Vasudev Vishnu |title=The history and inscriptions of the Sātavāhanas and the Western Kshatrapas |date=1981 |publisher=Maharashtra State Board for Literature and Culture |page=113 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vwpuAAAAMAAJ |language=en}}</ref> The inscription is located in the fourth excavation on the eastern side of Manmodi Hill, in Cave 7. After passing a cistern and two small recesses, there is another recess with a bench round three sides, on the left side wall of which is the inscription.<ref>{{cite book |title=Archaeological Survey of Western India |date=1879 |publisher=Government Central Press |url=https://archive.org/details/archaeologicals01indigoog |language=English}}</ref> It is one of the most important of the series as the only one containing a royal name, that of [[Nahapana]], which can also be found at [[Nasik Caves]] and at [[Karla Caves]]. It is in three lines about 4 feet long. The first few letters in each line are considerably decayed
and faint. It reads:<ref name="Burgess" />

{{quote|[Raño]jmahākhatapasa sāminahapānasa 
[Ā]mātyasa Vachhasagotasa Ayamasa 
[de]yadhama cha [po?] ḍhi maṭapo cha puñathaya vase 46 kato<ref>{{cite book |last1=Burgess |first1=Jas |title=Archaeological Survey Of Western India |date=1883 |page=Plate LIV No.11 (Junnar No.32) |url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.35775#page/n61}}</ref><ref name="Burgess" /> 
"The meritorious gift of a [[mandapa]] and cistern by Ayama of the Vatsa-gotra, 
Prime Minister to the king, the great Satrap, the Lord [[Nahapana]], made for merit, in the year 46."
| Inscription of [[Nahapana]], Manmodi Caves.<ref name="Burgess">{{cite book |last1=Burgess |first1=Jas |title=Archaeological Survey Of Western India |date=1883 |page=103 |url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.35775#page/n181}}</ref>}}

Scrambling along the face of a precipice to the south, one can reach first a small [[vihara]] without cells or carving, then another cave with two octagonal pillars in the front of the verandah, and two engaged ones at the ends rising from a bench. The door is 5 feet 10 inches wide, and reaches to the roof of the hall, which has been frescoed. The back of the seat or low screen in front of the veranda is carved outside with the rail ornament; the columns are of the usual [[Nasik Caves|Nasik]] pattern, but without animal figures above: over them the frieze projects considerably, and is carved in the style of Cave 4 at Nasik, the ends of the rafters projecting on the lower fascia, and the upper being carved with rail pattern. Over this is a recess some 2 or 3 feet deep, with the Chaitya arch over it, but without any carving.<ref name="Fergusson 258" />

The hall is 33 feet deep, and about 12 feet wide; but at the back stands a mass of rock over 8 feet wide by 5.5 thick, with a squatting figure roughly sketched out on the front of it. This mass is very rotten behind, and at the left side of it is a well of excellent water.<ref name="Fergusson 258" />

The other caves here are small and uninteresting.<ref name="Fergusson 258" />
<gallery>
Manmodi Caves Ambika Group (Pratik Butte Patil).jpg|Manmodi Caves Ambika Group
Manmodi Caves - Bhootleni Chaitya (Pratik Butte Patil)2.jpg|Manmodi Caves – Bhootleni Chaitya
Manmodi Chaitya Hall facade medallion.jpg|Manmodi Chaitya Hall facade medallion
Manmodi Caves Two story Vihara (Pratik Butte Patil).jpg|Manmodi Caves Two story Vihara
Bhimashankar Caves.jpg|The Bhimashankar caves
Bhimasankar group Chaitya.jpg|The [[Chaitya]] of Bhimasankar group
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Manmodi}}
* [https://kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com/2017/03/17/bhutalinga-caves-bhuta-linga-leni-caves/ Kevin Standage, An Indian Travel Photography Blog (Manmodi caves)]
{{Adjacent communities
| title=Adjacent Buddhist structures
| Centre = [[Junnar]]
| N = [[Lenyadri]] caves
| E =
| SE=
| S = Manmodi Caves
|SW=[[Shivneri Caves]]
| W = [[Tulja Caves]]
}}
{{Indian Buddhist Caves}}

{{Portal|India}}

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

Manmodi Caves - Revision history

Ilushikpub at 07:24, 23 December 2024