Kanheri Caves

The over 100 Kanheri Caves ( Marathi: कान्हेरीगुहा, Kanheri guhāḥ; engl. Kanheri Caves ) are among the largely unknown and accordingly by foreign tourists rarely visited Buddhist cave monasteries in the vicinity of Mumbai (India).

Toponym

The name Kanheri is usually derived from the traditional names like Kanhasela, Krishnagiri or Kanhagiri; all these terms mean as much as Black Hill 'or' Black Mountain ', which refers to the surface color of the rock.

Location

The Kanheri Caves are located in the hilly and placed under protected forest of Borivali (Sanjay Gandhi National Park ) in the coastal foothills of the Western Ghats near an ancient trade route between the highlands of the Deccan and the foreshore or the well-known even in ancient port cities such as 40 km northeast of present-day center of Mumbai. The caves are distributed at altitudes of about 150 m to 450 m on the flanks of a consisting of basaltic rock. The Borivali Railway Station is well served by suburban trains; the remaining 5 km in the south-east are best accomplished with taxis or motor rickshaws. The neighboring Mahakali Caves are located about 20 km ( driving distance ) southwest at Andheri.

Dating

Among the more than 50 preserved in the Kanheri Caves are some inscriptions with names of rulers from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The start of construction activities, however, v. by most researchers in the 1st century BC. , dated by some in the 3rd century BC. The last remaining Indian inscription mentions the name of the Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha and dates from the year 853; two inscriptions in Persian Pahlavi script date from the 11th century - that the caves were used at that time still to cult purposes or simply for lodging itinerant merchants, however, is unclear.

The numbering of the 100 cult and caves, Votivstupas, niches and cisterns is not in place due to lack of markings understand. In the following, only the most important caves are listed below:

  • Cave 2 is an approximately 13.60 m wide and 26.30 m deep and 12.90 m high worship hall ( chaitya or chaityagriha ), which is very similar situated about 120 km southeast of Karli: This is a three-aisled portico with elaborate Kapitellschmuck in the form of amalakas and figurative motifs ( kneeling elephant and, Heavenly Love Couples ' ( mithunas ) ) over, but the - missing in handling area - as in Karli. Here is where the actual religious center of the hall - an approximately 4.80 m high anikonischer Stupa, the formerly well -crafted over a wooden fence ( harmika ) and screen attachment ( chhatri ) decreed. The stupa was circumambulating under a conversion ceremony ( pradakshina ), with the near circumambulation - with touch of the Stupa - was probably only allowed monks and high-ranking people. In the vaulted ceiling of the nave stone rafter approaches are available that have been corresponding with woods, whose tracks are just visible, extended; This design enables refers to models of older wooden buildings, but they are all not obtained. Before the cult cave, there is a about 2.20 m deep and 8.50 m wide portico ( mandapa ) with two - attached at a later time - about 5.50 m high and almost fully three-dimensional relief figures of standing Buddha with the hand position of welcome or, granting ' ( varadamudra ), above which, Heavenly beings ' ( apsaras ) with garlands of flowers in the so-called knee flight ' hasten to the, enlightened ' to the honor. In addition, here will find a variety of smaller Buddha images in different sitting positions and with varying hand positions ( mudras ). Outside, there are two pilasters ( stambhas ) with Figurenkapitellen and a bipartite Zaunabgrenzug ( Vedika ) of the sacred precinct of the outside world.
  • Cave 11 is a combined worship and living hall ( vihara ), which enabled the living cells in the lateral monks the opportunity to worship of a seated Buddha statue with teaching gesture ( dharmachakramudra ). The Stupa is surrounded by a fence -like railing ( Vedika ) and surmounted by a cube-shaped stone fence ( harmika ), a stepped element and a screen cap ( chhatri ).
  • In cave 34 one can see sketches of non-executed or severely faded frescoes.
  • In cave 41 we find the representation of a four-armed and eleven bodhisattvas ( Avalokiteshvara ). The four arms and eleven heads are to be interpreted as a sign of his universal power.
  • Cave 90 shows an approximately 5 m wide wall relief and A scratched from the rock mandala; it is one of the oldest extant mandalas at all. Also two inscriptions in Persian Pahlavi writing of the 11th century have been discovered here.
  • In many places along the paths between the caves are found in the rock -hewn troughs and basins - testimony of a sophisticated system for water supply.
  • On three somewhat remote rock terraces there are several remains of stone or brick brick stupas - one assumes that this is a kind memorial cemetery ' for here after her death, burned monks or other high- ranking individuals.

Cave 2 - wall relief of a Votivstupas with umbrella attachment ( chhatri )

Cave 3 - Votivstupa with screen top (next cave 2)

Cave 4 - Votivstupa without shield attachment

Cave 90 - Relief Wall

Cave 2 - god figures with attendants

Cave 2 - snake god ( nagaraja ) with guards

Cave 34 - Buddha - fresco

Marathi language Buddhism Rashtrakuta dynasty Karli, India Maithuna Parikrama Avalokiteśvara
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