Evolution of Cave Traditions: Chaityas, Viharas & Artistry

Introduction

Post-Mauryan period witnessed the continuation and evolution of cave traditions in India, with caves serving as religious, artistic, and architectural expressions across various regions and dynasties.

Rock-Cut Caves

• This period saw the development of two types of caves: 
  • Chaityas 
  • Viharas [UPSC 2013]
• The caves were generally decorated with human and animal figures, they also had courtyards and stone screen walls.

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Cave Tradition in Western India

• It hosts many Buddhist caves dating back to the 2nd century BC.
• Main Architectural Types:
  • Apsidal vault-roof chaitya halls (found at Ajanta, Pitalkhora, Bhaja).
  • Apsidal vault roof pillarless Hall (found at Thana-Nadsur in Maharashtra).
  • Flat roofed quadrangular hall with a circular chamber at the back (found at Kondivite in Maharashtra).
• Important Sites of Rock-cut Caves: Vihara caves at Nashik, Ganeshleni at Junnar (Maharashtra), and Kanheri caves in Mumbai.

• In Karla, the biggest rock-cut chaitya hall was excavated & decorated with human and animal figures.
• Some of the important vihara caves are at Ajanta Caves, Bedsa Caves and Nashik Caves.
• The vihara caves at Nashik were excavated with front pillars carved with ghata-base and ghata-capital with human figures.  
• Other Cave Sites: Bhaja Caves near Pune has Buddhist caves. [UPSC 2023], Kanheri in Mumbai
• Junnar has the largest cave excavations
  • Vihara cave was also excavated at Junnar in Maharashtra, which is popularly known as Ganeshleni because an image of Ganesha belonging to a later period was installed in it.

Cave Tradition in Eastern India

Buddhist caves have been excavated mainly in the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Guntupalli Cave (Andhra Pradesh)

• The caves were excavated in the second century BC. The cave is relatively small compared to the caves of western India. 
  • It is among the unique sites where structured stupas, viharas and caves are excavated in one place. 
  • It has circular chaitya cave and rectangular vihara caves
• Other Cave Sites in Andhra: Rampaerrampallam, Anakapalli and Dhanyakataka.
• Anakapalli in Visakhapatnam: A huge rock-cut stupa was carved out of the hillock during the fourth–fifth centuries AD. 
  • It is a unique site as it has the biggest rock-cut stupas in the country.
• Dhanyakataka (Andhra Pradesh): Prominent Buddhist center under the Mahasanghikas. [UPSC 2023]

Udaygiri-Khandagiri Caves (Odisha)

• They have inscriptions of Kharavela Jain kings. 
• According to the inscriptions, the caves were meant for Jain monks.
• The figures in this cave are voluminous, moving freely in the picture space. 
  • Some caves in this complex were excavated later, sometime in the eighth–ninth centuries AD.
• There are numerous single-cell excavations. 

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Conclusion

• The post-Mauryan era saw the proliferation of cave architecture, reflecting diverse cultural, religious, and artistic influences. 
  • These caves remain significant cultural landmarks, preserving the rich heritage of ancient India.

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