General view of cave temples in the Barabar Hills, (Bihar)

The Barabar Caves are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India ^[1], mostly dating from the Mauryan period (322–185 BCE), and some with Ashokan inscriptions, located in the Jehanabad District of Bihar, India, 18 km north of Gaya.

These caves are situated in the twin hills of Barabar and Nagarjuni, dating back to the 3rd century BC, Maurya period^[2], of Ashoka (r. 273 BC to 232 BC.) and his son, Dasaratha, though Buddhists themselves ^[1], who allowed various Jain sects, to flourish under his policy of religious tolerance, these caves were used by ascetics from the Ajivika sect ^[3], founded by Makkhali Gosala, a contemporary of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, and of Mahavira, the last and 24th Tirthankara of Jainism ^[4]. Also found at the site were several rock-cut Buddhist and Hindu sculptures ^[5].

The area was also the setting for the opening of E.M. Forster's book, A Passage to India, the author also visited the site, and later used it, as the Marabar caves in his book ^[3][6][7].

Caves at Barabar Hills

Mauryan architecture in the Barabar Mounts. Grotto of Lomas Rishi. 3rd century BCE.

Plan of the Barabar Caves and an elevation of the entrance to the Lomas Rishi Cave, Barabar, Bihar

Sudama and Lomas Rishi Caves at Barabar, Bihar, a 1870 photograph

Sudama and Lomas Rishi Caves are the earliest examples of rock-cut architecture in India ^[2][8], with architectural detailing, made in the Mauryan period, and became a trend the subsequent centuries ^[9], like the larger Buddhist Chaitya, that were found in Maharashtra, such as in Ajanta and Karla Caves, and greatly influenced the tradition of South Asian rock-cut architecture ^[3]. Near by caves of Nagarjuna are smaller and younger than Barabar caves ^[10]

Most caves at Barabar consist of two chambers, carved entirely out of granite, with a highly polished internal surface. The first chamber was meant for worshippers to congregate in a large rectangular hall, and the second, a small, circular, domed chamber for worship, this inner chamber probably had a small stupa like structure, at some point, though they are now empty.

• Lomas Rishi cave: The arch-like shape facade of Lomas Rishi Caves, imitate the contemporary timber architecture. On the doorway, a row of elephants proceed towards stupa emblems, along the curved architrave ^[11].

• Sumdama cave: This cave was dedicated by Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka in 261 BC, and consist of a circular vaulted chamber with a rectangular mandapa ^[12].

• Vadithi-ka-Kubha cave

• Vapiya-ka-Kubha cave ^[13].
• Karna Chaupar cave ^[14].

Further reading

• Mauryan Architecture and Art - Rock cut architecture The Archaeology of Early Historic South Asia: The Emergence of Cities and States, by Frank Raymond Allchin, George Erdosy. Cambridge University Press, 1995, ISBN 0521376955. Page 247
• History of Rock cut caves in India
• Introduction The Cambridge Companion to E.M. Forster, by David Bradshaw, Contributor David Bradshaw, Cambridge University Press, 2007, ISBN 0521834759. Page 188.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Culture of peace Frontline, Volume 25 - Issue 18 :: Aug. 30-Sep. 12, 2008.
2. ^ ^{a b} Sculptured doorway, Lomas Rishi cave, Barabar, Gaya British Library.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Entrance to one of the Barabar Hill caves British Library.
4. ^ Barabar Hills: Where the Buddhist Emperor Asoka built caves for the Ajivakas www.buddhanet.net.
5. ^ Rock sculptures at Barabar British Library.
6. ^ Barabar caves Times of India, 16 June 2007.
7. ^ The Structure of E. M. Forster's "A Passage to India" "he visited India beforehand in 1912 and in 1921."
8. ^ Architectural history www.indian-architecture.info.
9. ^ An overview of archaeological importance of Bihar Directorate of Archaeology, Govt. of Bihar.
10. ^ Barabar and Nagarjuna Caves.
11. ^ Part of the elephant frieze over the doorway at the Barabar caves. 1790 British Library.
12. ^ Sudama and Lomas Rishi Caves at Barabar Hills, Gaya British Library.
13. ^ Gopi & Kalpi caves, Barabar, Gaya. British Library.
14. ^ Karna Chowpar cave, Barabar Hills. British Library.

See also

• Kumhrar

External links

• Series of images of Barabar Caves
• Detailed notes on The Barabar Caves and its use as Marabar Caves in E.M. Fosters Passage to India

Coordinates: 25°00′47″N 85°03′07″E / 25.01306, 85.05194

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