Aurangabad Caves
Aurangabad Caves are artificial caves, dug out of the rather soft rock during
the 6th and 7th century. This caves are found on two separate locations, called
Western Group Caves (caves 1-5) and Eastern Group Caves (caves 6-10), about
1km from each other. Each group has five caves. The architecture and iconography
is influenced by Tantric Hinduism.
Cave four of the Western Group Caves is the oldest cave. It is a Hinayana Chaitya
with a ridged roof like the Karla Cave near Lonavala. Hinayana (Sanskrit: Lesser
Vehicle) is the more orthodox, conservative schools of Buddhism. Chaitya (Sanskrit)
is the word for a funeral monument. There is a stupa in front of it, now partially
collapsed.
The other four Western caves are viharas, which are an early type of Buddhist
monastery consisting of an open court surrounded by open cells accessible through
an entrance porch. The viharas in India were originally constructed to shelter
the monks. Cave 3, the most fascinating cave of the Western Group, is supported
by 12 finely carved columns. They show sculptures portraying scenes from the
Jataka tales.
Cave 6 belongs to the Eastern Group Caves, and shows very well preserved sculptures
of women, which are notable for their exotic hairstyles and ornamentation. There
is also a large Buddha figure and an idol of Ganesh located in this cave.
Cave 7 is the most interesting of the Aurangabad caves. Most impressive are
the sculptures, figures of women which are scantily clad and ornately bejewelled.
They show the rise of Tantric Buddhism during this period. To the left of Cave
7 is a huge Bodhisattva praying for deliverance from the 8 dangers: fire, the
sword of the enemy, chains, shipwreck, lions, snakes, mad elephant and demon
(representing death).
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