Bava Pyara caves (also known as Baba Pyara caves) are an example of ancient man-made caverns. The caves are a part of the Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups situated in the eastern part of Junagadh of the Indian state of Gujarat. Bava Pyara caves contains artworks of both Buddhism and Jainism.
These caves are arranged in three lines; the first line on the north-facing southwards, the second line on the south from the east end of the first line, and the third line runs back of the second line in west-north-west. The second line has a primitive flat-roofed chaitya cave having simple cells on either side of it with extra cells on the north and east of it.[1]
The Bava Pyara caves were visited by James Burgess, an English archaeologist and founder of The Indian Antiquary. He concluded that they have affiliated with both Buddhism and Jainism. According to Burgess these caves were initially built for Buddhists bhikkhus and were in a later period occupied by Jain ascetics. He was not certain about the exact age of the ancient caves. One fragmentary inscription was found in the Bava Pyara cave that affirms its affiliation to Jainism because one term in that inscription is exclusively used by Jains. The inscription was read as "केवलज्ञान संप्राप्तानां जीतजरामरणानां ".[1][2][3]
The term kevalgyan was used exclusively by Jains. Scholar H. D. Sankalia attributes these caves to Jainism because of some auspicious symbols typical of Jainism that is depicted above the door's frame. Sankalia recorded about eleven auspicious symbols, "Nandhyavarta", "Swastika", "Darpan", "Bhadrasana", "Meen Yugal" and "Purna Ghata". Such symbols were also found on Ayagpattas from Kankali Teela Mathura. About five such symbols are found in another cave of Bava pyara Caves. These symbols are in a bad state and not recorded, although they were identified as Darpan, Meen Yugal, Purna Ghat, Meen Yugal, Darpan. On a small entrance of one of the caves in the second row at the south end are two symbols depicting Vyala figures. Burgess and Sanklia failed to notice them. According to Madhusudan Dhaky, based on the Vyala figure, the Bava pyara cave is from the 2nd or 3rd century AD.[4] Sankalia claimed that the Chaityagruh containing cave should be at least from the 2nd century BC, and caves with symbols carving should be hailed from 2nd or 3rd century AD.[1]
Image gallery
Bava Pyara caves
Bava Pyara caves
Bava Pyara caves
Bava Pyara caves
References
^ abcHasmukh Dhirajlal Sankalia (1941). The Archaeology of Gujarat: Including Kathiawar. Natwarlal & Company. pp. 47–49. Alt URL 3 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine
^Aspects of Jaina art and architecture, Umakant Premanand Shah, Madhusudan A. Dhaky Gujarat State Committee for the Celebration of 2500th Anniversary of Bhagavān Mahāvīra Nirvāna: distributors, L.D. Institute of Indology, 1975, page no. 75
^Journal of the Oriental Institute, Volume 49, page no. 83
^Aspects of Jaina art and architecture, Umakant Premanand Shah, Madhusudan A. Dhaky Gujarat State Committee for the Celebration of 2500th Anniversary of Bhagavān Mahāvīra Nirvāna: distributors, L.D. Institute of Indology, 1975, page no. 77–78
History of Baba Pyara cave 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
January 20, 2023
bava, pyara, caves, bava, pyara, caves, also, known, baba, pyara, caves, example, ancient, made, caverns, caves, part, junagadh, buddhist, cave, groups, situated, eastern, part, junagadh, indian, state, gujarat, bava, pyara, caves, contains, artworks, both, bu. Bava Pyara caves also known as Baba Pyara caves are an example of ancient man made caverns The caves are a part of the Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups situated in the eastern part of Junagadh of the Indian state of Gujarat Bava Pyara caves contains artworks of both Buddhism and Jainism Bava Pyara cavesBava Pyara cavesShow map of IndiaShow map of GujaratCoordinates21 31 12 N 70 28 12 E 21 519878 N 70 470133 E 21 519878 70 470133 Coordinates 21 31 12 N 70 28 12 E 21 519878 N 70 470133 E 21 519878 70 470133Plan of Bava Pyara caves Contents 1 Caves 2 Image gallery 3 References 4 External linksCaves EditThese caves are arranged in three lines the first line on the north facing southwards the second line on the south from the east end of the first line and the third line runs back of the second line in west north west The second line has a primitive flat roofed chaitya cave having simple cells on either side of it with extra cells on the north and east of it 1 The Bava Pyara caves were visited by James Burgess an English archaeologist and founder of The Indian Antiquary He concluded that they have affiliated with both Buddhism and Jainism According to Burgess these caves were initially built for Buddhists bhikkhus and were in a later period occupied by Jain ascetics He was not certain about the exact age of the ancient caves One fragmentary inscription was found in the Bava Pyara cave that affirms its affiliation to Jainism because one term in that inscription is exclusively used by Jains The inscription was read as क वलज ञ न स प र प त न ज तजर मरण न 1 2 3 The term kevalgyan was used exclusively by Jains Scholar H D Sankalia attributes these caves to Jainism because of some auspicious symbols typical of Jainism that is depicted above the door s frame Sankalia recorded about eleven auspicious symbols Nandhyavarta Swastika Darpan Bhadrasana Meen Yugal and Purna Ghata Such symbols were also found on Ayagpattas from Kankali Teela Mathura About five such symbols are found in another cave of Bava pyara Caves These symbols are in a bad state and not recorded although they were identified as Darpan Meen Yugal Purna Ghat Meen Yugal Darpan On a small entrance of one of the caves in the second row at the south end are two symbols depicting Vyala figures Burgess and Sanklia failed to notice them According to Madhusudan Dhaky based on the Vyala figure the Bava pyara cave is from the 2nd or 3rd century AD 4 Sankalia claimed that the Chaityagruh containing cave should be at least from the 2nd century BC and caves with symbols carving should be hailed from 2nd or 3rd century AD 1 Image gallery Edit Bava Pyara caves Bava Pyara caves Bava Pyara caves Bava Pyara cavesReferences Edit a b c Hasmukh Dhirajlal Sankalia 1941 The Archaeology of Gujarat Including Kathiawar Natwarlal amp Company pp 47 49 Alt URL Archived 3 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine Aspects of Jaina art and architecture Umakant Premanand Shah Madhusudan A Dhaky Gujarat State Committee for the Celebration of 2500th Anniversary of Bhagavan Mahavira Nirvana distributors L D Institute of Indology 1975 page no 75 Journal of the Oriental Institute Volume 49 page no 83 Aspects of Jaina art and architecture Umakant Premanand Shah Madhusudan A Dhaky Gujarat State Committee for the Celebration of 2500th Anniversary of Bhagavan Mahavira Nirvana distributors L D Institute of Indology 1975 page no 77 78External links Edit India portal Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bava Pyara Caves Baba Pyara Junagadh Buddhist caves Archived 27 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine History of Baba Pyara cave Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Baba Pyare Khapra Kodia Caves Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bava Pyara Caves amp oldid 1127521584, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
