Khambhalida Caves, are three Buddhist caves located in Jetpur in

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

Architecture

P. P. Pandya, a prominent archeologist, discovered these Buddhist caves in 1958. These caves are maintained by the Archaeology Department of Gujarat state. The caves are situated at the foot of small hillocks on the banks of a spring. They are carved out of

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

rocks. There are three caves, the central one contains the ''

stupa A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation. In Buddhism, circumamb ...

'' which is known as ''chaitya'' cave. There are two sculptures of

Bodhisattva In Buddhism, a bodhisattva ( ; sa, 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑀺𑀲𑀢𑁆𑀢𑁆𑀯 (Brahmī), translit=bodhisattva, label=Sanskrit) or bodhisatva is a person who is on the path towards bodhi ('awakening') or Buddhahood. In the Early Buddhist schools ...

on the either sides of the gate of the ''chaitya'' cave. On the left, the figure is probably Padmapani under

Ashoka Ashoka (, ; also ''Asoka''; 304 – 232 BCE), popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was the third emperor of the Maurya Empire of Indian subcontinent during to 232 BCE. His empire covered a large part of the Indian subcontinent, ...

-like tree with a female companion and five attendants. There is a

yaksha The yakshas ( sa, यक्ष ; pi, yakkha, i=yes) are a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, but sometimes mischievous or capricious, connected with water, fertility, trees, the forest, treasure and wilderness. They appear in ...

-like dwarf on the left of it holding a basket. The figure on the right is probably

Vajrapani (Sanskrit; Pali: Vajirapāṇi, meaning, "Vajra in ishand") is one of the earliest-appearing bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism. He is the protector and guide of Gautama Buddha and rose to symbolize the Buddha's power. Vajrapāni is also c ...

under Ashoka-like tree with similar attendants. The broad belts of female are similar to that of figures at

Uparkot Caves Uparkot caves, also Uperkot caves, are 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. Caves These caves located at Uperkot beyond the ...

of Junagadh. They are comparable to late

Kushana The Kushan Empire ( grc, Βασιλεία Κοσσανῶν; xbc, Κυϸανο, ; sa, कुषाण वंश; Brahmi: , '; BHS: ; xpr, 𐭊𐭅𐭔𐭍 𐭇𐭔𐭕𐭓, ; zh, 貴霜 ) was a syncretic empire, formed by the Yuezhi, i ...

- Kshatapa period sculptures elsewhere as well as features some late Andhra mannerism. The caves are believed to have come into existence in the 4th or 5th century AD. The another cave on the left is deep and huge and is open in the front. It may have used for meditation by the monks. There are 15 small caves situated near the Khambhalida caves. They are probably carved by the

Lesser Vehicle Hīnayāna (, ) is a Sanskrit term literally meaning the "small/deficient vehicle". Classical Chinese and Tibetan teachers translate it as "smaller vehicle". The term is applied collectively to the ''Śrāvakayāna'' and ''Pratyekabuddhayāna'' pa ...

branch of Buddhism. Buddha Caves in Rajkot District.jpg, The caves Khambhalida Buddhist Caves.jpg, The caves

Other information

A modern large Buddhist temple complex is coming up near by. It is said that for centuries Gir Forest extended till Khambhalida Village.

References

Buddhist caves in India Caves of Gujarat Indian rock-cut architecture Former populated places in India Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India Buddhist monasteries in India Architecture in India Tourist attractions in Rajkot district {{Buddhism-stub

Architecture

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Further reading

References