The Shivneri Caves are artificial caves dug for

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

monks circa the 1st century CE. These are now famous tourist attractions located on Shivneri Hill, about 2 km Southwest of

Junnar Junnar (Marathi pronunciation: ͡ʒunːəɾ is a city in the Pune district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city has history dating back to the first millennium. The nearby fort of Shivneri was the birthplace of Maratha king Chatrapa ...

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 ...

. Other caves around the city of Junnar are:

Manmodi Caves The Manmodi Caves are a complex of a rock-cut caves about 3 km to the south of the city of Junnar in India. Other caves surrounding the city of Junnar are: Tulja Caves, Shivneri Caves and Lenyadri caves. It is thought that the caves were p ...

Lenyadri Lenyadri, sometimes called Ganesa Lena, Ganesh Pahar Caves, are a series of about 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves, located about north of Junnar in Pune district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Other caves surrounding the city of Junnar are: M ...

, and the

Tulja Caves Tulja Caves (Tulja Lena) are located beyond the Shivneri hill, about 4km to the west of Junnar, India. Other caves surrounding the city of Junnar are: Manmodi Caves, Shivneri Caves and Lenyadri caves. The cave has circular Chaitya hall surroun ...

Description

The Shivneri

caves are located near Shivneri Fort on the top of the hill, where Shivaji Maharaja was born. It is a group of 60 caves that were excavated in the first part of the 1st century CE. At the beginning of the 2nd century CE, these caves were a flourishing center of Buddhist activities. The caves are essentially made of viharas or small cells, but there are also

chaitya A chaitya, chaitya hall, chaitya-griha, (Sanskrit:''Caitya''; Pāli: ''Cetiya'') refers to a shrine, sanctuary, temple or prayer hall in Indian religions. The term is most common in Buddhism, where it refers to a space with a stupa and a rounded ...

s. The caves are scattered on three sides of the west-east-south triangle formed by Shivneri Mountain.Buddhist Cave Temples Of India, by RS Mauchope, 193

/ref> The caves are scattered around the hill, and categorized into several groups: the East group (1, 2 and 3), the West group, and the South group. Among the most important caves, we can mention: ** Cave 26 - a two-story Vihara ** Cave of 45 - Known as "Bara-kotri", it has 12 cells for resident monks. Shivneri_fort1.JPG, Shivneri hill, east side, seen from

. Caves around Junnar.jpg, Location of Buddhist caves, including Shivneri Caves, around the city of Junnar. Shivneri caves East facing group 3.jpg, Shivneri East face, Group 3. Shivneri East facing Group 1.jpg, Shivneri East face, Group 1.

South Face: Great Chaitya (Cave 47)

Cave 47 is on the south face of Shivneri (). It is one of the most remarkable Chaityas of the group. Inside are two rounded pillars and tiered capitals, similar to those found in

Nasik Nashik (, Marathi: aːʃik, also called as Nasik ) is a city in the northern region of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Situated on the banks of river Godavari, Nashik is the third largest city in Maharashtra, after Mumbai and Pune. Nashik ...

(

Pandavleni Caves The Nasik Caves, or Trirashmi Leni (''Trirashmi'' being the name of the hills in which the caves are located, ''Leni'' being a Marathi word for caves), are a group of 23 caves carved between the 1st century BCE and the 3rd century CE, though a ...

). The hall measures 9.9x6.5m, and has a height of 5.8m. The cave contains a very beautiful

stūpa 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, circumambu ...

with a "rail pattern" at the top. It is surmounted by a parasol. The ceiling is painted in color, consisting of squares in which are concentric circles of color (orange, brown and white). The

has on its outer face the dedicatory inscription of a merchant: Shivneri south facing group of caves.jpg, Remains of one of the cells of the south face of Shivneri. Plan and section of the Shivneri Chaitya cave.jpg, Map and section of the

Chaitya A chaitya, chaitya hall, chaitya-griha, (Sanskrit:''Caitya''; Pāli: ''Cetiya'') refers to a shrine, sanctuary, temple or prayer hall in Indian religions. The term is most common in Buddhism, where it refers to a space with a stupa and a rounded ...

. Shivneri Chaitya cave no47 dagoba.jpg,

Stūpa 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, circumambu ...

, cave n ° 47. Shivneri Chaitya cave no47 ceiling paintings.jpg, Ceiling paintings, cave n ° 47. Shivenri Chaitya pillar.jpg, Pillar of the Chaitya cave. Shivneri Chaitya inscription.jpg, The dedicatory inscription of the Chaitya.

Inscriptions by Yavanas

Two Buddhist inscriptions made by

Yavanas The word Yona in Pali and the Prakrits, and the analogue Yavana in Sanskrit and Yavanar in Tamil, were words used in Ancient India to designate Greek speakers. "Yona" and "Yavana" are transliterations of the Greek word for "Ionians" ( grc, � ...

(

Indo-Greeks The Indo-Greek Kingdom, or Graeco-Indian Kingdom, also known historically as the Yavana Kingdom (Yavanarajya), was a Hellenistic-era Greek kingdom covering various parts of Afghanistan and the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent (p ...

) were found in Shivneri. They suggest the involvement of men of Greek descent with Buddhism in India, as well as the continued presence and gradual acculturation of the Greeks in India in the 1st century CE.The Greek-Indians of Western India: A Study of the Yavana and Yonaka Buddhist Cave Temple Inscriptions, 'The Indian International Journal of Buddhist Studies', NS 1 (1999-2000

/ref> ;Yavana inscription of cave 54 Shivneri Yavana inscription

The inscription starts with the Buddhist symbol of the

swastika The swastika (卐 or 卍) is an ancient religious and cultural symbol, predominantly in various Eurasian, as well as some African and American cultures, now also widely recognized for its appropriation by the Nazi Party and by neo-Nazis. It ...

(non-inverted), just before the word "Yavanasa". ;Yavana inscription of cave 67 Shivneri Cave 67 Yavana inscription

On this second inscription, the Buddhist symbols of the

triratna The Triratna ( pi, or ; sa, or ) is a Buddhist symbol, thought to visually represent the Three Jewels of Buddhism (the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha). Symbol The Triratna symbol is composed of: * A lotus flower within a circle. * A dia ...

and of the

(reversed) are positioned on both sides of the first word "Yavanasa". Other similar inscriptions mentioning donations from Yavanas have been found at

Karla Caves The Karla Caves, Karli Caves, Karle Caves or Karla Cells, are a complex of ancient Buddhist Indian rock-cut caves at Karli near Lonavala, Maharashtra. It is just 10.9 Kilometers away from Lonavala. Other caves in the area are Bhaja Caves, P ...

, as well as

.The Greek-Indians of Western India: A Study of the Yavana and Yonaka Buddhist Cave Temple Inscriptions, '' The Indian International Journal of Buddhist Studies, NS 1 (1999-2000
pp83-109
/ref>

References

{{Portal, India Buddhist caves in India Caves of Maharashtra Indian rock-cut architecture Former populated places in India Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India Buddhist monasteries in India Buddhist temples in India Architecture in India Caves containing pictograms in India