Dhamnar Cave Monastery
The Dhamnar or Dharmarajeshwar Cave Monastery is a Buddhist cave monastery in the Mandsaur district in the west of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh . Centuries later, a Hindu temple was carved out of the rock in the immediate vicinity .
location
The Dhamnar cave monastery is located a good 3 km (dirt road and footpath) southeast of the village of Chandwasa or a good 78 km ( drive ) northeast of the city of Mandsaur in the southwestern tip of Madhya Pradesh near the border with the state of Rajasthan at an altitude of approx. 450 m . The nearest train station is in the town of Bhawani Mandi (approx. 54 km northeast).
history
The Dhamnar cave monastery, which consisted of numerous cult caves ( chaityas ) , dwelling caves ( viharas ) , votive stupas, etc. was not far from an old trade route. The construction of the complex probably began in the 2nd or 3rd century; in the 8th or 9th century (perhaps earlier) the Buddhist part was abandoned. During this time, the Dharmarajeshwar temple, which was also completely carved out of the rock, was a Hindu temple comparable to the Kailasanatha temple of Ellora .
Buddhist part
caves
The natural stone here is called laterite ; it is porous and shows strong signs of weathering. The original religious and cult center of the complex is a comparatively small, non-arched Chaitya hall (called Elephant stable ) with a stupa in the apse-like rear part. A few meters to the left there is a much larger and later Chaitya hall (called Bhim Bazaar ) with (later?) Attached monk cells; to the side of the entrance there are two relief stupas. Further caves follow.
Sculptures
Between and in the rock caves there are numerous Buddha images in a sitting, standing or lying position. Some Chaitya false windows ( chandrasalas ) serve as decorative motifs.
Hindu temple
The Dharmarajeshwar temple, which dates from the 8th or early 9th century, was also completely carved out of the rock; however, it shows a completely different "architecture" conception, which obviously refers to the free-standing Hindu temples of the time (e.g. in Gyaraspur or Gwalior ). It consists of a vestibule ( mandapa ) followed by a cella ( garbhagriha ) . In the cella there is a cult image of Harihara , a synthesis of the two main Hindu gods Shiva and Vishnu ; later a Shiva lingam was added so that the worship of Shiva prevails overall. The exterior of the temple shows numerous decorative udgama panels, as well as an articulated shikhara tower with an amalaka keystone; as is common in early Hindu temples, there is no figurative ornament.
A smaller temple, also carved out of the rock, without a vestibule, but with a vestibule ( antarala ), stands in the immediate vicinity of the main temple.
See also
About 60 kilometers to the southeast are the rarely visited Buddhist cave monasteries of Kolvi , Binnayaga and Hathiagor .
literature
- Kailash Chand Jain: Malwa Through the Ages, from the Earliest Times to 1305 AD Motilal Banarsidass Publ. 1972, pp. 426f, ISBN 812080824X .
Web links
- Dhamnar-Pechersk Lavra - Photos and brief information (English)
- Dhamnar-Pechersk Lavra - Photos and brief information (English)
Coordinates: 24 ° 11 ′ 35 ″ N , 75 ° 29 ′ 53 ″ E