Udayagiri and Khandagiri
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The Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves near Bhubaneswar in the state of Odisha are among the oldest cave monasteries in India . The complex should not be confused with the Udayagiri Buddhist monastery complex, which is about 60 km to the northeast .
location
The Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves, opposite each other at a distance of about 100 m, are located in a rocky terrain about 10 km (driving distance) southwest of the city of Bhubaneswar and can be easily reached by taxis.
history
According to the inscriptions that have been preserved, the complex consisting of around 33 caves - unlike most of the cave monasteries in India - is exclusively attributable to the religion of Jainism . Because the names of rulers are mentioned (the oldest is that of King Kharavela from the Chedi dynasty), these inscriptions and with them some of the caves can be traced back to the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. To be dated. Since hardly any stylistic differences can be recognized, the other caves are mostly dated to the same time or slightly later. One of the latest structures is probably the upper part of the two- story cave No. 1 ( Rani Gumpha ). The complex was probably later taken over by Hindu ascetics, but at some point it was forgotten and was only 'rediscovered' in 1825 by a British officer.
architecture
The Udayagiri and Khandagiri-Jain caves are fundamentally different from the caves of the Deccan - they have no depth, which corresponds above all to the communal spirit and coexistence of Buddhist monasteries; they are actually rather single cells for monks living ascetically. Only a few caves have broad, but not very deep vestibules, but from there only individual cells are carved into the rear rock wall. In addition, these cells are also attached at different heights so that there is no dominant main level - such as B. in Ajanta or Ellora - results. There is also no communal cult area, because ascetics are usually loners and individual thinkers.
Only the entrances - often exaggerated by keel arches belonging to the earliest of world architecture - sometimes have decorative motifs; the interior of the cells, on the other hand, is completely unadorned. As a rule, one cannot even stand upright inside the mostly windowless cells; they are therefore only suitable as a covered meditation and sleeping place protected from sun and rain, although the latter is only possible with bent legs due to its small size.
The caves No. 10 by Udayagiri ( Ganeshagumpha ) and No. 3 by Khandagiri ( Ananta gumpha ) show supporting elements in the respective vestibules that are otherwise only found in wooden architecture and - in a more developed form - in the Hindu temples of the Indian High Middle Ages ( Khajuraho , Bhubaneswar etc.) can be found.
- Images of single cells
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sculpture
The fact that cult images of Jain Tirthankaras can not be found anywhere is striking . The researchers see this as a further indication of the early construction period, because - similar to Buddhist art - figurative representations of the venerated people in Jain art emerged relatively late (2nd / 3rd century AD). Other pictorial themes such as processions, depictions of elephants with wreaths of flowers or the gajalakshmi theme, popular in all Indian religions , were, however, often presented above the entrances to the cells. The entrance area to cave 12 of Udayadiri ( Vyaghragumpha ) is even designed as a torn open lion or tiger jaw.
Udayagiri, cave No. 1
Udayagiri, cave No. 1
Udayagiri, cave No. 1
Udayagiri, cave No. 10
Kandhagiri, cave No. 3
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caves
| Udayagiri caves | Khandagiri caves |
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See also
literature
- Debala Mitra: Udayagiri & Khandagiri. Archaeological Survey of India , Delhi 1992
Web links
- Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves - Photos + Info (English)
- Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves - Photos + Info (English)
- Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves - Photos
Coordinates: 20 ° 15 ′ 0 ″ N , 85 ° 45 ′ 10 ″ E