Kuda Caves

Kuda Caves
Kuda Caves
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Coordinates	18°17′06″N73°04′25″E / 18.2850°N 73.0737°E / 18.2850; 73.0737

Kuda Caves are located in the small village of Kuda, on the eastern side of the north shore of Murud-Janjira in south Konkan, India. These fifteen Buddhist caves are small, simple, and were excavated in first century BCE. ^[1]

The verandah of Chaitya has several reliefs of the Buddha, carved with symbols of lotus, wheel and Nagas. Later in 5th/6th century CE, the Buddhist branch of the Mahayana took over the caves and added their sculptures. ^[1] The first cave has ancient writing on its wall. The sixth cave entrance is adorned with elephants. ^[2]

The thirty inscriptions describe donations by lay Buddhists and Buddhist monks. Other donors include an iron monger, a banker, a gardener, a writer, physician, a flower vendor and a minister. ^[1]

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  Stupa
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  Inscription
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  Reliefs
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  Reliefs
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  Reliefs
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  Reliefs
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  Reliefs
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  Guardian elephant
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References

1. Ahir, D. C. (2003). Buddhist sites and shrines in India : history, art, and architecture (1. ed.). Delhi: Sri Satguru Publ. pp. 197–198. ISBN   8170307740.
2. Gunaji, Milind (2010). Offbeat tracks in Maharashtra (2nd ed.). Mumbai: Popular Prakashan. pp. 222–223. ISBN   978-8179915783.

Other websites

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