Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves
Coordinates: 20.2628312°N 85.7860297°E
Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves (Oriya: ଉଦୟଗିରି ଓ ଖଣ୍ଡଗିରି ଗୁମ୍ଫା) are partly natural and partly artificial caves of archaeological, historical and religious importance near the city ofBhubaneswar in Odisha, India. The caves are situated on two adjacent hills, Udayagiri and Khandagiri, mentioned as Kumari Parvat in the Hathigumpha inscription. They have a number of finely and ornately carved caves. It is believed that most of these caves were carved out as residential blocks for Jain monks during the reign of King Kharavela. Udayagiri means "Sunrise Hill" and has 18 caves while Khandagiri has 15 caves.
The caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, called lena or leṇa in the inscriptions, were dug out mostly during the reign of Kharavela for the abode of Jaina ascetics. The most important of this group is Ranigumpha in Udayagiri which is a double storeyed monastery
iB.M. Barua, based on a reading of line 14 of the Hathigumpha inscription, declared that a total of 117 caves were excavated by Kharavela and others on the Kumari hill (Udayagiri). Marshall has counted more than 35 caves in both the hills, while M.M. Ganguli has enumerated only 27 caves.
The number of existing caves at Udayagiri is 18, while Khandagiri has 15. The local names of the existing caves are listed below, numbered according to the enumeration of theArchaeological Survey of India.
The famous caves[edit]
In Udayagiri, Hathigumpha (cave 14) and Ganeshagumpha (cave 10) are especially well known due to art treasures of their sculptures and reliefs as well as due to their historical importance. Rani ka Naur (Queen's Palace cave, cave 1) is also an extensively carved cave and elaborately embellished with sculptural friezes. Khandagiri offers a fine view back over Bhubaneswar from its summit. The Ananta cave (cave 3) depicts carved figures of women, elephants, athletes, and geese carrying flowers.
Inscriptions in Caves in Brahmi[edit]
Hathigumpha inscription[edit]
Main article: Hathigumpha inscription
The Hathigumpha cave ("Elephant Cave") has the Hathigumpha inscription, written by Raja Kharavela, the king of Kalinga in India, during the 2nd century BCE. The Hathigumpha inscription consists of seventeen lines incised in deep cut Brahmi letters on the overhanging brow of a natural cavern Hathigumpha in the south side of the Udayagiri hill. It faces the rock edicts of Asoka at Dhauli, situated about six miles away.
List of Caves at Udayagiri[edit]
- Ranigumpha
- Bajagharagumpha
- Chota Hathigumpha
- Alkapurigumpha
- Jaya-vijayagumpha
- Panasagumpha
- Thakuranigumpha
- Patalapurigumpha
- Mancapurigumpha
- Ganesagumpha
- Jambesvaragumpha
- Vyaghragumpha
- Sarpagumpha
- Hathigumpha
- Dhanagharagumpha
- Haridasagumpha
- Jagammathgumpha
- Rosaigumpha
List of Caves at Khandagiri[edit]
- Tatowa gumpha No.-1
- Tatowa gumpha No.-2
- Ananta gumpha
- Tentuli gumpha
- Khandagiri gumpha
- Dhyana gumpha
- Navamuni gumpha
- Barabhuji gumpha
- Trusula gumpha
- Ambika gumpha
- Lalatendukesari gumpha
- Unnamed
- Unnamed
- Ekadasi gumpha
- Unnamed
The above nomenclature has no historical significance but is accepted at present for the convenience of scholars and general readers. The art of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, being almost contemporaneous with that ofSanchi, has a striking resemblance to it but at the same time retains its own individuality and advanced technique.
| Coordinates: | 20.2625 N 85.7851 E |
| No: | 52 (list of all attractions) |
| Categories: | Jain shrines, Hindu shrines,Rock cut architecture |
| Values: | Art, Architecture, History, Archaeology |
| Rank: | 5 |
| Address: | Asia, India, Orissa, Khurda district, 5 km west from Bhubaneswar |
| Age: | 1st century BC |
| Religion: | Jain, later Hindu |
Hathi Gumpha Cave, entrance. Wikimedia Commons, User LRBurdak, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hathigumpha inscription. Wikimedia Commons, User Windrider24584, CC BY 3.0
Holy man in Khandagiri Cave. Soumyaranjan Dash,Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Two hills - Udayagiri and Khandagiri near Bhubaneswar - are located only some 150 - 200 m apart and contain unique monuments of ancient Indian culture - Udayagiri Caves andKhandagiri Caves. Udayagiri means "Sunrise Hill". Udayagiri has 18 caves, Khandagiri - 15. Count of caves though is different - while some find more than 35 caves in both hills, some find maximum 27 caves.
Some of caves are natural but most were carved by Jain monks during the reign of King Kharavela, belong to earliest Jain rock-cut temples. Art in Udayagiri and Khandagiri has many similarities to the contemporaneous art in Sanchi.
Archaeologists have numbered caves, but nearly all have also individual names.
Hathigumpha inscription
Hathigumpha inscription is valuable evidence left by Kharavela, king of Kalinga (circa 209 - after 170 BC), in 1st century BC. Kharavela was the greatest emperor of Kalinga - ancient Orissa. He was subdued by the great Mauryan king Ashoka. Kharavela was inclining towards Jainism, but also very liberal regarding religious questions.
Hathigumpha inscription is the main source of information about the reign of this king. Inscription was incised over the entrance or Hathi Gumpha and consists of 17 lines of deep incised Brahmi script. The famous rock incisions of Ashoka at Dhauli are located only 9.5 kilometres south-east from Udayagiri - incisions of both great kings are facing each other.
Inscription was discovered by A.Stirling in 1820 who copied it and published. This publication was used by James Princep to provide the first attempt to decipher the inscription in 1830ies. Authentic deciphering of inscription took place in 1885 and was performed by historian Bhagwan Lal Indraji - but numerous mistakes in the inscription and natural deformations have left space for interpretations and controversies.
Inscription starts with the fundamental mantra of Jains - Namokar Mantra. Then it goes about life and deeds of King Kharavela, "the worshipper of all religious orders, the repairer of all shrines of gods".
As Ashoka took over the possessions of Kharavela, previously favoured Jain religion gradually gave a place to Buddhism.
See Udayagiri Caves and Khandagiri Caves, Orissa on the map of India!
Udayagiri Caves and Khandagiri Caves are included in the following lists:
References
- Hathi
- Hathigumpha inscription, JatLand.com. Contains full text of Hathigumpha inscription in Devanagari and English. Accessed in 21st April 2010.
- Udayagiri Complex, Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts. Contains numerous images. Accessed in 22nd April 2010.
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