Sculptural Art in Early Buddhist (

of Western Maharashtra
(A Stylo-Chrono Study)

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Contents
Preface

vu

List of Figures and Maps

ix

Abbreuiations

XV

1. Introduction

Distribution of Cave Sites

sculptures in Hinayana Buddhist caves of western Maharashtra
Previous Stuciy

Methodology
AnAssessment of the Sculptures
Research

2. Geographic and Historical Background of the Region

Geographical Background

The Kshaharata Rule and later Satvahanas

Stylo-Chrono Categorization of Sculptures in Early Buddhist Caves of

Western Maharashtra
Period I
.

Period I-b

Sculptural Motifs and General Style

Architectural Peculiarities '
Period I-c

Sculptural Motifs and General style

Period I-d
Sculptural Motifs and General Style

Early Satavahanas

Sculptural Motifs and Generat Style

Archi tectural Peculiarities

Historical Background

Sculptural Motifs, their General Style and Dates

Period I-a

Statement of the Problem

3'

t1
11
11

t4
L4
15
1.6
1.6
1,6

T7

17
17
77

(xviii)
18

Architectural Peculiarities

18

Period I-e

18

Sculptural Motifs and General Style

Architecrural Peculiarities
I
sculptural Motifs and design during Period
General Development Noticed in
Period- II

Sculptural Motifs and General Style

Period II-a
Sculptural Motif and General Style
Architectural Peculiarities
Period II-b
Sculptural Motifs and General Style
Architectural Peculiarities
Period II-c
Sculptural Motifs and General Style

19
L9

20
20
20
20
20
2'1.

21.
2'L

22
22
22

Architectural Peculiarities

23

Period II-d

24

Architectural Peculiarities
Period II-e
Sculptural Motifs and General Style
Architectural Peculiarities

4.DescriptiveandAnalyticalAccountofSculpturesinVariousSites
1.. Bhaja Caves

DescriPtion of the Cave22

DescriptionoftheSculpfuralBas-ReliefsontheLowBench
Discussion
SculPtures on the CaPitals
Discussion on the SculPtures

on the back wall

Description of Door-keePer or DrsarapalaYal<shassculptures
Discussion

Narrative Panels
Relief to the Left of the DoorwaY
Identification of the Panel
Discussion
Relief to the Right of the DoorwaY
Identification of the Panel

24
24

24
25
25
25
26

27
27
28
28
30
30
30
31

32
33
33

(xix)

Dirussion

34

Sculptures on the Roof

35

Sculptures in the Interior of the Vihara

Description of Bhaja Cave L2

36

Dirussion on the Sculptures

observation on sculptural style, its Development and Date

38

I i=lkhora Caves

40
40
40
4

Ftee Standing Sculpture

Concluding Observation
-:"

\alsur Caves
Concluding Observation

r- K.:rrdane Caves

Description of the Important Cave

Description of the Sculptures
Discussion on Style of the Sculptures

-{rchitectural Peculiarities

chronological Placement of rhe chaityaHall and its sculptures

Observations
,Concluding
i. ==nar Tuljalena Group of Caves
Tuljalena Group

Architectural Description of the Cave

Concluding Observations

: \cik

Early Caves

\asik Cave 18 and L9

- --rar

39
40

A Brief htroduction to the Caves

Description of Important Caves

Dirussion on in-Situ Sculptures.in Cave 3

Dirussion on the in-Situ Sculptures in Cave
Dirussion on Detached Sculptures

37

Manmodi-Bhutling

Description of Bhutling Chaity a Hall

Description of the Sculptures
Dirussions on the panel
Description of the sculptures Flanking the spandrels of the Arch
Drrussion on the Figures
Other Motifs on the Facade

41.

46
49

50
51

53

JJ
54
54

5/
59
59
60
60
50
60
61
61.

6L

54
64
b5

b5
66

66
67

(xx)
General Discussion on the Architecture and Sculptures of the Cave
Chronological Placement of the Cave and its Sculptures

57

Concluding Observations

58
58

8. Bedsa

9.

Description of Cave Z the Chaitya Hall

Description of the SculPtures

58

Discussion on the SculPtures

7't

Chronology

7L

Concluding Observations

72

69

73

Karle
Description of the Cave
Mithuna Sculptures on the Back Wall of the Verandah

73

Mithunas on either ends of the Screen Wall

Discussion on the Mithunas in the Verandah and screen wall

76

MithunaFigures on the Sidewalls of the Verandah

MithunaFigures Flanking the Large Cluitya Window

L0.

68

74

76

n
n

Discussion on the Pillars within theChaitya Hall and their Capital Figures
General Discussion on the Inscriptions in the Cave

78

AnA4alysis of the Style of Mithunas Figures at Karle

Chronological scheme Derived by scholars for Karle chaityaHall
Analysis of Artistic Elements in Karle for deriving a chronology

80

Concluding Observations

83

Nasik: Later Caves

Sculptures of Period II-a
Sculptures of Period tr-b

79

81
81

83

u
85

Cave 3

85

Discussion on the SculPtures

86

Concluding Remarks

93

Cave

93

Sculptures of Period II-c

94

CaveZ

94

Cave-4

95

Nasik Cavel7

95

Sculptures in the Cave

96

Cave24

98

Concluding Observations

100

(xxi)
11.

Kuda

101

Sculptures
Concluding Observations
UL Kanheri
- -Diseussion on the Sculptunes Period tr-d
Concluding Observations
Discussion on the

101
104

104
106

o_f

1f3

Eone Common Sculptural and Architectural Motifa and their Stylo-Chrono Developments

ll4

Yakshas

114

Mithuna

115

C'aia-Iakshmi
Nagas
Animal Figures
NaturalAnimals
Eephants
fions
Dull
Architectural Elements
Pillars Capitals
\bdika or Railing Design
(Oonclusion

ll7
tl7

Smre Inscriptions in Western Indian Caves that have a Direct Bearing with the Chronology
Bibliography

119

120

L20

l2l
l2l
122
122

.124
126

135

140