7 new buddist caves found : GS 1 and Prelims : IAS
1:56 PM
- The caves are Buddhist 'viharas' (residences for monks) with only one of them showing the remains of a 'harmika' (the top railing of a stupa).
- constructed before the Kanheri Caves nearby and probably served as a monsoon shelter for the monks.
- date them between 1st century BCE (or BC) and 5th-6th century CE (or AD).
- simpler in form and they lacked water cisterns, which are found in the more evolved architecture of Kanheri
- found monolithic tools which were prevalent in the 1st century BC. The absence of water cisterns also indicate that monks lived there in the monsoon
- included a study of the area's topography and water resources as most viharas were constructed close to a water source.
- The Kanheri Caves, which date between 1st century BCE and 10th century CE, are famous for their water management and rain water harvesting systems.
- also referred to Pali texts, which describe caves around Rajgir in Bihar, as viharas (residences) of Buddhist monks
- discovery of pot shreds and microlithic tools, and we decided to look for these
- these were excavated from the natural rock. The smooth curve, the plastering, the door beams, the benches to sleep on, were all indications that these were man-made caves
- in case of most Buddhist caves, access was provided by stairs cut into the rock.
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