Nasik caves
Also called: Pandavleni · Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Nasik caves are also called Pandavleni. They are a group of about two dozen Buddhist rock-cut caves on a hill near Nashik in Maharashtra. Most were cut between c. 2nd century BCE and c. 2nd century CE. Most are viharas (monks' halls with cells), and there is also one chaitya hall. Their inscriptions are a key source for the history of the Satavahanas and the Western Kshatrapas, who were rivals for control of the western Deccan.
Example
In Cave 3, an inscription of Gautami Balashri praises her son, the Satavahana king Gautamiputra Satakarni (c. 2nd century CE). It describes him as the destroyer of the Shakas. Another cave records gifts by Ushavadata, son-in-law of the Western Kshatrapa ruler Nahapana.
Don't confuse with
- Nashik is the city. Pandavleni ("caves of the Pandavas") is only a later popular name. The caves are Buddhist and have no link with the Mahabharata.
Related concepts
- Rock-cut architecture
- Barabar caves
- Lomas Rishi cave
- Nagarjuni caves
- Rock-cut monasteries
- Chaitya and vihara
- Bhaja caves
- Karla caves
- Kanheri caves
- Guntupalli caves