Historical Geography of Ancient India c9.126

c9.126

Kārli.—In the Borghāṭā hills between Bombay and Poona there are two well-known Buddhist cave temples at Kārli and Bhāja. They are all dated about the beginning of the Christian era. The caves at Kārli are situated about two miles to the north of the Bombay-Poona road. The nearest railway station is Malavli. The names of Nahapāṇa and Uṣabhadāta occur in the inscriptions on the caves. In the two inscriptions mention is made of the great king Dhutapāla, supposed to be Devabhūti of the Śuṅga dynasty. The pillars of these caves are quite perpendicular. The original screen is superseded by a stone one ornamented with sculpture. At the entrance of these caves stands a pillar surmounted by four lions with gaping mouths and facing four quarters. On the right hand side stands a Śiva temple and close to it there is a second pillar surmounted by a cakra or wheel. The outer porch is wider than the body of the building. There are many miniature temple-fronts crowned with a Caitya-window. The pairs of large figures on each side of the doors appear like those at Kanheri. Buddha is here attended by Padmapāṇi, and most probably Mañjuśrī is seated on the Sihāsana with his feet on the lotus. The entrance consists of three doorways under a gallery. There are fifteen pillars, and their bases consist of the water-pot of Lakṣmī; the shaft is octagonal representing the Saṃgha. From architectural stand-point all these caves are of high order. The net-work (jāli-work) is almost perfect. The Caitya in caves Nos. 1 and 2 is a three-storied Vihāra. The top storey has a verandah with four pillars. On the left side in the top storey there is a raised platform in front of five cells. The doors are well fitted. The cave No. 3 is a two-storied Vihāra. The cave No. 4 is situated to the south of the Caitya, and it appears from inscriptions that it was given by Haraphana in the reign of the Andhra king Gautamīputra Puḷamāyī (For the inscriptions in the caves at Kārli, vide E.I., VI, 47ff.).