The Ghatotkach Caves are located 18 km to the west of Ajantha, near Jinjala village, India.[1]
The caves include three Buddhist caves, one is a chaitya and two are viharas. The caves were excavated in the 6th century AD, and were influenced by Mahayana Buddhism.[1]
The caves have an inscription by Varahadeva, a minister of the Vakataka dynasty under King Harishena (r. c. 475 – c. 500 CE).[2] Varahadeva is also known for a decatory inscription in Cave 16 at Ajanta caves in which he affirms his devotion to the Buddhist faith: "regarding the sacred law as his only companion, (he was) extremely devoted to the Buddha, the teacher of the world".[2]
The inscription at Ghatotkacha Cave is about the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.[1] At the same time, Varahadeva proudly affirms his Hindu heritage.[2] The inscription gives a long genealogy of the donor's family. It includes mention of a person named Soma, who had Kshatriya as well as Brahmana wives.[3]
The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation advises that the caves are only for the adventurous traveller as access is difficult.[4]
The Ghatotkacha Caves and their environment.
Plan of the main Ghatotkacha cave
Ghatotkacha cave inscription
Ghatotkacha inscription (translation)
^ abcAhir, D. C. (2003). Buddhist sites and shrines in India : history, art, and architecture (1. ed.). Delhi: Sri Satguru Publ. pp. 191–192. ISBN 8170307740.
^ abcSpink, Walter (2006). Ajanta: History and Development, Volume 5 Cave by Cave. BRILL. p. 180. ISBN 9789047411871.
^Singh, Upinder (2009). History of Ancient and Early Medieval India; From the Stone Age to the 12th Century. Pearson Education.
^Vision Tourism 2020 – Aurangabad District Perspective Draft Plan(PDF). Aurangabad: Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. November 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2013.[permanent dead link]
The Ghatotkach Caves are located 18 km to the west of Ajantha, near Jinjala village, India. The caves include three Buddhist caves, one is a chaitya and...
Ghatotkacha (Sanskrit: घटोत्कच, IAST: Ghaṭotkaca, literally: "Bald Pot") is a prominent character in the story of Mahabharata. His name comes from the...
in India. Ajanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Universally regarded as masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, the caves include paintings...
Bhaja Caves are a group of 22 rock-cut caves dating back to the 2nd century BC located off the Mumbai - Pune expressway near the city of Pune, India. The...
The Barabar Hill Caves (Hindi बराबर, Barābar) are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, dating from the Maurya Empire (322–185 BCE), some with...
Kilometers away from Lonavala. Other caves in the area are Bhaja Caves, Patan Buddhist Cave, Bedse Caves and Nasik Caves. The shrines were developed over...
region. Other caves include the Billasurgam caves, Sanyasula caves, Yaganti caves, Yerrajari caves, and the Muchchatla Chintamanu caves (caves are called...
suburb of Mumbai in Maharashtra, India. The caves were originally Buddhist viharas. These 6th century caves are located in a corner of Borivali- an otherwise...
Hidimb. Thereafter, Hidimba married Bhima and gave birth to their son Ghatotkacha. The veneration of Hidimba Devi holds significant cultural prominence...
caves. The other six caves are (i) Karna Chaupar, (ii) Sudama Cave, (iii) Vishmitra Cave, (iv) Gopi Cave, (v) Vapiyaka Cave, and (vi) Vadathika Cave....
The Patan Buddhist caves are recently discovered rock-cut caves, near Patan, Maharashtra, in the district of Satara. Eleven caves were discovered all together...
a list of caves in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Chandrapur: A team of Nagpur University archeological department discovered two caves during an excavation...
The Buddhist caves in India. Maharashtra state Aurangabad Dist. Ellora caves form an important part of Indian rock-cut architecture, and are among the...
Caves, are three Buddhist caves located in Jetpur in Gujarat, India. Archeologist P. P. Pandya discovered these Buddhist caves in 1958. These caves are...
Saptparni Cave, also referred to as Sapta parni guha (Saraiki) or sattapaṇṇi guhā (Pali), literally Seven-leaves-cave (cognate with sapta, sept), is a...
Aurangabad Caves – twelve 3rd-century Buddhist caves on the campus of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad. GhatotkachaCave (Aurangabad)...
Bojjannakonda and Lingalakonda are two Buddhism rock-cut caves on adjacent hillocks, situated near a village called Sankaram, Anakapalle of ancient Kalinga...
halls. The caves were carved out before rock cut architecture begins in the Maharashtra. According to some historians, the date of caves can not be traced...
Rakshasas, including Anjanaparvan (the powerful son of Ghatotkacha), and defeates Ghatotkacha as well, but failed to counter his illusions. He also stands...
Empire c. 240-280 CE, and was succeeded by his son, Ghatotkacha, c. 280-319 CE, followed by Ghatotkacha's son, Chandragupta I, c. 319-335 CE. "Che-li-ki-to"...
of writers or scribes (Prathama-Kayastha) Ghatotkacha-gupta (not to be confused with his ancestor Ghatotkacha) governed the Eran region during Kumaragupta's...
which Hidimba was killed. Bhima married Hidimbi and they had a son named Ghatotkacha, who had magical powers. Legend has it the boulders were part of the...
and the noted Sanskrit poet Kalidasa may have been his court poet. The cave shrines at Udayagiri were also built during his rule. "Chandra" inscriptions...
mounting upon an elephant huge as a hill, drove towards the Rakshasa, Ghatotkacha. On the field of battle, with the mighty elephant of great speed, Bhagadatta...
Pandava brothers of Mahabharata), married him and had a child named Ghatotkacha. A large cylinder about 3 metres (9.8 ft) in circumference and 2 metres...
Global Information
