Page 6 - Jan-Mar 2016

ROCk-CUT MARVELS

Rock-cut caves are sanctified and man-made caves. They were used as
temples, shelters and tombs and served as Buddhist, Jain monasteries
whereas some were dedicated to Hindu gods and deities.

Cave architecture in india is said to come in prominence in 3rd century bC. it
holds a special place in the history of indian architecture. it is different from
traditional ways of construction. some of the finest examples of rock-cut
architecture can be seen in the form of ancient Chaityas (prayer halls), Viharas
(residences), temples etc. built during the rise of buddhism and Jainism in
india. This rock-cut architecture was produced by cutting and carving out
solid rocks. There are many such examples which throw a great deal of light Chiselling to
on the skills of indian craftsmanship in ancient times. perfection like our
ancient sculptors.

RELATIONShIP BETwEEN CAVES AND RELIGION
OLDEST ROCK-
in indian civilization, ascetic life has always been a way
of living for those who aspire to become enlightened. CUT CAVES
in the initial foundation of many religions including Oldest rock-cut
hinduism, buddhism and Jainism, the preferred way architecture is found
of existence was to abstain from all the material and in Barabar caves, Bihar,
rd
living on minimal. here the evolution of concept built around 3 century
of caves as a temporary residence and a place for BC.
meditation played a significant role. The caves Simarjot Hari, X, Delhi
served as a space for self-introspection. These were Public School, Ambala;
also situated close to the town dwellings where they Sri Sai Gurudatta, XA,
Illustration by: Mohammed Abdul Azeez H., X A,
Royal Park School, Salem would go to receive their daily alms but still far away Delhi School of Excellence,
so as to maintain a distance from the worldly affairs. Hyderabad

KEy fEATURES Of BUDDhIST ARChITECTURE ELEPhANTA -TIMELESS ART
The unique giant man-made caves,
STUPAS elephanta caves are on an island
ChAITyAS near Mumbai. its cave temples
Stupa is a hemispherical
mound-like structure Chaityas are were constructed between 5th - 8th
containing the relics the prayer century aD. Most impressive and
of the Buddha and halls inside the interesting is the great Cave with its
the Bodhisattvas, and Buddhist caves images of lord shiva including the
is used as a space with a Stupa at famous Trimurti which is 6.1 m high
for meditation and one end. showing three faces of shiva.
chanting. Illustration by: Navika Rajput, XII, Pine Hall when it was decided by uNesCO
School, Rajpur Road, Dehradun
to remove the caves from world
Illustration by:
VIhARAS Apoorva Sinha, heritage site list in 1995, the
VIII A,
Viharas are a place of DAV Public School, government appointed iNTaCh to
clean up and restore the core area of
dwelling inside the caves Sec 14, Faridabad the caves.
for the monks, used during Navika Gupta, XI-C, Summer Fields School,
the rainy season or those Gurgaon, Gowripathi, X, Kakinada Public School,
who lead a permanent Kakinada Nikita Sharma, VII A, Vishva Bharti
ascetic life. Public School, Jagadhri

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