Monday, September 21, 2015

Cave No 41, Kanheri

Cave No 41 of Kanheri is one of the important cave in the area that is built sometime around 3rd century B.C. The cave consists of a porch in the front followed by a verandah and a hall. The porch is supported on four pillars of square shaft topped with cushion capitals and square abacus. 



The veranda can also be reached from the sides of this front porch. The hall is approximately 26 feet long and 22 feet wide with many Buddhist icons carved all around. There is a cell in the centre of the back wall, inside which a Buddha image flanked with two attendants is carved. 




One of the important sculptures here is Litany of Avalokiteshvara and the Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara. Unfortunately the Litany of Avalokiteshvara is much defaced hence the ‘Eight Fears’ are almost disappeared.



Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara is only one of its kind in India. Thisn Buddha here is depicted with four arms.



27 comments:

krishna said...

beautiful photographs..

Ranjana's craft blog said...

Beautiful The eleven headed Avalokiteshvara is very interestion

Vineeta Yashsavi said...

Informative post...

genie said...

Rajesh...It is so nice to be back and looking at your wonderful captures of your beautiful country's treasures. I have started going to the Bodhi Path services here. I have fallen in love with the people and their way of and outlook on life. I always leave feeling so calm and rejuvenated. Because of my dear friend I spent so much time with and lost from pancreatic cancer, I was introduced to the Budhist community here. That was a blessing. Hope you have a wonderful picture filled week.

Cranberry Morning said...

Amazing photos. It would be great to see this in person.

R Niranjan Das said...

Nice captures of the beautiful works.

Jackie and Joel Smith said...

What a great find you've shown us! Love the close up shots of the carvings.

Donna said...

I don't think I have seen more beautifully carved and constructed caves.

Jeevan said...

Interesting cave and sculptures! The eleven headed sculpture is unique with heads one above another, unlike ravana with 10 heads extending on sides.

Sylvia K said...

What an amazing place!! And fact that it was built SO long ago is even more amazing!! Wonderful post/photos for the day, as always, Rajesh!! Thank you for sharing!! I hope you have a great new week!!

Rat said...

Interesting sculptures..

Photo Cache said...

The design is mind boggling. Where can you read up on all these?

Worth a Thousand Words

Al said...

Awesome - the porch looks very solid and the stonework is amazing.

magiceye said...

An amazing site the Kanheri caves!!

Anonymous said...

How lovely - so full of history.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

It is fascinating to think of all the work it required to excavate these structures and carve them so long ago! I hope thye will be preserved for the future!

Unknown said...

wonderful photographs.... i love how some people can make with their hands such beautiful statues

Have a nice abc-week / day

♫ Mel☺dy ♫ (abc-w-team)

Trubes said...

Amazing information and such great pictures,
thanks for sharing,

Best wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.

carol l mckenna said...

Fascinating photos and such history! Beautiful!

Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol

Roger Owen Green said...

So many treasures you find

ROG, ABCW

Hildred said...

Thank you for more amazing architecture.

Siddhartha Joshi said...

3rd Century BC! Wow...it takes a while to imagine that. I need to revisit Kanheri...

Gattina said...

Amazing architecture

Gattina
ABC Team

http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com/

Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil said...

What do I say every time I see your pictures? Oh yes... I MUST visit India someday! Again, amazing craftsmanship on display, with none of the modern tools at their disposal. A wonder. Truly.
amy

Su-sieee! Mac said...

Just when I think I cannot be astounded anymore of the Indian structures, you show me something else, Rajesh. Wow!
The View from the Top of the Ladder

Nima Das said...

Wow nice

Maniparna said...

Beautiful...!!