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.
In Mumbai, there are more than 100 caves at Kanheri and among them Cave No. 3 is a magnificent structure. This west facing Buddhist cave temple is the largest and most remarkable of all caves in this site. It is entered through a gateway with a low parapet wall that is decorated with an animal frieze at the base and ornamental rail pattern above. The entrance is guarded by the guardians.
The cave has a spacious courtyard in the front. A stone screen with two tall columns and two pilasters above which is a dwarf colonnade containing five small windows separates the verandah from the courtyard.
On either side of the forecourt are pillars attached to the pilaster of the wall. The capital of the northern pilaster has four dwarf figures supporting a round object above. The capital of the southern pilaster has four seated lions.
In the verandah on the two side walls of this vestibule are carved two gigantic Buddha images. These 7 m tall images were carved in later Hinayana period. Above the image in the curvature are beautiful carvings.
On two sides of the central entrance facade are carved four donor couples. The style in clothing and makeup on them resembles to what can be seen in other Buddhist center of the same period.
Three entrances from the verandah opens into a spacious hall. This hall measures 26 meters long, 12 meters wide and 15 meters high. There are total 34 pillars inside the hall forming two aisles and one nave. Among them 6 pillars, both on the right and left, from the hall entrance are similar in style and decoration. They all have tiered base, above which an octagonal shaft rises, ending with a square abacus above a cushion capital.
There is a stupa measuring 5 meters in height at the apsidal end of this hall. As per the inscriptions found here the cave belongs to 180 CE during the reign of the Satavahana king Sri Yajna Satakarni.
In Mumbai, there are more than 100 caves at Kanheri of which many of them have beautiful carvings. One of the interesting cave among them is Cave No. 34. This cave dates between to 5th – 6th centuries A.D.
This cave has a open courtyard in the front with pillars that are carved a little.
This is the only cave where remains of paintings are found on the ceiling.
Here Buddha is shown in Bhumi-Sparsha-Mudra. This is only seen in paintings here but not as carvings.
In Mumbai, there are more than 100 caves at Kanheri of which many of them have beautiful carvings. One of the interesting cave among them is Cave No. 2.
The cave consists of a vihara and three stupas that are in separate chambers. Interestingly these chambers are separated from the viharas. This cave dates between to 5th – 6th centuries A.D.
Out of the three Stupas, the third Stupa has an elaborate sculptures around it that are carved inside the niche.
On the left side wall are six large panels at the bottom and above these are eight small panels.
There is a large panel at the end which equals to the height of adjacent small and large panel. Buddha seated with pendant legs and in teaching posture is the common motif appearing in all these panels.
There are two panels, one above another, at the end of this wall.
Beginning with 1st century BC, the genesis and growth of the group of the Buddhist caves at Kanehari continues up to 11th century AD, a period of more than thousand years. It is located inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai.
These rock cut caves excavations are of mainly four types (i) Chaiyahrahas, (ii) Monasteries, (iii) Podhis and (iv) rock cut benches and seats. The Buddhist monks of Hinayana faith were of the first to commence the excavation of these caves. A majority of these rock-cut caves are small consisting of a single cell with a front pillared verandah approached by a flight of steps.
Of the numerous donor inscriptions found here mention of ancient cities like Suparaka, Nasika, Chemuli, Kalyana, Dhenukakata etc., The donors were from all class of the society, from the members of the royal families to the commoners.
The entire group consisting of more than 100 caves is one of the biggest monastic settlements in India. The prominent caves are numbered as 1, 2, 3, 11, 32, 34, 38, 41, 67, 89, 90, etc.
How to Reach: It is located in the north of Mumbai inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali.
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