Me Sahyadri 042015

Western ghats, or Sahyadri as we all call it as, is a treasure trove of spectacular landscapes, biodiversity, flora, fauna, some amazing geological wonders and man made monuments. With the increasing pressure from human encroachment, all these elements are under stress and in turn are under depletion. Western ghats should be left untouched by human beings, to protect their future generations from getting short of resources, such as water, energy and clean air. The important elements of western ghats, which need protection are highlighted in the new version of Photo journal , Me Sahyadri Magazine. The current issue has a brief of inspiring subjects such as birds, mammals, forts, ancient caves, snakes and the ambiance.

This journal introduces you to one of the forgotten Buddhist rock temple through brief information and photographs. As the location is unsafe due to habitat of honeybees, please do not venture to the location without professional approach, and local support. Honeybees attack all the visitors. Honeybee attack can turn fatal.
Junnar is located on the deccan plateau, 20 km east of the main western ghat ridge. The town is surrounded by hills from all the sides. There are mountain forts and old rock cut caves all around the Junnar town. As per British records there are rock cut caves at 57 separate locations. The five prominent caves identified by early British explorers such as James Fergusson, and James Burgess are, Shivneri cliff caves south west of Junnar, Tulaja Leni west of Junnar, Lenyadri leni (Ganesha caves) north of Junnar, East Ganesh hill caves north of Junnar, and the caves of Manmodi hill south of the town. There are total 10 Chaitya halls, 174 vihaars, 116 water tanks and 36 inscriptions in these caves. Shivneri caves have 3, Maanmodi caves have 3, Lenyadri caves have 2 and Tulajaa and Ganesh east caves have 1 each chaityagrihaa (Chaitya hall). Shivneri caves have 78, Maanmodi caves have 49, Lenyadri caves have 28 ,Tulajaa has 12 and Ganesh east caves have 7 vihaaras. Shivneri caves have 3, Maanmodi caves have 21 inscriptions. Shivneri caves have 60, Maanmodi caves have 38, Lenyadri caves have 15,Tulajaa have 2 and Ganesh east caves have 1 water tanks.
Most of the caves of Junnar are with very little ornamental and imagery carvings, in contrast with the caves of Verul and Ajantha. The Dagoba or the Stupaa is common in all the caves. Also none of the Junnar caves are as magnificent as caves of Karle, Bhaje or Nashik. However the group comprises specimens of almost every variety of rock-cut temples, and several forms not found elsewhere. Though the caves of Junaar are plainer than most of those executed afterwards,are still not devoid of ornament. All the caves belong to the first great division of Buddhist caves. The caves have been built between 150 B.C. and 400 A.D. Bhutling caves are said to be made between 100 BC and 100 AD.
Some rock cut caves west of Junaar are located in Maanmodi hill about 1.5 km south from Junnar. There are three groups of caves in Maanmodi hills, viz Bhut leni, Ambika and Bhimashankar. Bhutling leni and Ambika caves are facing north, Bhimashankar caves are facing east.

In Manmodi hills, south of Junnar, there is a group of caves called as Bhutling caves. There is one Chaitya Griha, 15 vihaars, 14 water tanks and 3 inscriptions at Bhutling caves. The main cave at Bhutling caves is an unfinished Chaitya Griha. At the entrance of the Chaitya Griha, there is a rock façade. The façade is very unique and has sculptures on it. It looks like the door had a semi-circular window, which is broken now. The arch of the window is not matched with the arch of the roof inside the Chaitya Griha.

Over the opening, the façade has a carving which is semi-circular in shape. This semi-circular Torana sculpture is divided in to 7 petal shaped compartments, with semi-circular centre of flower. There is one inscription inside the innermost semicircle. The central petal has a standing sculpture of Abhishek Lakshmi. Abishek or Gajlakshmi is deity found in Budhism, Jainism and Hinduism. In the petal itself there is a lotus flower and lotus leaf on her either side. Deity has her left hand ib akimbo and right hand is raised and is in abhaya mudra. In flanking two petals there are elephants with sprinklers in their raised trunks. The elephants are standing on the thalamus of the lotus flower.There are lotus flowers over head of these elephants. Apart from the lotus flowers the lotus leaves and buds are also depicted in the sculpture.

In the outer compartments of the compartments in which the elephants are carved, there are male divotee figures with head turban, bracelets and ear ornaments. The male have their hands clapsed above the head in adulation. In the outermost compartments there are female divotee figures. Within the petal there is a lotus flower and lotus bud alongsides of male devotees. The female have their hands clapsed above the head in adulation. Within the petal there is a lotus flower and lotus leaves along sides of female devotees. The Torana sculpture is almost symmetrical except some finer details of lotus buds, leaves etc. The Torana sculpture has some traces of colours, such as light red and yellow. Behind the seven petals there eight petal heads. There petal heads contain the lotus each. The outer petal heads are partial.
The inscription is
य़वनस चंदानं देयधम गभदा
meaning
“The meritorius gift of the façade of a hall by the Yavana Chanda”

Inside the Chaitya Griha there is a unfinished stupa without capital. On one side the octagonal columns have been carved out, while on the other side the column carving is unfinished. The interior is unfinished. There is a crack in the rock, which is probable reason for the unfinished state.

At the top on façade there are two stupas on either sides. The stupas have rock cut umbrellas on capital of Stupas. In the middle at top there is male figure with turban on either side. One of the men have two snake heads each on either shoulders. The other man has wings on his shoulder with some animal face on top of his turbon. On the right of the arch there is a Bodhi tree with a carved umbrella above it. Part of façade is marked and not carved.

On the east of the main Chaitya Griha, there are four cells with neatly carved facades. Each door of cells has Chaitya window arch over it. Between the archs there are stupas with umbrellas carved in rock. There are smaller archs and rail pattern at the top. There are symbols in the chaitya windows on the façade.The symbols such as Srivatsa, ribbons with knots, flowers, Dharmachakra, three lions.There are more cells on left and towards the top. There are more cells on the west of Chaitya Griha. The water tanks here on the left of the main chaitya are interesting, and some of them are covered.