Barabar Caves: Oldest Surviving Rock-cut Caves in India

Barabar Caves/Wikipedia Commons

Apart from the stupas, caves are the main architectural remains of the period preceding the Gupta dynasty which was founded in the first half of the fourth century AD. The earliest and most prominent among these artificial caves, excavated for religious purposes, are the Buddhist caves of Barabar, in the Jehanabad district of Bihar.

Carved out from solid rocks, Barabar caves (located 25 km north of Gaya) were excavated by the greatest Mauryan emperor Ashoka for use by Buddhist monks in the 3rd century BC. However, two of the Barabar caves were also dedicated by him to the monks of Ajivika sect who were among the chief rivals of Buddhists. This goes on to show that the Ajivika sect enjoyed patronage of Ashoka and his successor Dasharatha who is also credited with the dedication of two caves in the Nagarjuni Hills, near Barabar, to the Ajivikas.

The inner walls of the Barabar caves are finely polished. The workmen of these caves belonged to the school that was responsible for the polish of Ashokan pillars and inscriptions which he erected in the 3rd century BC in different parts of the country.

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