H.T., Patna Oct 22, 2008
Glimpses of Buddha’s life in 2000-yr-old caves
P.K. Mishra
EIGHT CAVES with unique ancient Buddha paintings, idols and equipments inside them, have been discovered on the three adjoining hills on the Bihar-U.P. border, about 40 km south-east of Kaimur district headquarters Bhabua. Archaeologists and Buddhist experts, who visited the hills, spread over 2 km area and over 600 feet height falling in Kaimur (Bihar) and Chandauli (U.P.) district, said the paintings and equipments were more than 2000 years old and a strong evidence of the fact that Gautam Buddha stayed in these caves with his two principle disciples during his first visit to sarnath from Bodh Gaya after enlightenment.
The caves later became an important pilgrimage centre and the monks lived in them from 6 century BC to 12 century AD. They were also used as a ‘Vishramagar’ for the monks visiting Sarnath, Southern states and Sri Lanka. The caves were however abandoned after the Afghan invader Bakhtiar Khilji attacked and broke thehead of Lord Buddha’s statue.
A 12 year handicapped boy chandan of village Ghurhupur first discovered the main cave on Bhitarigarh hill on September 21. The boy informed the villagers who passed on the news to the Buddhists at Sarnath.
This correspondent visited the Ratanpura cave (Bihar) and caves on Bhitarigarh and Vaina hills (U.P.) on Sunday. Ancient painting depicting lion, elephant, bull, deer, horse, snake, owl, peacock, men, women are present in all the caves. The paintings are outlined with black colour and filled with red inside. Plant serum and animal blood were used as colours. Of the eight caves, the four most special ones are located over Bhitarigarh hill. The main cave has a hall of 27’x24’ with nature-carved pillars. There are 12 sub-chambers carved in the walls probably for penance. The entrance measures 9’8"x5’6". The second cave measuring 18’x8’x6’2" has five fine paintings of Buddha and Bodhisatvas in ‘Dhayanyoga Mudra’ done in ‘Gandhar style’.
There is another cave located at a height of above 40 ft. It can be reached with the help of a bamboo ladder. The cave is 48 feet long, 34 feet wide and 7 feet in height. The inside has a unique painting of child Buddha. The pillars have a unique transparent polish like the ones used on the Ashokan’s pillars and Mauryan sculptures. There is a natural pure water source in the adjacent cave. Eminent Archaeologist, excavator, Buddhist scholar and author of ‘Sambodhi’, Amarnath Pathak said that General Cunningham in his memoir has written that Gautam Buddha after enlightenment at Bodh Gaya stayed at two places on way to sarnath, one near sherghati and another at Ghuneree (or Ghurhupur as it is called now). UP Archaeology director, Rakesh Tiwary and BHU HoD Ancient Indian History and archaeology Dr Vibha Tripathy said the ancient rock paintings were earlier found in the caves of the Kaimur and Vindhya ranges in Bihar, UP and MP dating 15,000 BC to 800 AD. However, Dr. Tripathy said more excavations and extensive study were needed before definite conclusion could be drawn.
The caves later became an important pilgrimage centre and the monks lived in them from 6 century BC to 12 century AD. They were also used as a ‘Vishramagar’ for the monks visiting Sarnath, Southern states and Sri Lanka. The caves were however abandoned after the Afghan invader Bakhtiar Khilji attacked and broke thehead of Lord Buddha’s statue.
A 12 year handicapped boy chandan of village Ghurhupur first discovered the main cave on Bhitarigarh hill on September 21. The boy informed the villagers who passed on the news to the Buddhists at Sarnath.
This correspondent visited the Ratanpura cave (Bihar) and caves on Bhitarigarh and Vaina hills (U.P.) on Sunday. Ancient painting depicting lion, elephant, bull, deer, horse, snake, owl, peacock, men, women are present in all the caves. The paintings are outlined with black colour and filled with red inside. Plant serum and animal blood were used as colours. Of the eight caves, the four most special ones are located over Bhitarigarh hill. The main cave has a hall of 27’x24’ with nature-carved pillars. There are 12 sub-chambers carved in the walls probably for penance. The entrance measures 9’8"x5’6". The second cave measuring 18’x8’x6’2" has five fine paintings of Buddha and Bodhisatvas in ‘Dhayanyoga Mudra’ done in ‘Gandhar style’.
There is another cave located at a height of above 40 ft. It can be reached with the help of a bamboo ladder. The cave is 48 feet long, 34 feet wide and 7 feet in height. The inside has a unique painting of child Buddha. The pillars have a unique transparent polish like the ones used on the Ashokan’s pillars and Mauryan sculptures. There is a natural pure water source in the adjacent cave. Eminent Archaeologist, excavator, Buddhist scholar and author of ‘Sambodhi’, Amarnath Pathak said that General Cunningham in his memoir has written that Gautam Buddha after enlightenment at Bodh Gaya stayed at two places on way to sarnath, one near sherghati and another at Ghuneree (or Ghurhupur as it is called now). UP Archaeology director, Rakesh Tiwary and BHU HoD Ancient Indian History and archaeology Dr Vibha Tripathy said the ancient rock paintings were earlier found in the caves of the Kaimur and Vindhya ranges in Bihar, UP and MP dating 15,000 BC to 800 AD. However, Dr. Tripathy said more excavations and extensive study were needed before definite conclusion could be drawn.
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