Raw data
"VAJRAYANA STUPAS, PALE, DISTRICT RAIGAD. Originally excavated by the Hinayanists, the Buddhist group of caves at Pale near Mahad was augmented and enlarged by the Mahayanists around the fifth century AD. Fresh study undertaken by M. N. Deshpande of Nehru Centre, Bombay, brought to light evidence of the occupation of these caves in the tenth-eleventh century by the Vajrayanists who erected loose rock-cut stupas, two of which were seen lying at the foot of the hillside containing the caves. One of the two stupas had to be cleared to know its shape and character. The Pale group thus gets connected with Kanheri and Kondivte in the north and Panhale Kaji in the south, where similar stupas erected during Vajrayana occupation were noticed. (The Vajrayana stupa at Kondivte is now under worship near the cave site)" (Mitra 1984:97)
Input by: tmciolek, Apr 14, 2012
Final data (and their sources)
Last updated: 14 Apr 2012
Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 20 km from the point defined by the coordinates below.
General location of the Pale monastery, IN.
Lat 18.0833 Long 73.4167
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2012.
Google Map link:
Final data - explanatory notes
1. Monastery's name
- Pale monastery - Mitra (1984:97)
2. Monastery's modern country & province
- India:State of Maharashtra
3. Monastery's alternative/historical names
- [missing data]
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Approx., Lat 18.0833 Long 73.4167 - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Mahad.html
5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries
- [missing data]
6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village
7. The settlement's alternative/historical names
8. The settlement's coordinates
- Approx., Lat 18.0833 Long 73.4167 - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Mahad.html
9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition
- Initially Theravada, subsequently Mahayana and Vajrayana - Mitra (1984:97)
10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition
- [missing data]
11. Date-early
- Before 400 AD - Caves originally excavated by the Hinayanists before the fifth century AD - Mitra (1984:97)
12. Date-intermediate
- After 400 AD - Caves augmented and enlarged by the Mahayanists around the fifth century AD - Mitra (1984:97)
13. Date-late
- 1000s AD - Loose rock-cut stupas erected by tenth-eleventh century AD by the Vajrayanists - Mitra (1984:97)
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
- Stylistical similarities with the Vajrayana stupa at Kanheri monastery - Mitra (1984:97)
- Stylistical similarities with the Vajrayana stupa at Kondivte monastery - Mitra (1984:97)
- Stylistical similarities with the Vajrayana stupa at Panhale Kaji monastery - Mitra (1984:97)
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
- Archaeological, Art style
16. Additional notes
- [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)
17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by
- [missing data]
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