Raw data
"Cave Pandavleni Caves
Alias Pandu Lena, Pandav Leni
Built In 1st to 2nd century AD
Region Nasik, Maharashtra
[…]
Pandavleni Caves are a group of around twenty four 1200-year-old Hinayana Buddhist caves, built by the Buddhist kings as home for the saints. This holy site is located 8 km south of Nashik [i.e. near Wadhiware - tmc] in the Nashik District in Maharashtra state of central India.
Caves
The caves were carved out from the 8th till 12th century as abodes for the idols of the local kings. The caves lodge idols of Buddha and Bodhisatva and the icons of Jain Teerthankara Vrishabhdeo, Veer Manibhadraji and Ambikadevi.The caves are located in the mountains of Pandavleni and hence the name. Some caves are intricately connected by stone-cut ladders that join them to the other caves. Steps lead to the caves from the bottom of the hill. The peak of the Pandavleni is also accessible by trekking of about 20 mins but the path is well built with steps.
Some of the caves are large and served as a vihara or monastery for the disciples to meet and hear sermons. They contain interesting sculptures. One of the vihara caves is older and finer in sculptural detail and is thought to be nearly as old as the Karla Cave near Lonavala. Another cave is a Chaitya and is similar in age to the Karla Cave and has a particularly elaborate facade.
The site has an excellent water management system and skillfully chiseled out of solid rock are several attractive water tanks.
History
The caves can be traced back up to 1st century B.C. There are two main caves. The main cave which is the Chaitya (prayer hall) has a beautiful Stupa. Both the caves have some carvings also. The caves are facing eastwards. So it is recommended to visit the caves early morning as in sunlight the beauty of carvings is enhanced. […]
Attractions
Inscriptions in caves 3,11,12,13,14,15,19 & 20 are legible. Cave 15 - 'Sri Yajna Vihar' inscription mentions Sri Yajna Satkarni, the last Satvahan King who ruled over the western Maharashtra. Similar inscription in cave 3 at Kanheri. This means probably the cave was carved during the beginning of 3rd century A.D. Other inscriptions note the names Bhattapalika, Gautamiputra Satkarni, Vashishthiputra Pulumavi of the Satvahanas and two of the Kshatrapas, Dakshamitra and Ushavadant. Cave 10 - 'Nahapan Vihar' is spacious with 16 rooms. During llth century Jain influence, idols of Tirthankar Vrushabhadev, Veer Manibhadra, Devi Ambika installed. Idols of Buddha and Bodhisatva locally identified as of Yudhishthir, Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, Sahadev, Shrikrishna, Karna and hence the local name PandavLeni.
The caves were carved out in the 1rst and 2nd century as abodes for the idols of the Jain kings. The caves lodge idols of Buddha and Bodhisatva and the icons of Jain Teerthankara Vrishabhdeo, Veer Manibhadraji and Ambikadevi.
Some of the caves are large and served as a vihara or monastery for the disciples to meet and hear sermons. They contain interesting sculptures. One of the vihara caves is older and finer in sculptural detail and is thought to be nearly as old as the Karla Cave near Lonavala. Another cave is a Chaitya and is similar in age to the Karla Cave and has a particularly elaborate facade.
The site has an excellent water management system and skillfully chiseled out of solid rock are several attractive water tanks"
Src: http://www.sudhir.in/index.php?task=caves&cav=pandavleni
"The site has 23 caves and is located 8 km south of Nasik on the Bombay-Nasik Road (Maharashtra). Locally, the site is known as Pandavaleni. Earliest caves are from the 1st century BCE and the site appears to have been continuously occupied until the seventh century. There are several cave that were fitted out as monasteries with cells and stone bed platforms. When Brahmins occupied one of the caves, the image of the Buddha was replaced with Hindu god. Important inscriptions of the 1st century CE show both local and royal support for the monastic establishment.
See D.C. Ahir, Buddhist Sites and Shrines in India: History, Art and Architecture (Delhi: Inian Books Centre, 2003) p.199.
Donative incription connects this site to Sopara, a port on the western coast of India
See Himanshu P. Ray, Monastery and guild: Commerce under the Satavahanas (Delhi: Oxford university Press: 1986), p. 60.
Src: IN
Input by: SG, Apr 1, 2009
Wadhiware, India Page
Other names: Wādhiware
World:India:State of Maharashtra
Lat 19.8667 Long 73.66
http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Wadhiware.html
Input by: tmciolek, Apr 16, 2009
Nasik, India Page
Other names: Nāsik
World:India:State of Maharashtra
Lat 19.9833 Long 73.8000
http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Nasik.html
Input by: tmciolek, Jun 2, 2009
"Pandulena, Nasik
Popularly known as Pandu-lena or Pandava’s Caves, the group of 24 cave excavation is located (on the north face of a hill called Trirasmi in ancient times) 8 km southwest of Nasik town (ancient city of Nasika or Nasikya which figures in many of the donor inscriptions of west Indian caves). The caves are hewn at a height of nearly 60 – 70 m from the surrounding plains. The hill was known as Trirasmi, probably due to the location of three independent hill groups which marks the end of Trimbak-Anjaneri range of Sahyadris. Nasik also finds mention in ancient Indian literature of the pre-Christian era. Being located on the ancient rade route connecting the ports of western India and north and south Indian cities, Nasika was a major city during ancient period. The excavation carried out here shows continuous habitation from around 5th century B.C. The presence of Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW-generally starts around 6th century B.C. and proliferates during Mauryan period) indicates its contacts with the north Indian cities.
[…]
The earliest excavations hare are datable to second century B.C. and the place was in occupation up to 6th – 7th centuries A.D., the flurry of activities being during 2nd century A.D. as attested by the number of inscriptions. The succeeding periods saw very little excavation and alterations of the earlier ones."
http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_maha_pandulenacaves.asp
Input by: tmciolek, Jun 20, 2010
Final data (and their sources)
Last updated: 31 Jan 2014
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 Pandavaleni monastery, IN.
lat=19.8667 long=73.66
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2009.
Google Map link:
Final data - explanatory notes
1. Monastery's name
- Pandavaleni monastery - Ahir (2003:199)
2. Monastery's modern country & province
- India:State of Maharashtra
3. Monastery's alternative/historical names
- Nāsik monastery - Ahir (2003:199)
- Pandu Lena Caves - http://www.bharatonline.com/maharashtra/travel/nashik/pandu-lena.html
- Pandulena - http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_maha_pandulenacaves.asp
- Pandu-lena or Pandava’s Caves - http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_maha_pandulenacaves.asp
- Pandulena Buddhist Caves - http://ganapati.perso.neuf.fr/anglais/asud/asud.html
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Approx., Lat 19.8667 Long 73.66 - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Wadhiware.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 19.8667 Long 73.66 - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Wadhiware.html
9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition
10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition
- [missing data]
11. Date-early
- 1st c. BC - Ahir (2003:199)
- 2nd c. B.C. - http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_maha_pandulenacaves.asp
<=0200 0200-32c 0233-66c 0267-99c 0300-32c 0333-66c 0367-99c 0400-32c 0433-66c 0467-99c 0500-32c 0533-66c 0567-99c 0600-32p 0633-66p 0667-99p dated-el
12. Date-intermediate
- 1st c. AD - Ahir (2003:199)
13. Date-late
- 600s AD - Ahir (2003:199)
- the place was in occupation up to 6th – 7th c. A.D - http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_maha_pandulenacaves.asp
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
- [missing data]
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
- [missing data]
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]
end of page