Yerphal monastery, (towards) Umbraj, Maharashtra, IN

Raw data

This site consists of a small chaitya hall, two cells and an unfinished excavation. [The cave was identified by MK Dhavalikar in 1979, though it was known to local people. A largely intact stupa is in the apse. There is no evidence of wood rafters in the hall, though a socket on the top of the stupa may have held an umbrella. The arrangement of chaitya arch and accompanying window suggests similar arrangements at Pithalkhora X and the chaitya cave at Karad, which would date the cave to the first half of the second century CE. Recently, mendicants have taken over the cave and the cells and installed a Shiva lingam, which is actively worshipped.]

See MK Dhavalikar, Late Hinayana Caves of Western India (Poona: Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, 1986) 33.
Input by: SG 15 March 2015

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 15 Apr 2015

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Yerphal monastery, IN.

General location of the Yerphal monastery, IN.
Lat 17.382279 Long 73.943047
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2014.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=17.382279+73.943047+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Yerphal%20monastery,%20IN)&ll=17.382279,73.943047&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Yerphal

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • India:State of Maharashtra

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names


4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • The cave is located about 1 km North from the village of Yerphal/Yerphale [Taluka Patan, District Satara] on the Karad Patan Road.
  • Approx. Lat 17.382279 Long 73.943047 - based on visual identification of the site in maps/satellite imagery https://www.google.com/maps/place/Yerphale+Caves/ - tmciolek, 15 Apr 2015.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries


6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village


7. The settlement's alternative/historical names

  • [missing data]

8. The settlement's coordinates


9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Late Theravada - Dhavalikar (1986:33)

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • First half of second century CE. See MK Dhavalikar, Late Hinayana Caves of Western India (Poona: Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, 1986) 33.

12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

  • [missing data]

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Archaeological only. No inscriptions.

16. Additional notes

  • [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population) Small, only two cells.

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

18. Known monks and nuns associated with this monastery


19. Available Printed Literature

  • MK Dhavalikar, Late Hinayana Caves of Western India (Poona: Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, 1986).
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 2]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 3]

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