Kanheri Caves - Part 6

This is the sixth article in my series on the Kanheri Caves. In the first installment, I provided an overview of these caves, and in the second article, I covered Cave No. 1.

Adjacent to Cave No. 1 on the north side is Cave No. 2. Unlike the first cave, this one is a significant west-facing excavation consisting of a vihara and three stupas. The three stupas are housed in separate chambers distinct from the vihara, making them appear as detached chaityas. I covered the first stupa of this cave in my third article. The fourth episode provided details about the second stupa and the sculptures on the left wall of the third stupa. The fifth episode discussed the sculptures on the right wall of the third stupa. In this article, I will continue with the remaining parts of the third stupa of Cave No. 2.

(For the benefit of beginners: a stupa is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics, typically the remains of Buddhist monks, used as a place of meditation. A chaitya is a place of worship, and a vihara is a dwelling place for monks.)

The major attraction among the sculptures here is the large Padmapani Avalokiteshvara carved on the back wall of the chamber. He is shown standing and holding a lotus stalk in his hands, while the other hand, which might have been in Abhaya mudra (gesture of protection), is broken.

(For beginners: A Bodhisattva is a person on the path to Buddhahood or awakening. According to various Mahayana sources, a Bodhisattva progresses through various stages (bhūmis) of spiritual development. The most common list of bhumis, found in the Daśabhūmikasūtra, consists of ten stages. Avalokiteśvara is a tenth-level Bodhisattva associated with great compassion (mahakaruṇā). If he holds a lotus, he is called Padmapani Avalokiteshvara.)

Above Avalokiteshvara's head is Amitabha Buddha, who is typically depicted inside the jata-mukuta of Avalokiteshvara. He is flanked by two flying Vidyadharas holding garlands.

(Amitabha (Sanskrit for “Limitless Light”) is one of the five Dhyani Buddhas of Mahayana Buddhism. Amitabha is usually shown in meditation, with his hands on his lap in a meditation mudra.)

On either side of Avalokiteshvara are carved representations of the Eight Great Perils, from which Avalokiteshvara protects devotees. These include a lion attacking a devotee, a thief robbing a devotee and a kneeling woman with a child in her arms trying to avoid a witch, disease, thief robbing a devote along with a kneeling man praying a winged figure to save him from one who holds a drawn sword over his head, a snake attacking a devotee, an elephant attacking a devotee, a Naga attacking a devotee, and a man beating a woman along with a shipwreck.

On the true left side of Avalokiteshvara, there are two panels one above the other. The lower panel has two Padmapani Avalokiteshvaras, one having his right arm in Abhaya mudra and another in Varada mudra (boon-giving sign), with pairs of small flying Vidyadharas holding garlands above them. The upper panel shows two Padmapani Avalokiteshvaras with devotees at their feet.

The panel above the central main Padmapani Avalokiteshvara features three Padmapani Avalokiteshvaras with two devotees at their feet. These sculptures are smaller compared to other panels.

To the true right side of this upper panel, there is a larger panel with a slightly larger Padmapani Avalokiteshvara. This sculpture has lost its head and right arm. Two flying Vidyadharas are above, though one sculpture is completely lost. Below this is another panel, which is completely eroded.

Let me continue with the remaining parts of Cave No. 2 in my next episode.

This is Part 6 of the series of articles on Kanheri Caves. If you are interested to read the earlier parts of the series, click the links below.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Happy travelling.