Pandavleni Caves Numbers 3, 10 and 23; Nashik
The beautiful Cave 10 of the Pandavleni Caves, Nashik, is the gift of Saka Ushabhadata and his wife Dakshamitra, daughter of King Nahapana of the Kshaharata family.
Many inscriptions of this illustrious family remain on the verandah walls and the court's left wall.
Monk's cloth
The donations included thoughtful and kindly provisions for monk's cloth.
A female lay devotee of the Saka lineage during the reign of Abhira King Isvarasena provided perpetual endowment to provide medicine for the sick monks; a holy endowment to assist men of prayer and holiness.
Pillared verandah with intricate pillars
Cave 10 consists of a pillared verandah, with a monk's cell on either side.
There are 16 further cells (monastic bedrooms) with rock-beds on three sides of a spacious hall.
The pillars of the verandah are lavishly decorated, and are considered the best specimen of the age.
The capitals of the intricate pillars consist of two pairs of addorsed animals; bull, lion, sphinx, raw and composite figures.
Cave decorations and village donation
The donation for Cave 3 included a village to pay for the cost of decorating the cave with paintings.
The caves' pillars support an ornamental parapet imitating a balcony with intricate details of wooden rafters and tie-beams.
The main hall is entered by means of a door with a frame decorated in the form of atorana.
The shaft is in shakas with figures of ganas and nayikas.
Two duarepales guard the entrance.
Gem of India
The amazing Cave 23 contains a number of reliefs of Buddha, Bodhisattvas and female deities.
These archeological treasures show that Nashik is truly an architectural, historical and spiritual gem of India.
Tuhin Bagi
Image of Pandavleni Caves
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