Panhalakaji Caves | |
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Coordinates | 17°38′44″N 73°14′42″E / 17.645678°N 73.245072°E |
Pilgrimage to |
Buddha's Holy Sites |
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Panhalakaji Caves are situated in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra state, about 160 km south of Mumbai. This cave complex has around 30 Buddhist and Hindu caves. [1] The Hinayana sect began carving caves in 3rd century AD, beginning with the stupa in the current Cave 5. [2] The caves have inscriptions in Brahmi and Devanagari script. [1] In the 10–11th century AD another Buddhist group, a Vajrayana sect, established cave 10 with their deities Akshobhya and Mahachandaroshana; and strengthened their practice in that region. Shiva and Ganpatya worshiping started at the site during Silahara rule. [2] There are total 29 caves out of which 28 are situated on the right bank of mou tain stream Kotjai.
A list of important caves includes: [2]
Deshpande, Madhusudan Narhar (1986). The caves of Panhāle-Kājī (ancient Pranālaka): an art historical study of transition from Hinayana, Tantric Vajrayana to Nath Sampradāya (third to fourteenth century A.D.). New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. ASIN B0006EPMPS. OCLC 923371295. Retrieved 5 February 2021.