Q. With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements:

  1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India
  2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya
  3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • 1 only
  • 2 and 3 only
  • 3 only
  • 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c) 3 only

Barabar Caves:
  • The Barabar Hill Caves are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, dating from the Maurya Empire (322–185 BCE), some with Ashokan inscriptions, located in the Makhdumpur region of Jehanabad district, Bihar, India.
  • These caves are situated in the twin hills of Barabar (four caves) and Nagarjuni (three caves).
  • These rock-cut chambers bear dedicatory inscriptions in the name of “King Piyadasi” for the Barabar group, and “Devanampiya Dasaratha” for the Nagarjuni group, thought to date back to the 3rd century BCE during the Maurya period, and to correspond respectively to Ashoka (reigned 273–232 BCE) and his grandson, Dasharatha Maurya.
  • The caves were used by ascetics from the Ajivika sect, founded by Makkhali Gosala, a contemporary of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, and of Mahavira, the last and 24th Tirthankara of Jainism.
    • The Ajivikas had many similarities with Buddhism as well as Jainism.
Badami Caves:
  • Badami is a town in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka.
  • The caves were constructed in the 6th century by the Chalukya Dynasty in their capital Badami, which was earlier known as Vatapi.
  • The caves significantly represent Indian rock-cut architecture, especially Badami Chalukya architecture.
  • The caves house several Hindu and Jain temples. The Hindu temples are mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and their incarnations.
  • The caves are a World Heritage Site of UNESCO.
Ellora Caves:
  • The caves are located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra.
  • The caves are complex of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain monuments; and are one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple cave complexes in the world.
  • More than 100 caves are there at the site and all the monuments were built during the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
  • It was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.