Kanheri Caves: The Best Kept Buddhist Secret of Mumbai!!
Kanheri caves were one of the major Buddhist centres in Western India during ancient times.
They were built between the 1st century BC to 10th century AD and acted as monastery and learning centre for more than 1000 years.
It is located within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the North of Mumbai and consists of 109 caves.
It was one of the largest Buddhist monastic settlements in India.
The cave complex has 51 ancient inscriptions and 26 epigraphs.
It is famous for its rock-cut monolithic Stupas and hundreds of statues of Buddha and Bodhisattvas.
It is also known for the water harvesting system developed by ancient engineers thousands of years ago, still in working condition.
The Kanheri monastery was Theravada in origin.
Later it became an important centre for Mahayana doctrine. Initially, it was used during the rainy retreats of the monks.
Once the caves became permanent monasteries, intricate reliefs of Buddha and the Bodhisattvas started to be carved into the walls.
Kanheri became an important centre of Buddhism in western India by the 3rd century AD.
The caves of Kanheri were used for living, learning and religious practices.
The larger caves were chaityas or halls for worship.
The hill in which the caves are situated is known as Krishnagiri or Kanhagiri.
It is a large mass of compact basalt rock.
The highest point of the complex is fifteen hundred fifty feet above sea level.
The caves were built on different levels of the hill.
The majority of the rock-cut caves follow a standard model of a single or double room for monks, with rock-cut benches and a narrow verandah.
Kanheri is the only Buddhist monastic cave settlement in India, which was continuously inhabited by monks, for more than 1600 years.
One can reach this Buddhist site through the gate of Sanjay Gandhi National park.
The entry of the Kanheri cave complex is off the western side of the hill.
During the ancient ages, the Kanheri settlement was well connected to many trade centres.
These trade centres included Sopara, Kalyan Karla, Bhaja, and Paithan.
The traders and kings of these cities also provided patronage to the monastic complex.
Kanheri was a major centre of Theravada in the beginning and later for Mahayana and Tantric Buddhism.
The monks and students have long left the hills, but the caves and its images still tell the story of its past glory and significance of the major centre of Buddhism that was Kanheri !!
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