Udaigiri Caves/Udayagiri Caves, Rock Cut Cave No. 3 and 4, Udaigiri, Madhya Pradesh.

The visit to this Rock Cut Cave Nos. 3 and 4, Udaigiri Caves, was a part of the “Bhopal, Udayagiri Rock Cut Caves, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Sanchi, Bhojpur, and Khajuraho – of Madhya Pradesh Heritage walk” organized by the எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு, between 25^th and 28^th December 2024.

This is a group of 20 caves dating from the 5^th Century after Christ. Caves Nos 1- 18 and 20 caves are near the top, while the remaining ones are at the foot of the Hill. Cave No. 20 and possibly No. 1 also are Jaina Caves. All the rest are Hindu. Some of these caves Notably No 5 and 6 possess fine figure sculptures. The most interesting among them is the huge image of the Boar, the incarnation of Vishnu. Caves 6,7 and 20 bear Sanskrit inscriptions in Gupta Characters, one of which is dated in Gupta Samvat 82 ( A.C. 401-02) and another in Gupta Samvat 106 (A.C 425-26). Two of these mention the name of the famous Gupta Emperor Chandragupta-II. The Cave No. 7, inscription states that the emperor visited this spot during his conquest and that the cave was made by Virasena, the minister for war and peace who accompanied his master.

The ruins of a large temple and a monolithic pillar are on top of the northern half of the hill.

The Gwalior Archaeological Department conserved the caves in 1921 AC, during the reign of Maharaja Madhava Rao Scindia Alijah Bahadur of Gwalior.

Cave No. 3

This cave is dedicated to Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva. The architects carved the cave and its entrance very simply. According to the American scholar James Harle, the enshrined deity is considered the most beautiful image of the 5th century CE. The deity is in a standing pose, holding a spear in his right hand while his left hand rests close to his waist. Kartikeya's hair is shown in three strands.

Cave No. 4

This cave is known as 'The Vina cave, because of a human figure playing the Vina (a musical instrument) in the left boss out of the five cusped bosses with small circular panels at the lintel portion. While, on the extreme right cusped a human figure playing Sarangi. The sanctum is dedicated to ekmukha-linga, a symbolic representation of lord Shiva, placed on a square pedestal within the cave. The face of Mukhlinga (Shiva) shows exceptional beauty, wearing a necklace and hair knot falling on both sides.

Ref

Archaeological Survey of India Display board.

LOCATION OF THE CAVES: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---