Udaigiri Caves/Udayagiri Caves, Rock Cut Cave No. 7 and 8, Udaigiri, Madhya Pradesh.

The visit to this Rock Cut Cave Nos. 7 and 8, 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 5th Century CE. 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 dated in Gupta Samvat 82 (401-02 CE) and another in Gupta Samvat 106 (425-26 CE). Two of these mention the name of the famous Gupta Emperor Chandragupta-II. Cave No. 7 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 hill 

 

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

Cave No. 7

Local people call this cave "Tawa Cave" as it is crowned by a large flat stone resembling a gigantic tawa (griddle). An inscription in the Gupta Brahmi script written by Virasena minister of Chandragupta-II mentions the emperor's visit to Udaygiri, on his way to conquer the world. This is the only written record, where the visit of the Gupta emperor, Chandragupta-II is supported by evidence.

Cave no 8.

The inner light which resembles the sun, which pervades the heart of the learned, but which is difficult find among men upon the earth, that is the wonder called Chandragupta, Who * * * (damaged), Of him, like a saint among great kings became the minister [...], whose name was Virasena, He was a poet, resident of Pataliputra. He knew grammar, law, and logic, Having come here with his king, who was desirous of conquering the whole world, he made this cave, through his love to Sambhu.

Cave 8 inscription; Translators: Michael Willis/Alexander Cunningham.

Ref

1. Archaeological Survey of India Display board.

2. Wikipedia

LOCATION OF THE CAVES: CLICK HERE

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