The
visit to Kanheri Rock Cut Cave No. 90, of Mumbai, was part of “Rock Cut Cave
Temples of Maharashtra Visit”, from 28th Feb February to 3rd March 2026.
The
largest and one of the earliest Buddhist cave complexes in India is located at Kanheri, which lies on the eastern side of Borivali in Sanjay Gandhi National Park,
Mumbai. The name Kanheri has been derived from Kanhagiri in Prakrit, as
mentioned in the Nasik inscription of Satvahana king Vashathiputra Pulumavi.
In Sanskrit, it is known as Krishnagiri, meaning dark Hills like the colour of
Krishna. Kanheri was frequently mentioned in the travelogues of foreign
travellers. It is a unique Buddhist monastic establishment which sheds light on
different phases of the development of cave architecture from the 2nd century CE to the 11th century CE. The various Buddhist sects were coeval and flourished at
Kanheri, like the Mahasamghikas, Chetiyas, and Parasellyas. Bhadravaniya.
Dharmottariyas, Saddharmapundarika sect in Vajrayana Buddhism. The site
reflects a beautiful blend of art and architecture of the Hinayana and Mahayana
sects of Buddhism, with enormous epigraphical data of their respective
contemporary period.
There
are more than 110 caves, hewed out of volcanic breccia (rock composed of broken
fragments of minerals), considered as a single rock. These caves spread over
half a kilometre in length, hewn on different terrace on either side of a
seasonal rivulet. These caves are of two types: chaitya and viharas. The chaitya
consists of a sanctum, verandah and outer courtyard approached through a flight of
steps with flanking water cisterns on either side. The water cisterns are chiselled
in the rock, so that the direct rainwater is channelled into these cisterns. This
gives evidence of an ancient rainwater harvesting system. The viharas are
architecturally monotypic but variable in size with one or multiple cells, a
verandah with two or more pillars in front, and an open courtyard with rock-cut
benches along the walls.
The
cave numbers 3, 11, 34, 41, 67, 87 and 90
are most important and are incepted eloquently with pillars, grilled walls and
images. In the early Hinayana caves, Buddha is symbolised in the form of a stupa, a bodhi tree and footprints, while in later caves of the Mahayana period, Buddha
is displayed in different postures like dharmachakrapravartana mudra, vyakhyanmudra,
varada mudras, etc. The other important images carved in the caves are Avalokiteshvara, Dipankara Buddha, Bodhisattvas, Muchalinda Naga, etc.
CAVE
NO. 90
The
cave contains sculpture panels depicting Buddha in various forms. The
sculptures in this cave are most fascinating and alluring. They are plenty in
number as well as amply different in character. To the right, inside the cave,
some very interesting panels, such as the Buddhist Litany, are exhibited, where ten
aspects of human calamities are displayed. The panels start from the left side
of Padmapani (with Tara and Bhrikuti). An enraged elephant, a Lion, a Cobra, a
fire, a ship wreck and to his right a wild animal, an old woman, a robber, and
the last one is indistinct. The same panel is depicted in Ajanta and Ellora.
However, it is shown with Tara at Ellora, on the facade of the cave. No. 9.
In
the middle of the cave, a well-decorated throne is shown with two attendants. In
the background is Buddha seated on a lotus flower supported by Naga Kings
underneath, and above is a unique sculpture of Indra with a crown, and in the
background human figure with a thunderbolt shown above his forehead. This type
of composition is also displayed in Ellora, but with the Ayudha Purusha separately.
INSCRIPTIONS
This
cave contains inscriptions in different Languages. The Pallavi inscription on
the pillars, at the entrance of the cave and a Chinese inscription on the front
wall to our left.
Chinese inscription
LOCATION
OF KANHERI CAVES: CLICK HERE
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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