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Pandu Leni (also known as Trirashmi Caves and other variations)
(Leni is Marathi word for caves), are a group of 24 caves
carved
between the rd centur! "C and the 2nd centur! #$, representing
the %ina!ana "uddhist caves and has nothing to do with the
characters of Mahabharata (the &andavas)' Most of the caves
are iharas e cept for the *+th cave which is a Chait!a ' *- The
location of the caves is a hol! "uddhist site and is located
about + km south of .ashik , Maharashtra , /ndia '
Contents
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*Caves
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o 2'*#ttractions
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Caves edit -The caves, known as Trirashmi "uddhist Caves
(erroneosl! known as &andav Caves) were carved out from the 2nd
centur! "C6 till
the th centur! C6 as a part of donation b! the 7ings, merchants
and local people for the "uddhist monks' The name is derived
from the word 8Tiranhu8 which is inscribed in the Caves' /t
means 8ra!s of sunlight8 which is 9uite obvious referring to the
ra!s of
sunlight emerging from behind the Caves as seen from the
village' These caves were carved and donated b! various kings
that
ruled .ashik : The 3atavahanas, The .ahapanas, The #bhirs' The
caves lodge idols of "uddha and "odhisattva ' 3ome caves are
intricatel! connected b! stone:cut ladders that ;oin them to the
other caves' 3teps lead to the caves from the bottom of the hill'
Thepeak of the Trirashmi Caves is also accessible b! trekking of
about 2< mins but the path is well built with steps' 2-
These caves are the oldest caves of Maharashtra' 3ome of the
caves are large and contain numerous chambers : these rock:cut
caves served as a viharas or monasteries for the disciples to
meet and hear sermons' The! contain interesting sculptures' =ne
of
the vihara caves is older and finer in sculptural detail and is
thought to be nearl! as old as the 7arla Cave near Lonavala '
#nother
cave (cave .o' *+) is a Chait!a and is similar in age to the
7arla Cave and has a particularl! elaborate facade' Chait!as are
used
for chanting and meditation'
The site has an e cellent ancient water management s!stem and
skillfull! chiseled out of solid rock are several attractive
water
tanks ' -
History edit -The caves can be traced back up to rd centur! "C'
=ut of the twent!:four caves, two caves are a ma;or attraction :
the main cave
which is the Chait!a (pra!er hall) has a beautiful 3tupa> the
second one is cave no' *< which is complete in all structural as
well
inscriptions' "oth the caves have carvings and inscriptions
also' The caves are facing eastwards' 3o it is recommended to visit
the
caves earl! morning as in sunlight the beaut! of carvings is
enhanced'
The caves were called &undru which in &ali language
means 8!ellow ochre color8' This is because the caves were the
residence of
"uddhist monks who wore 8the chivara or the !ellow robes8' Later
on, the word &undru changed to &andu Caves (as per
#ncient
Monuments #ct 2 Ma! *?
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The various inscriptions confirm that .ashik in that period was
ruled b! d!nasties @ the Aestern 7shatrapas , the 3atavahanas
and
the #bhiras ' /t seems there was alwa!s a conflict between
3atavahanas and the 7shatrapas over supremac!' %owever, all the
kings full! supported "uddhism though the! were not "uddhist in
real sense' The inscriptions also confirm that apart from the
kings,
local merchants, landlords too supported and donated huge sums
for the development of these caves'
The inscriptions of cave no'*< reveal that in *< :*<
"C, 7shatrapas defeated the 3atavahanas after which 7shatrapa
.ahapana Bs
son:in:law and $inikaBs son: shavadata donated
