Dhamnar Buddhist Cave Temple, Madhya Pradesh

Address

Dhamnar Buddhist Cave Temple, Dharmrajeswar Rd, Chandwasa, Madhya Pradesh 458883

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

The Dhamnar Caves are caves located in the village of Dhamnar, Mandsaur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. This rock cut site consists of 51 caves, stupas, Chaityas, passages, and compact dwellings, carved in the 7th century CE. The site includes large statues of Gautama Buddha in sitting and Nirvana mudra. The Dhamnar site, about 360km from here, includes 51 rock cut caves containing Buddhist structures like stupas, chaityas, porch and small chambers both of Hinayana and Mahayana sects of Buddhism constructed in 5th-6th centuries AD.

Puranic Significance

The conspicuous sculptures include colossal seating figure of Buddha. The site also includes Brahminical rock cut caves (7th-8th century AD) and a single monolithic temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu (8th-9th century AD). The site was crumbling mainly because of being constructed by porous laterite rocks which got weathered badly over the centuries, destabilising the structure. Fourteen caves on the northern side are considered historically significant, among which Bari Kacheri (big courthouse) and Bhima Bazar are the most so. The Bari Kacheri cave measures 20 feet square and includes stupas and chaityas. The porch includes stone railing with the wooden architecture. Bhima Bazar cave is the largest among the group, measuring 115 feet by 80 and including vzhara and chaityagruha. It consists of stupas. The roof is in poor condition with the support of wooden architecture