Junagadh Baba Pyare Buddhist Caves, Gujarat

Address

Junagadh Baba Pyare Buddhist Caves, Mullawada, Junagadh, Gujarat 362001

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

At a distance of 2 km from Junagadh Junction, Located to the north of Upperkot Fort, these are the part of Junagadh Buddhist Caves and among the prime Junagadh. The Baba Pyare Caves are the oldest caves in Junagadh Buddhist Cave Group which includes, Upperkot Caves and Khapra Kodiya Caves. The caves are dated to 3rd-4th century BCE during the Emperor Ashoka’s rule and are considered the earliest monastic settlement in the area. Baba Pyare Caves are an ancient Buddhist caves situated in Mullawada locality of Junagadh in Gujarat. These are the part of Junagadh Buddhist Caves The northern part of Baba Pyare Caves contains four caves. The south eastern group of Baba Pyare Caves has ‘Chaitya’ and spacious court for meditation. These caves contain artworks of both Buddhism and Jainism as these were initially built for Buddhist monks and were in a later period occupied by Jain ascetics.

Puranic Significance

Baba Pyara caves are lying close to the Modhimath, which has four caves in its northern group. The next set of south group caves has a unified plan with a spacious court and a chaitya hall. The art tradition of the Satavahanas period has influence over these cave pillars and door jambs of the caves. It is believed that they belong to the 1st – 2nd century AD. These have 13 rooms in three stories, cut into the rock 45 m. (150 ft.) high and adorned with carvings of Buddhist symbology. These are much more intact than the Khapara Kodia caves. The last (and most recent, being only 1900 years old) caves are next to the Adi-Kadi Vav.