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Junnar: Evidence of Dharmottariya Nunnery or Bhikshuni Vihara in Rock-cut Architecture of Western India


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Category
Articles
Publisher
Arnav Shodh Sanstha
Publishing Date
01-Jun-2018
volume
VII
Issue
1
Pages
89-101

Abstract: Unfortunately, we have very few evidences of bhikúünè sañghas, which actually existed in ancient India. Most of it has come from a combination of two sources: ancient texts and study of contemporary devotional practices. Archaeology has seldom been utilized in this process. In recently published work of Garima Kaushik, she has tried to make an attempt to identify nunnery or bhikúünè vihára. The most important specimen of rock architecture can be seen at Tulja cave, Junnar, Pune with circular variety of caityagriha. Garima Kaushik has identified Tulja cave as bhikúünè sañgha on the basis of its circular architecture. Another important evidence of Nunnery is in the another group of caves in Junnar. Inscription in cave 33 in Sivaneri Hills, Junnar records the donation of the cave and a cistern to the nunnery of the Dhammottarèya in the town. In this paper I intend to study: If Tulja cave Junnar is the Nunnery which is mentioned in the inscription And also possibility of influence of the Philosophy of Dharmottarèya School on Architecture of Tulja cave , Junnar.

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