Bagh Caves — Mahishmati Buddhist Vihara
Gupta to Vakataka (380–600 CE)·Buddhist Mahayana·🇮🇳 Madhya Pradesh, India
About
About Bagh Caves — Mahishmati Buddhist Vihara
Bagh Caves — Mahishmati Buddhist Vihara in Madhya Pradesh, India is a Gupta to Vakataka (380–600 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist Mahayana. 9 Buddhist rock-cut viharas with 4th c. tempera murals predecessor to Ajanta. Bagh Buddhist caves with mural Jatakas 4th c., Rang Mahal best preserved hall.
Why it mattersKey Buddhist Mahayana reference site for the Madhya Pradesh
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Rock-cut chronology
- 02Chalcolithic sequence refinement
Theories
- 01Mahayana mural transmission
- 02Harappan sherd seriation
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 400 CE
- Period
- Gupta to Vakataka (380–600 CE)
- Culture
- Buddhist Mahayana
- Purpose
- 9 Buddhist rock-cut viharas with 4th c. tempera murals predecessor to Ajanta
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 400 CE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Archaeological survey
On the ground
Structures & features
22.3200° N · 74.8100° E · 350 m · 3 mapped features
Bagh Caves — Mahishmati Buddhist Vihara — Chaitya Hall
chaityaRock-cut chaitya hall with vault and stupa
22.3202° N · 74.8101° EBagh Caves — Mahishmati Buddhist Vihara — Vihara Cells
viharaVihara monk cells with rock-cut beds
22.3198° N · 74.8102° EBagh Caves — Mahishmati Buddhist Vihara — Façade Gavaksha
facadeHorseshoe gavaksha window carving
22.3204° N · 74.8098° E