Report On Elura Cave Temples and Bramhanical and Jaina Caves in Western India

SR No.: 011091
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Trubner and Company London
Publication Year: 1883
Total Pages: 209
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 14 MB

Page 32

ELURA-DOX THIL CAVE.
of this instrument. It is the symbol of Akshobhya, the second Jnani Buddha, and of his Bodhisattva, Vajrapâni.
In this balcony there remains to be noticed the only inscription at all of an early date found among the Bauddha caves here; but it is only the mantru of the Maha yâ na school, carved in characters of perhaps the eighth or ninth century, probably about the time when the figures over which it is found were inserted (see pl. xvii, No. 1). It reads--- Ye dharma hétu prabhará hêtum, téshám tathagato, hyavadattéshâm cha yô ni
rodha, érain rúdi maluisramana[1.] "All things proceed from cause; this cause has been declared by the Tathagata ; all things will cease to exist; this is that which is declared by the great Sramana (Buddha)."
Though to this mantra is ascribed the conversion of Maudgalvậyana and Sariputtra, the two chief disciples of Buddha, it probably owes its origin to some of the early Mahayana teachers. It was found on a stone slab and on several clav seals at Sarnath, near Banâras, and on a copperplate in the stúpa excavated by Dr. Bird at Kanheri, on numerous clay seals discovered at the same place by Mr. West in 1953, and the first part of it is given in a short inscription cut into the square body of a dagoba in bas-relief on the right-hand side wall in the court of the great Chaitya cave. This celebrated philosophical formula bas also been found in inscriptions from Afghanistan, Tirhut, Burma, Singhapur, and Java, and is well known in the Bauddha literature of Nepal, Tibet, China, and Ceylon.
The Dos THÂL CAVE, Xo. XI.
The next cave is the Don Thål, so called because it was long supposed to consist of only two storeys. In 1876, however, the lower storey was excavated of the earth which had completely buried it. The plans of all three floors are given in plate xv, from which it will be observed that the upper storey has been carried farthest into the rock, though apparently it never was nearly completed. It may be doubtful whether it was originally intended to form cells in the blocks left at the back of the verandah, but several cells have just been commenced in the walls, whether for residence or small chapels is not quite clear. The second storey consists only of a verandah with eight massive square pillars in front, at small shrine at one end, and three larger oues in the back, the central one (otherwise the smaller) having a room in front with two square pillars. The larger shrines on each sidde
Fue's Travels in Turtary, &c., vol. ii, p. 221; Oldfield's Slotelue in Vend, vol. 11. 11. 201: Holgoll Essays, Ir. 11. 63.
This was the case even in Fah-hian's time, who speaks of it as "the gol len mace."--Beal's Falchian. . 94: and conf. Julien, Ném. curls Cunt. Oecil., tome i, m. 310, 131, 319; ii, 114.
The following are the principal references on this formula :-Juar. As Sr. Brny, vol. ir. pr. 133, 11. 286, 713 ; vol. 5, pp. 157, 158, 658; vol. x, T. 95 ; vol. xvi, 11. 78, and plate i; vol. xvii, pt. 1, p. 247, and plate x; isiut. Rrs., vol. v, p. 131 ; vol. xx, p. 52, or Feer's French translation in Am. J. Guimt, tome il 11. 155; Hodgson's E381178, 1st ed. p. 158, or 2nil el. p. 111; Harily's dan. Buill., 2nd el. p» 201 (1st ai. p. 196); Wilson's Arum Antipa, p. 51; Birl's Historie H arris, P. 64: Crawful Hint. f the Indian Archipelago, vol. ii, p. 212, and plate 31, which strongly resembles this Eluri example in the character of the alphabet ; Schlagentweit's Builhism in Tilut, r. 17, or French transl. r. 13; Deal's Romantic Lepwl, p. 329: and Wong Puh's Memorial of Sakya Bwllha in Jour. R. A. Soe, vol. xx, p. 166; Burnouf's Intl. à llist.lu Bulill. Inul., 2me el. p. 308 note (1re el. p. 315); nil Lutus, 1752-526: Kern, Hist, in Bowh. in Rr. l'Hist. des Reliy., tome v, p. 149; Sykes, in J. R. Ax So, vol. xvi, 11. 37-53, and jilates i-tii; West, Jour Bom. B. R. xx. Soc., vol. vi, pp. 158, 159, and plates v and viia-1.
+ Jour. Benn. B. R. As. Soe, vol. ri, p. 1, No. 8.