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Description and Chronology of Caves
JUNNAR, JUNNAR TALUKA, PUNE DISTRICT (19°10'N; 73° 50'E)
The town of Junnar is surrounded by hill-ranges, where one of the largest Hinayāna Buddhist cave-complex flourished during early historical period. There are hundred and eighty-five Buddhist caves with around thirty-six inscriptions of the period of 2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE, in the hills all around. About 2 km south of the town, is the Manmodi hill. In this range of hills are excavated three groups of Buddhist caves. On the eastern face is Bhimashankar group (Caves I to XVII), in the centre of the north face is the Amba-Ambika group (Caves XVIII to XXXIV) and on the northwestern face is Bhut Leni group (Caves XXXV to XLIX). Most of the caves are vihāras, or cells for the monks, while there is a single chaitya cave to the left of Cave XXVIII. Of these, Cave XXX of Amba-Ambikā group was converted to Jainism, sometime in the medieval period, by adding Jaina icons. In fact, this group of caves has acquired the name after the icon of yakşi Ambika, carved on the sidewall.
This group of caves could be approached by a road from the old bus stand at Junnar. This road leads to the base of the hill and from there a rough path leads up to the caves, which are excavated at the height of about 50 meters.
The conversion of this cave to Jainism was referred to by Fergusson and Burgess along with the lengthy description of the caves of this group and other groups at the site (1880: 260-261). A more detailed account, supplemented by the ground plan and approximate date of conversion was provided by Jadhav (1980: 58, Fig. 7).
Description
Cave XXX
This vihāra cave faces north. It is the upper storey of Cave XXIX and is reached by a flight of eighteen steps to the right of Cave XXIX (Plate 139).
The cave originally had a verandah and five cells in the back wall, three to the right and two to the left. Now, the partition wall between the cells on left is removed and Jaina sculptures are added in this large room. The verandah is 14.88m wide and 2.4m deep. It is partially damaged in the front (Fig. 66).
The room with Jaina icons is now 4.8m wide and 2.16m deep along the right and 2.4m deep along the left. There are two figures of seated Jinas on the back wall, while a figure of Ambikā is carved on the sidewall. Otherwise, the room is plain. A figure of Kshetrapala/Bhairava and an indistinct figure are on the backwall of the verandah, flanking the door to the first cell on right.
On the back wall of the verandah, between the three cells on the right and the Jaina shrine on the left, there is a small niche about 0.48m by 0.35m with a water channel. This niche was probably used for keeping a loose icon.
Sculptures
None of the icons are well preserved.
