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Jaina Rock-cut Caves in Western India site also maintained bhandarās as indicated by the fact the copies of āgamas were sent to Devagiri by Deda along with other places like Broach and Abu (Sheth 1953: 160). The story of Pethada, son of Deda, gaining permission of Hemadri, the famous minister of Yadavas, to build a Jaina temple at Deogiri, by pleasing him in a unique way is well known (Sheth 1953: 159-160). Even after the site was occupied by the Muslims, Jainism retained its position, though initially some of the Jaina temples were destroyed. In the 14th century CE, one Sahajapala is known to have erected a temple of twenty-four tirthankaras at the site (Sheth 1953: 171-172). The famous Shvetambara acharya Hiravijasuri, who was favoured by Akbar, was sent to Devagiri for further studies in his youth (Sheth 1953: 259-260). Thus, it is clear that the site was an important Jaina centre for a long period of time. Moreover, the site is very close to Ellora, where Jainas added a few excavations and loose icons in the already existing caves around the same time as the cave at Devagiri.
Thus, it is not surprising that Daulatabad, the most important town of the period was chosen for excavating the cave, more so because the town was already a Jaina stronghold. Silavijaya describes this site as a Jaina tirtha in the late 19th century CE (Premi 1956a: 434).
JUNNAR
The Buddhist cave at Junnar was converted to Jainism around late 12th century.
There are no inscriptions in the cave nor does any other inscription refers to this cave. However, there are a few inscriptions of the period, which mention the town. The copper plate grant of Sinda Mahasamanta Adityavarman, dated to 965 CE, states that the grant was issued when Adityavarman was residing at Junninagara, identified with Junnar (Mirashi 1939-40a).
Junnar is an ancient town as attested by about one hundred and eighty-five Buddhist caves, with around thirty-six inscriptions of the period between 2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE. The caves are excavated in the hill ranges surrounding the town (Jadhav 1981). The significance of the town lay in its strategic location on the route linking Konkan with the hinterland. This early capital of the Satavahanas was one of the most important trading centres in the early historic period, being a station on the transpeninsular trade route (Maurya 1998: 94-96).
It is not clear how important the town was in the period, when the Jaina additions were made in the cave. But it must have held some importance because of its location on an important trade route, which continued to be used. The assumption is supported by the fact that in later period a fort was built on the Shivneri hill, one of the hills surrounding the town, which became popular as the birthplace of the great Maratha warrior Sivaji. In fact, the town itself was fortified during this period (Naravane 1995: 106) The largest Buddhist vihara at the Ganesa Lena group of the caves, was converted to Brahmanism by changing the stupa into a Ganesa icon, perhaps in the same period as the Jaina additions. Now it is worshipped as one of the astavināyakas, mentioned in the Ganesa Purana as the gth incarnation of Ganesa, which was performed to please his mother Girija. This shrine is worshipped regularly and an annual fair is held (Fergusson and Burgess 1880: Footnote 1).
