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CHAPTER 5
CULTURAL MILIEU OF JAINA CAVES: SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND RELIGIOUS BACKDROP
This chapter traces the social, religious and economic background of the region through the period between 1st century BCE to the 14th-15th century CE with a view to provide a contextual understanding of these caves. Changes in the political, social and economic scenario of a particular region play a significant role in shaping the religion and determining its position in the society. Thus, the historical development of Jainism in Maharashtra, the changes in the sect, its position in the region compared with the other parts of the country, especially neighbouring regions of Gujarat and Karnataka, the type of patronage the sect in general and caves in particular received and an inquiry into the reasons why caves continued to be excavated by the Jainas are some of the important facets of this inquiry.
SOCIO-RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND
During the Satavahana period, Vedic religion was very popular. A number of inscriptions referring to the performance of various sacrifices and gifts of cows and money as dakşiņā to Brahmanas by the Satavahana rulers bear testimony to this fact (Rao 1960: 141). However, it appears that the period was marked by the transition from Vedic to Puranic pantheon as indicated by reference to various gods such as Indra, Sankarsana, Vasudeva, Chandra, Sürya, Yama, Varuna, Kubera, Pasupati, Gauri, Parvati, Lakşmi, Núrāyana and Krsna (Rao 1960: 141). Buddhism was equally popular in the region. A large number of rock-cut caves were excavated for the residence of Buddhist monks and for housing stūpas for worship. The Buddhist centres at Pandu Lena, Junnar, Karle, Kanheri were large monastic establishments, sustained on liberal donations, both by the common people and the royal families of Satavahanas and western Ksatrapas (Burgess and Indraji 1881). Satavahana king Kanha appointed a mahāmātra at Nasik to look after the comforts of the Buddhist monks (Rao 1960: 142). This period was characterised by intensive trade activities due to flourishing Indo-Roman trade and emergence of number of urban centres. Buddhism played an important socio-economic role in this period. Most of the
