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Jinamanjari, volume 17, No. 1, April 1998
JAINA CAVES OF OSMANABAD, MAHARASHTRA Dr. T.V.G. Sastri, Hydrabad, India
Osmanabad is the smallest district in the state of Maharashtra, and one of the most important places of the district is Ter, a moderate town about 25 km from Osmanabad on the bank of river Telivaha.
At the outskirt of Osmanabad in northwest direction towards Hdyrabad road on the left, there is a wide terrain of rock outcrop, a km long. The rock dips to a wide ridge punctuated by small valleys. On the other side of the ridge, there is a cresentic steep valley which houses the caves, in two arms - northeast and southwest.
The geological set up of the caves is not different from those of Ajanta and Ellora caves, cut in trap formed out of lava flows. However, these Jaina caves are formed out of volcanic tuff, brittle and flaky. As a result, front porches of the caves have collapsed, and sculptures are defaced due to exfoliation and the water channels within are a threat to the cave cuttings.
The water channels, the scenic beauty of the lofty terrain and the cresentic valley suggest that the area was the habitation of man. This is further supported by the occurrence of microlithic blades and burins in chest and agate in the area. The terrain above the caves having stone walls and remains of habitations indicate a late Stone Age period.
Northeastern Caves
There are four caves 1 to 4. Cave one is blocked in the front portion with huge chunks of the fallen roof, corresponding to the front verandah. As such, the improvised passage on the left side leads to a dark interior that has a cutting of a closed squarish mandapa built over 20 pillars. Enclosed within is an another square mandapa supported by 12 pillars, and it measures 6 m. in length and 5.75 m. in width. In the
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