Jinamanjari 1998 04 No 17

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

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cannot go later than Pulumavi who would have reigned about the close of the Second C.E.
The meager difference in columns of the mandapas and slight variation in the dvāras of the central shrine of caves 1 and 2, it appears that caves 3 and 4 were excavated earlier. Other architectural features hardly give any chronological difference. In the southwest wing, it is clear that there were some additions and beautification of sculptures. This suggests the excavation of the second wave of cave cutting have been completed by about Eighth C.E. Though the time gap between the earlier and later caves was nearly five hundred years, the study of the caves indicate that the tradition of the technique of cave cutting remained the same.
Conclusion
It is noted that the excavation of the Osmanabad Jain caves was done in two out-bursts. First it was attributed to a Satavahana king of Paithan who lived around Second C.E. According to some historians, Saktikumara was not a regular king, but was hailed as a greatest member of the royal family. He may be dated to the last half of the Second C.E. The second out-burst of the constructional activity in the cave may be attributed to Rāshtrakuta king Dhruva after whom the entire religious complex of the crescentic valley was named. Thus, the excavation may be dated to the closing years of Dhruva (780-793 C.E.). []
REFERENCES
1. Dharmayug, 15 January 1989, 2. Bharatiya Digambar Jain Tirtha Kdstras, Vol 4, Baratavarshiya Digamber Jain Tirthakestra Committe, Hirabaug, Bombay. 3. Encyclopedia of Religions and Ethics, Vol.1, p.258. 4. Douglas Barret, Aurangabad 1957 (Bāhubali Memorial Institute, Bombay) 5. James Burgess and James Ferguson, The Cave Temples of India. 6. K.V. Soundararajan, Architecture of Early cave Temples of Andhradesa, Dept. of Archaeology, Hydrabad.
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