Three new caves discovered in the Trirashmi Buddhist cave complex of Nashik: Everything we know so far

The caves all have verandahs they usually additionally encompass a sq. stone platform for monks. (Picture: IE)

Buddisht Caves: Practically two centuries in the past, the Trirashmi Buddhist caves or the Pandav Leni in a Nashik hill had been documented by a British navy officer. Now, three extra caves in the identical space have been discovered by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in response to a report in IE. It’s believed that these caves might be dwellings of Buddhist monks, and whereas their antiquity has not but been decided, the archaeologists are of the opinion that these caves date again to earlier than the Trirashmi caves.

The report added that the Pandav Leni or Trirashmi are a cluster of 25 caves and these date again to a while between the two century BC and 6 century AD, having been carved out of the Trirashmi Hill. Captain James Delamaine had documented the advanced of the caves again in 1823, and the location is now protected by the ASI and it’s a vacationer vacation spot.

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The brand new caves had been found after ASI Nashik division’s staffer Salim Patel discovered two caves final month throughout the annual pre-monsoon cleansing drive, following which a wider search was began by ASI Nashik head Rakesh Shende. It was throughout this search that the third cave was discovered. Patel was cleansing a drainage line on the hill and had been on the lookout for someplace to dump the grass, wooden, and soil that was eliminated throughout the course of when the cavity was noticed by him.

The report quoted Patel as saying that when he noticed the cavity, he went and eliminated the tree branches that had been masking it, discovering two cave-like constructions that had been carved out. He added that he was “thrilled” as a result of one thing like this had occurred to him for the primary time in his tenure of 25 years.

As soon as Shende was knowledgeable by Patel about his discovery, the location was instantly cleaned up and secured, and the ASI would now doc the three newly found caves. Shende stated that at current, there aren’t any pathways or security railings in place and subsequently, folks wouldn’t have the ability to attain these three caves, however as soon as the caves have been notified, the crew would make the requisite preparations.

The report additionally cited Mumbai’s Trirashmi Analysis Institute of Buddhism, Indic Language and Scripts director Atul Bhosekar as saying that he had been to the location of the brand new caves, because the third cave was found when he was additionally current there. He added that the brand new caves have been discovered on the alternative aspect of the opposite advanced, and have been situated in a steep hill. He added that as per appears to be like, it appears to have been monks’ dwelling that had been made earlier than the Trirashmi caves.

The caves all have verandahs they usually additionally encompass a sq. stone platform for monks. Furthermore, identical to within the Wai and Kanheri caves, these caves have additionally been discovered to have particular preparations to facilitate meditation of monks.