Cave Temples of India- Buddhist, Hindu, Jain (Set of 2 Volumes)

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About the Book The book titled, "The Cave Temples of India'. explores the rich world of excavated caves during ancient times. The story of these rock cave shelters begins around the 3rd cent B.C. from Bihar (the ancient political center of the country) and (Radiates around in all directions including the north, south, east and west). Most of them were once enshrouded inside dense forests and discovered and described by the adventurous Britishers and the Indian Archeologist and scholars or sometimes even the military officers.

Generally, the total number of such rock dens is stated to be 2000, out of which 1200 were unearthed in Western Indian Ghats. The nature of the famous Sahyadri rocks is basalt or trap rock which is most suitable for excavation. Though the number of caves has increased since then, they still need to be included in this book but due to their inaccessibility are still not reachable.

These caves as the book explains have been carved out primarily for religious purposes that focus on edifying and influencing the public to Buddhism. For an effective impact, the sacred world of Buddhist Gods (mainly Lord Buddha) and other divinities have been carved. These images are not merely imposing and majestic but also present a strong spiritual atmosphere enriched by semi-divinities like Apsaras, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Yakshinis, Salabhanjikas, etc.

The 'Cave Temples of India' has included and discussed the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain Cave temples. The Hindu Cave temples especially Elephanta and Ellora where Lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma can be witnessed in their highest glory are surrounded by several semi-divinities like the Asiatic-dikphalas, saptamatrikas, ganas, etc. The principal images in Jain Caves are Lord Mahavita, Parsvanath, and Bahubali and the secondary divinities include Matanga and Siddhayki Devi.

Besides the sculptures, the book explains in minute detail the structural decorations of pillars, pillars that are intricately ornamented as well as the large spacious halls that have so perfectly and mathematically spaced pillars. The pillars are ornamented with birds, animals, creepers, and floral and geometrical designs.

The book, 'The Cave Temples of India' also digs into the architectural details, the gradual evolution of the facade, entrance from plain and simple to highly ostentation and decorative spaces. The later halls have become more complicated and add ante-chamber, sub-shrines, porticoes, and porches.

Cave Temples of India are the greatest contribution of our forefathers to this country and are unique and exclusive. The grandeur of 2 these caves must be witnessed to be believed. This book is a must-read for scholars, historians, and serious students of art.

About the Author Dr. Dulari Qureshi is a prolific writer with a special focus on cultural heritage and had written close to 700 articles, features, and interviews in national, state, and local level newspapers and magazines like Times of India, Indian Express, Maharashtra Times, Loksatta, Lokmat, Divya Marathi, Sakaal, Samna, Art and Glamour to name a few. Mrs. Qureshi is also a sound research scholar with nearly seventy research articles to her credit, published in national, state and local journals and books and completed six minor and major research projects sponsored by UGC (University Grant Commission), ICHR (Indian Council for Historical Research) and the University (DR. BAMU). She was a research Supervisor at her parent university (DR. BAMU), as well as the Pacific University of Udaipur. She was also on the Expert Research panel of Mumbai University, Aligarh Muslim University, and the Jiwaji University of Gwalior. Eight Research scholars completed their Ph.D. under her supervision. A Retd. Professor and Director in the Dept. of Tourism Administration, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Dr. Dulari's most significant contribution however was her practical approach to tourism and heritage by promoting the Heritage of Aurangabad (a celebrated historical site) through initiating the Ellora Aurangabad festival. She started the Ellora Aurangabad festival by roping in Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, bureaucrats, tourism stakeholders, and other related offices. The festival proved to be a grand success as top- grade artists participated in the much-hyped cultural event. Both the print and Electronic media promoted the festival all over the world.

Dr. Dulari also introduced the concept of Heritage Walk in Aurangabad in 2014 under the sponsorship of the Bhaskar Group (Divya Marathi) which has proved to be a grand success. The Heritage Walk has created huge awareness of the preservation and conservation of Heritage monuments amongst the locals of the city who participated in the walk in hundreds. Through her articles on the city gates students in colleges and universities have done several research projects, on local monuments. Architects have come forward to present the gates more scientifically.

Dr. Dulari has also written documentaries for Sahapaedia (an open online multimedia knowledge resource. On the arts, culture, and histories of India) on Elephanta Caves near Mumbai. She has also written articles for Sahapaedia on Aurangabad Caves and Bibi-Ka- Maqbara. She also wrote a Documentary for Tourism Conclave on the monuments of Marathwada. She has been interviewed by several T.V. Channels like DD, Epic, Lokmat and Sakaal on topics like Daulatabad Fort, Ajanta, Ellora, etc. Dr. Dulari has written 20 books on Art and Architecture in and around Aurangabad. She has delivered lectures in several cities including the University of Wisconsin, USA. Her work stands recognized as she has received various awards from a reputed organization. She received an award from the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture (MACCIA) for her Outstanding Contribution to Tourism. Dr. Qureshi received Lifetime Achievement Award from Yeshwantrao Chavan Pratishtan, Mumbai for their Contribution to history and heritage.

Preface Destiny has been partial to me, by locating me in the laps of two World Heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora that lie in close proximity to the historical city of Aurangabad. An additional bonanza to my kismet was the kinship who not only stimulated and encouraged my entry into this priceless world and historical sites but bonded me for life with them intellectually and emotionally. In my young days it was my father Dr. Ramesh Shankar Gupte with whom our family travelled to all Indian Cave temples for his research studies. My father loved taking us around and acquainting us with the intricacies of both sculptures and paintings, mythological stories associated with them. In those innocent years of 16 and 17, 1 acquired extraordinary curiosity and fascination for these rare ancient marvels. Endless visits to these caves created a strong attachment and love for cave temples which matured as I grew older.

Introduction The history of Indian Rock-cut caves dates back to the 3rd cent. B.C. during the Mauryan period and is one of the most intense, vibrant and technically ingenious creations. Our ancestors have left to posterity not simply a virtual treasure-trove to appreciate and comprehend but to dig out their rationale implication behind its conception. It is still mysterious how our forefathers identified the precise, suitable rock, deduced its nature, composition and high utility value to create majestic spaces out of imposing mountains and further to shape, fashion them into celestial, semi-celestial, human, animal forms as well as elaborate flora and exquisite and excellent ornamentation.

**Contents and Sample Pages**