khandepar caves

KHANDEPAR CAVES

LOCATION

These caves are found 36ms from panjim in a village in khandepar. It is located on the banks of river Opa in khandepar facing east.

history

• The kadamba period :10-14 century A.D.• They were the vassals and allies of the chalukyas

of Badami• Their capital was Chandrapur (Chandor). They

were invaded by Malik Kafur. Chandor was sacked and had to shift to Gopakapatnam (Goa Velha)

• They were devotees of Shiva as a result most of their temples were Shaivite temples

Kadamba architecture is a spin off of Chalukya architecture as seen in Pattadakal.

Another notable example of Kadamba architecture is the Mahadev temple at Tambdi Surla

Ground (+90mm LVL.) Floor plan of the khandepar caves

The cave has three separate parts.

The cave is separated from the main rockIt has 3 parts, all three parts situated in close vicinity. The first and second being a meter apart and the third one opposite the second one.The roof is stacked with laterite stone and none of the caves have a platform.

These caves were encarved way back in the 12th century and rediscovered in 1970.

INSIDE THE CAVES

The first cave has two chambers.

The inside of the first part of cave 2.

The door jambs

Niches on the inner walls on either side

Circular design carved on the ceiling

Cave 2 has two partswith each part having two chambers each.

The inside of the second part of cave 2.

This part has 2 chambers

Concentric circular design inscribed in a square in the ceiling

Concentric circular pattern on the floorNiches in the wall facing the entrance

View of cave 3 from inside the second part of cave 2

The inside of cave 3

This cave was probably used for meditation and prayer as it has the pedestal to hold the ‘linga’ in it.This cave is faces block 2 and is placed right opposite it.This block has only a single chamber.

Features observed around the caves.

The most sigificant contribution of the Kadamba dynasty to temple architecture is the Kadamba Shikara which has become a typology in iitself, its a form of the roof which consists of successful receding tiers. On top of each other, each tier got smaller creating the pyramid form which we see on Tambdi Surla.

ANALYSIS

The squares rotated about the axis symbolize the lotus.

Originally temples used to have corbelled roofs so the concentric form and aesthetic became a typology, even used in other roofs.

References

• Abhijit Sadhale: Kadamba temple architecture and iconography.

• Professor Amita Kanekar.• George Moares(1931) the Kadamba Kula: the

history of ancient and medieval karnataka.

Thank you