en Nagarjuni Caves

The Nagarjuni Caves
	Location in Bihar, India Nagarjuni Caves (Bihar)
Alternative name	Nagarjuna Hills Caves
Location	Jehanabad district, Bihar, India
Coordinates	25°00′18″N 85°03′47″E / 25.005°N 85.063°E
Type	Caves
Part of	Nagarjuni Hills (adjacent to Barabar Hills)
History
Builder	Dasharatha Maurya
Material	Granite
Founded	3rd century BCE
Periods	Maurya Empire
Site notes
Architecture
Architectural styles	Rock-cut architecture
	Includes dedicatory inscriptions from the Maurya period

Gopika cave

Photograph of the stairs to Gopika cave, and entrance of the cave, in Nagarjuni hill. Volume plan of Gopika cave (13.95x5.84m).

The Nāgārjunī Caves or Nāgārjunā Caves are ancient rock-cut caves in Bihar, India, made in the 3rd century BCE by Dasharatha Maurya. They are linked to the Ajivika sect and known for polished granite walls with inscriptions. The three caves are:^[1]

Gopika (Gopi-ka-Kubha), on the southside of the hill, excavated by the king Dasharatha grandson of Ashoka, according to an inscription.
Vadithi-ka-Kubha cave, on the northside of the hill, located in a crevice, and devoted to Ajivika followers by Dasharatha.
Vapiya-ka-Kubha cave, on the northside of the hill, also devoted to Ajivika followers by Dasharatha.

Gopika cave

Also called Gopi or Gopi-ka-Kubha or simply Nagarjuni, Gopika cave is the largest of all the caves of the Barabar complex (25°00′33″N 85°04′42″E / 25.009116°N 85.078427°E / 25.009116; 85.078427). It consists of a single large oblong room of 13.95x5.84m. The two ends of the room have the particularity of being circular, contrary to the other caves. The cave lies on the south bank of the hill, dug by King Dasharatha grandson of Emperor Ashoka, according to the inscription that was engraved above the front door:^[2]

"The cave of Gopika, a refuge that will last as long as the sun and the moon, was dug by Devanampiya (beloved of the gods) Dasaratha during his elevation to the throne, to make a hermitage for the most pious Ajivikas "
— Inscription of Dasaratha Maurya on the cave of Gopika. About 230 BCE.^[3]

The cave also has the "Gopika Cave Inscription" in the entrance corridor, dated to the 5-6th century CE.

Front of the cave. Photos.
Dedicatory inscription by Dasaratha Maurya, grandson of Ashoka, on top of the entrance. Circa 230 BCE.
Transcription of the inscription by Dasaratha Maurya.
Entrance corridor, polished walls with the Gopika Cave Inscription of the 5th century CE.

Vadathika and Vapiyaka caves

Vadathika cave (left) and Vapiyaka cave (right), and plan of the two caves Photos

These two caves are a little higher on the north side of the hill, 300m as the crow flies (25°00′41″N 85°04′37″E / 25.011261°N 85.076963°E / 25.011261; 85.076963). Although small, they are very beautiful, perfectly carved, caves.

Vadathika Cave. It is located in a crevasse in the rock. It consists of a single rectangular room sized 5.11x3.43m, with a porch at the entrance of 1.83x1.68m. This cave was consecrated by Dasharatha Maurya, the grandson and successor of Ashoka, for the sect of Ajivikas.^[2]

The cave of Vadathika, a refuge that will last as long as the sun and the moon, was dug by Devanampiya (beloved of the gods) Dasaratha during his elevation to the throne, to make it a hermitage for the most pious Ajivikas
— Inscription of Dasharatha Maurya on the cave of Vadathika. About 230 BCE.^[2]

The cave also has a much later Hindu inscription, the Vadathika Cave Inscription.

Vapiyaka Cave, also called "Well Cave" from the meaning of its name . It consists of a single rectangular room of dimensions 5.10x3.43m. This cave was also dedicated to the Ajivikas sect by Dasharatha, with an inscription equivalent to that of the cave of Gopika. This cave also has a beautiful vaulted hall, entirely made of perfectly polished granite. It has an inscription identical to its neighbor, except for the name of the cave, as well as a number of short inscriptions of the Gupta era.

Dasaratha dedicatory inscription on top of the entrance of Vadathika cave. 3rd century BCE.
Entrance of Vapiyaka cave.
Vadathika Cave Inscription, 5-6th century CE.

Inscriptions by Dasaratha Maurya (circa 230 BCE)

Dasaratha Maurya, Ashoka's grandson and regnal successor, wrote dedicatory inscriptions in the three other caves, forming the Nagarjuni group (Gopika, Vadathi and Vapiya caves) of the Barabar hills. It is generally considered that their construction dates from his reign.^[2]

The three caves were offered to the Ajivikas upon the accession to the throne of Dasaratha, confirming that these were still active around 230 BCE, and that Buddhism was not the exclusive religion of the Mauryas at that time.^[2]

The three caves are also characterized by an extremely advanced finish of the granite walls inside, which again confirms that the technique of "Mauryan polish" did not die out with the reign of Ashoka.^[2]

Inscriptions of Dasaratha (grandson of Ashoka)
English translation	Prakrit in Brahmi script (original text of the Nagarjuni Caves)
Inscription of Gopika cave: "The cave of Gopika, a refuge that will last as long as the sun and the moon, was dug by Devanampiya (beloved of the gods) Dasaratha at from his elevation to the throne, to make it a hermitage for the most pious Ajivikas ". ^[2] Inscription of Vapiyaka Cave: "Vapiyaka Cave, a refuge that will last as long as the sun and the moon, was dug by Devanampiya (beloved of the gods) Dasaratha during his elevation to the throne, to make it a hermitage for the most pious Ajivikas ".^[2] Inscription of Vadathika Cave: "Vadathi Cave, a refuge that will last as long as the sun and the moon, was dug by Devanampiya (beloved of the gods) Dasaratha during his elevation to the throne, to make it a hermitage for the most pious Ajivikas ".^[2]