Shivneri Caves

The Shivneri Buddhist caves are located near Shivneri Fort on the top of the hill, where Shivaji Maharaja was born. It is a group of 60 caves that were excavated in the first part of the 1st century CE.[1] At the beginning of the 2nd century CE, these caves were a flourishing center of Buddhist activities.[2] The caves are essentially made of viharas or small cells, but there are also chaityas.[3] The caves are scattered on three sides of the west–east-south triangle formed by Shivneri Mountain.[4]

The caves are scattered around the hill, and categorized into several groups: the East group (1, 2 and 3), the West group, and the South group. Among the most important caves, we can mention:

• • Cave 26 – a two-story Vihara
  • Cave of 45 – Known as "Bara-kotri", it has 12 cells for resident monks.

• 
  Shivneri hill, east side, seen from Junnar.
• 
  Location of Buddhist caves, including Shivneri Caves, around the city of Junnar.
• 
  Shivneri East face, Group 3.
• 
  Shivneri East face, Group 1.

Portrait of Menander I, a Yavana king.

Two Buddhist inscriptions made by Yavanas (Indo-Greeks) were found in Shivneri.[6] They suggest the involvement of men of Greek descent with Buddhism in India, as well as the continued presence and gradual acculturation of the Greeks in India in the 1st century CE.[6]

Yavana inscription of cave 54

Yavana inscription, Cave 54

Yavanasa Irilasa Gatâna deyadhama be podhiyo
"Donation of two tanks by the Yavana Irila, in the name of the Gatas "[6]

The inscription starts with the Buddhist symbol of the swastika (non-inverted), just before the word "Yavanasa".

Yavana inscription of cave 67

Yavana inscription, Cave 67.

Yavaṇasa
Citasa Gatâna
bhojaṇamatapo
deyadhama saghe
"Gift of a refectory
for the community (Sangha)
from Cita the Yavana,
on behalf of the Gatas."[6]

The word "Ya-va-ṇa-sa" in Brahmi ( ). Here the "na" is written "ṇa" , with the retroflex consonant "ṇ", which is also a common variation of "n".

On this second inscription, the Buddhist symbols of the triratna and of the swastika (reversed) are positioned on both sides of the first word "Yavanasa".

Other similar inscriptions mentioning donations from Yavanas have been found at Karla Caves, Pandavleni Caves, as well as Manmodi Caves.[7]