A Pioneer to the Art of Nasik Cave, Dist. Nasik Maharashtra

A PIONEER TO THE ART OF NASIK CAVE DIST. NASIK MAHARASHTRA *Assistant Professor: Dr. Akash Daulatrao Gedam, *Dept. of Mathematics& Humanities Yeshwantrao Chavan College of Engineering Hingna, Wanadongari, Nagpur-441110 _________________________________________________________________ Nasik was one of the most important centers of Hinayana Buddhism in north-west Maharashtra. The group of twenty-four caves locally known as Pandu Lena through few in number is nevertheless of great importance for study of the early rock-cut architecture in Westerned India. This in the main is due to the fact that some of the caves are most complete and contain numerous epigraphically records of the Western Kshatrapas and the Satavahanas which enables us to date them precisely. Nasik therefore can be said to provide a datum for the reconstruction of a precise chronology for the earlier phase for the rock-cut architecture. We will however not go into the details of the development of the site but confine ourselves to only one cave-X in that order. The engravings are on the floor in the hall of cave-X. The first category engraving is Geometrical like square trapezium square grid sign/ Plus Sign, symbols. The second category engraving is human figure separate with animal. The category is animals like dog, fish, fish trickles elephant& peacock. Other figures cannot be clear to identify. The simplest engravings�grooves crisscross pattern grids could have been done ever a period of 3000 years of even more. The men of the Neolithic period may have continued to engrave these symbols at differing motivations and with-ought to know their original significance. The historical men early only left a significant engraving like representatives of human figures and even a figuration of birds and animals. During the Iron Age to Historical Age appeared geometrical figurations such as circles squares sq. grids& other signs etc. Dating of excavated caves was 120 A. D. defiantly these engravings are engraved in that period or latter.