印度赖加德地区发现七座两千年佛教石窟（图）

据佛教文化新闻网报道，2009年5月14日，古印度历史和梵语讲师Shrikant Ganveer表示，印度德干学院考古系在考察时，在赖加德地区发现七座两千年前的佛教石窟。

专家表示这些洞窟创建于公元前二世纪到公元二世纪之间，没有任何修饰和题词，并且和简纳石窟群有着不可思议的相似性。

据了解，这两座石窟位于茂密的丛林中，因此在一定程度上避免了人类破坏和风化腐蚀。其中一个石窟的两边设有座位，据考察是用来朝拜和居住的地方。而另一个没有完成的石窟，据考察是一个设有佛塔的祈福大厅，这表明当时的石窟已经设有佛塔。

据悉，在通往其中一处石窟的路上有十个石阶，可能是供2000年前的僧众、香客和旅人使用。而在石阶附近还有两个对旅行者来讲必不可少的水池。（编译：子规）

Seven new Buddhist caves have been found at Dhondse and Bahirampada villages in Pali taluka of Raigad district, by the archaeology department of Deccan College here, according to a lecturer in history of ancient India and Sanskrit, Shrikant Ganveer.

The caves were found during exploration around and study of the 60 caves at Thanale and Nenawali in Raigad district.

The caves were built approximately between second century BC and second century AD, according to experts.

Ganveer said, “Two caves at Dhondse are located in a dense forest, and so they have been spared the effects of the destructive ways of human beings and the nature. One of them is a ‘vihar’ type of cave used as a place of worship as well as residence. The other is an incomplete ‘chaitya-griha,’ which is a big prayer hall with a ‘stoopa’ within or close to it.”

The caves show an uncanny resemblance to the group of caves at Junnar.

The new caves do not have any type of ornamental effects. Nor do they have any inscriptions.

The chaitya griha-type cave shows that the work had just begun to carve out a ‘stoopa.’ It also has a section for Buddhist monks.

The ‘vihar’ type cave has seats carved on both sides.

On the way to Thanale caves, ten steps have been carved into the rock. These were probably used by pilgrims, traders and monks 2,000 years ago.

There are two water tanks near the steps, which would prove vital to travellers.

The exploration was carried out under the guidance of the joint director of the Deccan College Dr Vasant Shinde.