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decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

@MonaADhar

Aug 6

#Trirashmi Cave 23 – Mahayana Vihara with Triple Shrines (c. 2nd century CE)

Large, irregular Vihara about 30 feet deep, with three shrines and a now-destroyed façade.

Holes in the roof and floor suggest that wooden partitions and a front structure may once have existed.

In front lie several rock-cut cisterns, a raised stone bench, and a circular base likely intended for a small structural stupa.

All three shrines, along with many wall niches, are richly sculpted with images of the Buddha flanked by Padmapani and Vajrapani—a pattern resembling late Mahayana caves at Aurangabad, Ellora, and Ajanta

The presence of female deities such as Tara, Lochana, and Mamukhi further confirms its Mahayana affiliation.

The pillars before the first shrine are stylistically later than any others in the Nasik group.

An inscription records the cave’s excavation in Year 2 of Sri Pulumavi's reign, pointing to a Satavahana-period origin with later Mahayana additions.

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decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

@MonaADhar

Aug 4

#Indianrockcuttemples

20. #Trirashmi Caves - Nashik (Maharashtra).

Tucked into the Trirashmi hills near Nashik lies a stunning complex of rock-cut caves.
Popularly (and wrongly) called Pandav Leni, these are Buddhist caves dating from the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE.

Let’s move beyond myths ‘Pandav Leni’ is a misnomer. These ancient caves deserve to be known by their true historical name.

"Trirashmi" comes from ancient inscriptions that refer to the hill range.
It appears in Brahmi script and early Prakrit inscriptions within the caves themselves, confirming their true identity.

The Trirashmi Caves — a magnificent ensemble of 24 rock-cut sanctuaries — were carved over four centuries (1st BCE to 4th CE).
Not by one king, but through the collective efforts of:
🧘‍♂️ Buddhist monks
💰 Wealthy merchants
👑 Satavahana royals
🛡 Kshatrapa governors
🏛 Local elites & guilds.

Why Nashik?

Strategically nestled along the north–south trade artery (Ujjain–Sopara–Kalyan–Paithan),
blessed with the fertile plains of the Godavari valley,
Nashik became a natural magnet for merchants, monks, and monarchs alike.
No wonder it flourished as a major Buddhist centre for centuries.

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decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

@MonaADhar

Aug 4

I had created this list of offbeat temples and caves to visit in Maharashtra. Sharing it here in case you want to explore.

🛕 Maharashtra Temple Heritage Trail

📍 Nashik Region – Yadava & Chalukyan Marvels

🗓️ Day 1: Sinnar – Jhodge – Ankai
Theme: Forgotten Shrines of the Deccan
9:00–10:30 AM – Gondeshwar Mandir, Sinnar
▸ 12th c. Shiva temple in classic Hemadpanthi style
▸ Sculptural brilliance & architectural symmetry

1:00–2:30 PM – Shri Mankeshwar Temple, Jhodge (Deolane)
▸ Remote 8th–9th c. Chalukyan shrine
▸ Peaceful setting, untouched carvings
2:30 PM – Depart for Nashik
5:30 PM – Arrive in Nashik

🗓️ Day 2: Caves & Sacred Peaks
Theme: Pilgrimage Meets History
8:00–9:30 AM – Pandav Leni Caves, Nashik
▸ 2nd BCE–5th CE Buddhist caves
▸ Chaitya Cave 18, water tanks, Brahmi inscriptions

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decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

@MonaADhar

Jul 20

#IndianRockCutTemples

1. Ellora Cave 29 - Dhumar Lena

#HinduCavesOfEllora

🛕 Among the grandest early Hindu caves at Ellora
💥 Massive scale, dramatic iconography, raw rock energy
🐘 Architectural twin of Elephanta
🎨 Iconographic style and carving techniques match the transitional post-Gupta to early Chalukya aesthetic.
🔨Likely built c. 575–625 CE, under Chalukya or early Kalachuri rule
📍 Stands at least a century before Kailasa Temple

🌊 Ganga graces one side — radiant, adorned in flowing drapery and ornate jewels
🏺More than a river — she embodies divine elegance and cultural memory
🎨 Gupta-era finesse woven into Deccan stone — a glimpse into the era’s aesthetics

🌊 Yamuna mirrors her on the other — equally resplendent, with elegant attire and refined jewelry

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decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

@MonaADhar

Jul 18

Kota Rani: The Last Light of Hindu Kashmir

For over four thousand years, Kashmir had been shaped by Hindu dynasties — a legacy of philosophy, art, and resilience.

That long civilizational arc reached its final, tragic turn with Kota Rani, the last sovereign of a vanishing order.

A queen of unmatched intellect and iron will, her rise and fall marked the closing chapter of Hindu rule in the Valley.

Born to Raja Ramchandra, the Commander-in-Chief of Kashmir, Kota Rani was groomed in the intricate workings of power.

After the death of Suhadeva, and later Udayanadeva, she ascended to the throne not as a placeholder but as a ruler in her own right — sharp, shrewd, and steadfast.

Her early reign was marked by remarkable success. She crushed rebellions, restored order, and held back invading forces.

In a world growing increasingly hostile, she became the unyielding shield of her kingdom.

But even the wisest can be betrayed from within.

Shahmir, once a subordinate under Suhadeva, crept into her court with calculated patience.

He flattered, served, and gained Kota Rani’s trust, until he controlled the army, the treasury, and the court itself. With loyalty as his mask, he built a parallel power base, steadily pushing the queen toward political isolation.

Then came his boldest move: a proposal of marriage. Kota Rani, ever the protector of her people, eventually consented, hoping to secure peace for her son and the realm.

But Shahmir sought no alliance - only dominion. When he demanded to share the throne, Kota Rani refused him with scorn, declaring that a weaver could never sit beside a royal of ancient lineage.

Her defiance enraged Shahmir.
He laid siege to her fortress at Andarkot.
The woman who had safeguarded Kashmir from countless threats now faced betrayal from the man within her own gates. Her end remains cloaked in sorrow - either slain in the final assault or taking her own life in a last act of sovereign dignity.

With her death, a flame that had burned for millennia was snuffed out. Hindu rule in Kashmir came to an end.

Shahmir crowned himself Sultan Shams-ud-din, founding a new Islamic dynasty and altering Kashmir’s destiny forever.

Kota Rani's story is not just a tale of lost power it is the final sigh of a civilisation, a fierce reminder of courage, sacrifice, and the fragility of kingdoms in the face of calculated ambition.

Who were Suhadeva and Udayanadeva ??

🟡 Suhadeva
– Not born a king.
– Likely a powerful noble or Kayastha bureaucrat
– May have bought the throne after the political chaos
– Ruled Kashmir (c. 1301–1320), then fled during a Turkic invasion

🟡 Udayanadeva
– Suhadeva’s brother
– Propped up as king by Commander Ramachandra
– Real power? His wife, Kota Rani
– Reigned till ~1338, then vanished from history

Their weak rule paved the way for Shah Mir, who overthrew Kota Rani.

📉 With that, 4,000+ years of Hindu rule in Kashmir ended.

Who was Shah Mir ?

He wasn’t born in Kashmir, but he became its first Muslim ruler and ended 4,000+ years of Hindu sovereignty.

– Arrived in Kashmir during Suhadeva’s reign (~early 1300s)
– Foreign origin: possibly Persian, Turkic, or Afghan
– Joined the royal court as a noble/commander
– Clever, ambitious, and patient
– Eliminated rivals like Bhatta Bhikshana
– Gained influence in court
– Ultimately forced Kota Rani to marry him
– Seized the throne in 1339 CE
– Ruled till 1342
– Introduced Islamic governance and Persian culture
– Set the stage for Kashmir’s gradual Islamisation

He didn’t invade.
He waited, plotted, and played politics — until the kingdom handed itself over.
– Bhikshana was a pro-Hindu resistance
– Shah Mir had him assassinated
– Kota Rani had no strong allies left
- Shah Mir marched toward the capital.
– Kota Rani tried to negotiate
– Some say she offered herself in marriage
– Others say Shah Mir forced her to marry him
- Soon after the marriage, Shah Mir seized full control.
– Kota Rani was either imprisoned or committed suicide (sources vary)
– In 1339 CE, Shah Mir declared himself Sultan of Kashmir

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decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

@MonaADhar

Jul 16

#IndianRockCutTemples

Ellora Cave 10 – Vishvakarma (Carpenter's Cave)

#BuddhistCavesOfEllora

Cave 10 is famously called the Vishvakarma Cave – named after the divine architect.

Why?

Because the rock-cut ceiling mimics wooden rafters so precisely, it looks like a carpenter’s masterpiece.
Hence: “Carpenter’s Cave”

Seated Buddha in pralambapāda (legs down), in Dharmachakra mudra – the cosmic teacher.
But he’s not alone. He’s flanked by:
🪷 Pushpāṇi – lotus bearer, symbol of compassion & purity
⚡ Vajrapāṇi – vajra wielder, fierce protector of Dharma

🪚 The “wooden” beam ceiling in Ellora Cave 10 isn’t wood — it’s solid stone carved to look like it.
Why?

✅ Tribute to earlier timber architecture – Buddhist chaityas once had wooden roofs
✅ Symbol of continuity – Rock-cut temples were a way to “immortalize” fragile wooden shrines
✅ Skeleton-like beams reflect spiritual structure – order, discipline, and the cosmic rhythm of Dharma
✅ Acoustics! The ribbed design enhances sound for chants & prayers

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decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

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