Barabar Caves: the temple of extinct Ajivikas

India is a country with ancient archaeological remains. When it comes to rock-cut caves, the country has a lot of them. Many of these rock-cut caves represent a certain sect or a religion. Like Ajanta and Ellora. However, there lies a cluster of caves even older than the ones we have studied - Barabar Caves.

Barabar Caves engravings, source: Ancient Origins

Barabar Caves is the oldest of all the caves that we have studied in our textbooks. Our textbooks do not mention the Barabar, mostly because it did not receive the attention that the rest of the rock-cut caves have. However, as a history enthusiast, it would be unjust to miss it out!

The earliest sites in the hills of Barabar could be dated back to 5th century BCE. There are a total of seven caves in the twin hills of Barabar and Nagarjuni. Four caves are located in the hills of Barabar, while three of them are at Nagarjuni.

The caves are named not on a sequential basis, but as per the legends. Some of the popular names are Lomas Rishi Cave, Suddama Cave, and Vishvamitra Cave.

Lomas Rishi Cave stands as the oldest of all and is a landmark of architectural grandeur of a rock-cut cave. This cave also features the Chaitya Arch, which was used for the first time here. From thereon, this arch-style in stone was replicated in other rock-cut temples. Even Ajanta is an example of the arch being replicated.

The dedicatory inscription clearly indicates that Mauryan patronage has made the construction of this site possible. The four caves of Barabar were constructed by King Ashoka, who assigned these caves to Ajivikas. Ajivika was a sect that competed against Buddhism and Jainism, only to lose against both.

Later, the grandson of Ashoka- Dasratha Mauryan, had assigned three caves on the hills of Nagarjun to the Ajivika monks to continue practicing their faith.

However, with the decline of the Mauryan empire, the sect that once thrived on Mauryan patronage was also gradually wiped out from the North. Though it was able to survive in some bits and pieces in the South.

Soon after their disappearance, the site was occupied by Buddhists, Jains, and Hindus, and today the Barabar caves survive as a popular tourist spot, which once used to be a religious house for the Ajivikas.