The Contribution of Bhikkhuni Sapila
(Inscription of Bhikkhuni Sapila)
Kuda Buddhist Caves, located in Raigad District in the state of Maharashtra, India, are Buddhist rock-cut cave sanctuaries. These caves were excavated from the mountain to serve as monastic dwellings and meditation spaces for Buddhist monks. There are a total of 15 caves, believed to have been created from around 1000 BE (457 CE) onwards.
What is especially fascinating about these caves is the presence of numerous inscriptions carved into the cave walls. These inscriptions reveal who the patrons and donors of various cave constructions were. Among nearly 100 inscriptions found at the site, one in particular stands out and deserves attention. This inscription is written in a mix of Prakrit and Sanskrit, using the Brāhmī script, and dates from around 1000–1200 BE (457–657 CE).
The inscription reads as follows:
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Siddhaṁ therānaṁ bhayanta (bhadanta)
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Vijayānaṁ antevāsiniyā
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Pavaittikāya (pabbajitāya) Sapilāya
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Deyyadhammaṁ leṇaṁ saha sā-
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Lohitāhi Venhuyāhi saha ca
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antevāsiniyā Bodhiyā
Translation:
"Success! This religious gift of a cave was made by the Bhikkhuni named Sapila, a disciple of the venerable elder Vijayā, together with her blood relatives Lohitā and Venhuyā, and her own female disciple Bodhi."
In summary, the sponsor of this cave excavation was Bhikkhuni Sapila, who was a devoted disciple of the revered elder Venerable Vijaya. She did not undertake this meritorious act alone; she included her relatives—Lohita and Venhuya—as well as her own disciple, a woman named Bodhi.
Noteworthy Observations:
One striking feature of this inscription is the terminology used. Unlike inscriptions from the Maurya or Shunga periods, which directly use the word “Bhikkhunī”, this inscription instead uses the term “pavajita” or “pabbajitā”, meaning “renunciant” or “one who has gone forth.” This suggests that although ordained women were present and active, the terminology may have evolved or become less formal in inscriptions of that period.
It is also important to note that none of the individuals mentioned—Sapila, Lohita, Venhuya, or Bodhi—appear in any canonical Buddhist texts such as the Tipiṭaka, commentaries, or treatises. Fortunately, due to their patronage in constructing this cave, their names and contributions were inscribed and have survived to the present day, giving us rare historical insight into the role of female monastics.
Without these inscriptions at the cave entrances, we might never have known who was responsible for these sacred constructions. The caves were abandoned and neglected for nearly a thousand years. Thanks to these inscriptions, we now know that Bhikkhunis were still actively involved in the creation of religious spaces, even during later periods of Indian Buddhism.
