The Kuda Buddhist Caves, located in Raigad District, Maharashtra, are rock-cut caves constructed as monastic dwellings for Buddhist monks and nuns. There are 15 caves in total, believed to have been excavated beginning around 1000 BE (457 CE).
One of the most fascinating features of these caves is the abundance of inscriptions scattered throughout the walls. These inscriptions tell us who the patrons or sponsors of various parts of the caves were. Among the nearly 100 inscriptions, one particularly interesting inscription stands out—written in a combination of Prakrit and Sanskrit, using the Brāhmī script, dating to around 1000–1200 BE (457–657 CE).
The Inscription (translated line by line):
Siddhaṁ therānaṁ bhadanta Patimitana bhadanta
Agimitana ca bhāgineyī pāva-
yitikāya (pabbajitāya) Nāganikāya duhitarya pāva-
yitikāya (pabbajitāya) Padumanikāya deyya dhammaṁ
leṇaṁ pothi ca sahā antevāsiniyā Bodhiyā
saha ca antevāsiniyā Asālhamitāya
Translation:
"Success! This meritorious gift—this cave and a water cistern—belongs to the renunciant (bhikkhunī) named Padumanikā, daughter of the female monastic Nāganikā, and niece of the venerable teachers Bhadanta Patimita and Bhadanta Agimita (or Agnimitra). She was accompanied by her female disciples (antevāsikā) named Bodhi and Asālhamitā."
Summary:
The patron who commissioned the carving of this cave was Bhikkhuni Padumanikā, daughter of Nāganikā, a fellow renunciant. She was also the niece of two revered monks, Venerable Patimita and Venerable Agimita/Agnimitra. She did not carry out this meritorious act alone, but was accompanied by her two female disciples: Bodhi and Asālhamitā.
Points to Note:
The term “Bhikkhunī” is not explicitly used in this inscription—similar to other inscriptions from this period. Instead, the term “pabbajitāya” is used, which means “renunciant” or one who has gone forth into the monastic life.
Interestingly, this inscription uses the honorific “Bhadanta” (a respectful title for senior monks) instead of the variant “Bhayanta”, which appears in some other inscriptions. This suggests an established and formal recognition of monastic hierarchy and respect.
Why Is This Inscription Larger Than Others?
What makes this inscription especially intriguing is the unusually large size of the script—each letter measures approximately 3 inches high, significantly larger than those in other inscriptions in the cave complex. The letters are bold and clearly visible, prompting the question:
Why is this inscription larger than all others?
There are two possible explanations:
The wall surface of the cave where this was inscribed may have been particularly large and smooth, allowing the artisan to carve larger letters.
It could have been the explicit wish of Bhikkhuni Padumanikā herself to have large, prominent letters engraved—perhaps to ensure her offering would be remembered and easily seen by all visitors.
