The Kanheri Caves derive their name from the word Kanhagiri in Pāli and Prakrit, which translates to Krishnagiri in Sanskrit, meaning “Black Mountain”—named for the dark-colored stone of the hill. Located in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali, near Mumbai, the site comprises 105 caves, making it the largest rock-cut monastery complex in Western India. These caves were carved beginning around 400 B.E. (approximately 100 BCE), associated with the Hīnayāna (Theravāda) tradition.
The caves are generally divided into three main types:
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Monastic Residence Caves (Vihāra)
These are rectangular chambers carved into the mountain, with smaller side chambers serving as monk cells for sleeping. -
Stupa Caves (Chaitya)
These long caves were carved to house stupas for communal rituals. The stupa inside serves as a central object of veneration and as a ceremonial space. -
Dining Hall Cave
For example, Cave 11 serves as the monastic dining hall. It's a large space with a long stone platform carved from the rock used for placing food items during meals. -
Water Reservoirs
Tanks were carved in front of the caves into the rock to collect and store water, especially for use during the dry and cold seasons.
Additionally, at Kanheri, there is a special structure referred to as the Nirvāṇa Path (Nirvanavīthi), which contains brick stupas enshrining relics of senior monks (Mahātheras). This is located at Cave 87 , a restricted area not usually open to general tourists—special permission is needed for access.
Archaeological investigations have revealed 64 brick stupas, all containing relics. In 61 of them, inscriptions were found, some of which preserved the names of 11 senior monks, while the rest have been damaged beyond recognition. The names identified from the inscriptions are:
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Ven. Sanghananda (พระมหาเถระสังฆนันทะ)
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Ven. Anandasena (พระมหาเถระอานันทะเสนา)
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Ven. Badila (พระมหาเถระพทิละ)
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Ven. Bhuta (พระมหาเถระภูตะ)
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Ven. Dhamana (พระมหาเถระธมนะ)
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Ven. Dhammasena (พระมหาเถระธัมมเสนา)
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Ven. Khemaka (พระมหาเถระเขมกะ)
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Ven. Mahanama (พระมหาเถระมหานามะ)
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Ven. Mittabhuta (พระมหาเถระมิตตะภูตะ)
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Ven. Vijaya (พระมหาเถระวิชัย)
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Ven. Vijayamitta (พระมหาเถระวิชัยมิตตะ)
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Ven. Sivanaga (พระเถระสิวนาคะ)
Sample Inscription:
The inscription for Ven. Vijayamitta, written in Prakrit, is as follows:
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Line 1: Therānaṃ Bhadanta Vija-
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Line 2: yamitānaṃ Arahan-
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Line 3: tānaṃ Thūpaṃ
Transliteration (Sanskritized):
Therānaṃ Bhadanta Vijayamitānaṃ Arahatānaṃ Thūpaṃ
Translation:
"This stupa (Thūpaṃ) is of the Arahant named Bhadanta Vijayamitta, a senior monk."
What is astonishing here is the use of the word Arahatānaṃ, which means Arahants in the plural. In Prakrit grammar, similar to Pāli, honorifics are often rendered in the plural even when referring to a single revered individual. Thus, Therānaṃ (of the Elder), Vijayamitānaṃ, and Arahatānaṃ are all in plural form, though referring to one person.
Dating the Site:
Analysis of the bricks and inscriptions confirms they were written in Prakrit, a language prevalent in India between the post-Buddha era and up to around 600 B.E. After that, Sanskrit became more dominant for inscriptions.
According to Sobhana Gokhale, an Indian archaeologist, this cemetery of stupas can be dated back approximately 2,000 years. Originally, each stupa likely bore an inscription with the respective monk’s name, but due to the passage of time, natural decay and potential looting have destroyed many of them.
During archaeological surveys, most stupas were found collapsed, but luckily, eleven name inscriptions were still partially readable and preserved.
