Udaygiri Caves

Udayagiri Caves are a group of rock - cut cave sanctuaries, carved into a sandstone hill that stands, sentinel like, on the horizon.  Situated in Sunpura and Udaygiri villages of Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh, these are the finest example of classical gupta arts.  Literarily means hill of sunrise, Udayagiri was mentioned as Kumari Parvat in Hathigumpha inscription. 

An inscription in one of these, states that it were carved during the reign of Changragupta II (382 -401AD), thus it is estimated that these were carved during 4th to 5th A.D. The caves represents all the distinctive features of Classical Gupta art - its simplicity of expression, the beautifully moulded capitals, the treatment of the intercolumniation, the design of the entranceway and the system of continuing the architrave as a string course round the structure, religious virtuosity etc. 

There are about twenty rock cut caves carved into an outcrop of sandstone and most are just niches however some form columned temples. These caves have been numbered according to the sequence in which they were excavated. In Caves four, six and nineteen, one can observe that the shrines become larger and more ornate and cells appear more spacious. Cave 1, which has a frontage adapted out of a natural ledge of rock, thus forming both the roof of the cella and its portico. The row of four pillars bear the vase and foliage pattern. Characterised by richly carved facades and doorways, the shrines are progressively more spacious and more ornate.

Dates back to early 5th century, Cave no 5 depicts Vishnu in a massive carving depicts Vishnu as Varaha (Boar) incarnation. It is also called as Varha Gupha. The sculpture is holding the earth goddess Prithvi aloft upon one tusk. Yet another large sculpture is of the reclining Vishnu. Rows of Sages, divinities and two male musicians can be seen at the back and on the sides of the panels, images of river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna with figures of attendants. It is claim that these scenes represents the unification of northern India by the Guptas.

Taken as a whole, this stupendous group is a rich representation of the vitality and strength of Gupta art and architecture.