Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves

This book is based on Dr. Mohapatra’s doctoral thesis who is the Curator of Orissa State Museum, Bhubaneswar. Illustrated and fully documented, the book gives a lucid account of the importance of the twin caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri in the development of Indian art and architecture. After giving a factual description of the caves, the author than analyses the peculiar significance of the cave architecture that flourished in Ancient India especially under the impact of Buddhism and Jainism. As these caves were beautifully sculpted, Mohapatra brings out their sculptural significance in a long chapter which is a book in itself. Dr. Mohapatra does not look at Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves merely from the point of view of Indian art and architecture but takes pains to analyse the religious and social impulses that shaped them. To do so he unravels the iconography of the sculptural representations and writes critically about the Inscriptions that are found in the caves. The chapter describing the builders of the caves is full of human interest throwing lights on the social condition of the age.