The Sacred Spaces of the Ajivika Monks: Barabar and Nagarjuni Caves

The ancient Indian religious and philosophical spectrum went far beyond Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism to include sects that often challenged the popular dictates. Of these, were the Ajivikas who believed in the idea of Niyati – a central tenet that formed the base of all actions and negated human choices and intentions. In their pursuance of strong determinism, the Ajivikas were often labeled as heretics by the opposing, contemporaneous faiths. Their brief existence is marked with instances of rivalry, co-existence and challenges. Over the years, the tradition has perished leaving behind some tangible remains in the form of rock-cut architectures. In the absence of any direct textual evidence, the information that these architectural remains encapsulate form a strong ground for scholars to rely on. Seven caves excavated in the Barabar and Nagarjuni hills have been dated to the reign of Emperor Asoka and his successors. Inscriptional data found inside these caves have been ascribed to Emperor Asoka and his descendants and record the donation of cave shelters to the Ajivika monks. These monuments marked the beginning of rock-cut architecture in India that later took up more developed patterns and forms. The article proposes to analyze the nature and form of the rock-cut caverns. These architectural remains throw considerable light on the religious affiliations of the time.