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Atul Bhosekar

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Basically, as a Physics graduate and a marketing professional, my travels across India, sparked my interest in ancient Indian history and Archaeology esp. Buddhism and Buddhist Caves. To understand this, I learnt the Ashokan script and Pali language.

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Arputharani Sengupta

National Museum Institute of History of Art,Conservation and Museology

FLAME University

Dr. Uday Dokras

Stockholm University

Srini Kalyanaraman

Sarla D E E P A K Bhirud

Claudine Bautze-Picron

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique / French National Centre for Scientific Research

Rajesh K U M A R Singh

Independent Scholar

Vijayakumar Somasekharan Nair

Himanshu Prabha Ray

Jawaharlal Nehru University

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Papers by Atul Bhosekar

It is worth investigating the misrepresentation of Mahamaya in sculptures depicting events from t... more It is worth investigating the misrepresentation of Mahamaya in sculptures depicting events from the Buddha's life or teachings in these caves. The inclusion of Gajalakshmi prompts an intriguing question, leading historians to explore this anomaly further. Consequently, the image of Gajalakshmi, absent in Buddhist texts, may be regarded as an appropriation of Queen Mahamaya's sculpture, emphasizing the need for rectification of the anomalies caused by scholars.

Gajalakshmi Image: Appropriation of Queen Mahamaya's Sculpture

A Newly Discovered Buddhist Cave in Wai Village of Satara District, Maharashtra

Heritage Multi Disciplinary Journal, 2020

During my trek in the mountains of Wai, I lost direction and stumbled upon a scarp in the mountai... more During my trek in the mountains of Wai, I lost direction and stumbled upon a scarp in the mountain where I discovered a cave. The cave is not seen from the foothills. Even near the scarp, one has to sneak between the boulders to enter this cave since the entrance is nearly covered with boulders. This cave is not known to the scholarly world and thus has not been documented by anyone so far. Renusevasti, a small settlement of 10 houses, lies adjacently to the foothills of this mountain. The entire architecture confirms this cave to be of early Theravada period. This newly discovered cave adds up to the number of Buddhist caves already seen in this region and helps in revising the chronology of the rock cut caves of Western Maharashtra.

BODHGAYA - the real story

Buddhist Journal, 2019

BODHGAYA… place of The Buddha's Enlightenment Its real story from 250 BCE to 2018 Buddha Gaya (Bo... more BODHGAYA… place of The Buddha's Enlightenment Its real story from 250 BCE to 2018 Buddha Gaya (Bodhgaya) is an important and holy place for all the Buddhists of the world. It is at this place that Siddhartha attained enlightenment and proclaimed the Four Noble Truths through the Eight Fold path leading to Nibbana. Buddha Gaya was earlier known as Uruvela during the Buddha's times. Uruvela was situated on the sandy banks of Neranjana river, now known as Falgu river. In around circa 250 BCE, Emperor Ashoka visited this place during his 11 th year of reign and donated 1,00,000 gold coins for building a vihara. He also built a 10 feet high wall for protecting the Bodhi tree (pipal) under which the Buddha meditated. During Ashoka's time, this place was known as Sambodhi or Mahabodhi. The name Buddha Gaya came into use in the 18 th century. Ashoka built a polished Vajrasana (a seat where the Buddha sat for meditation and attained enlightenment). Ashoka also recreated the cloistered walk of the Buddha with 22 pillared base each with a mark of "a" to "t" in Ashokan Dhammalipi script. The donations and the work carried out by Ashoka can be seen on the 8 th major rock edict, toranas of Sanchi Stupa 1 and on the Stupa railing at Bharhut.

How Buddhist Caves came to be known as Pāndavā caves

Many of the Buddhist caves in India have been erroneously called as Pandava caves. This paper res... more

The Vajrachedika Prajnaparamita Sura

History of Buddhism in Nashik

Caste system In India with reference to Buddhist Texts.

The Indian society from the past has been static and dominated by the idea of caste. The traditio... more The Indian society from the past has been static and dominated by the idea of caste. The traditional fourfold order of priests, soldiers and administrators, merchants and agriculturists and menial workers was considered not only to be absolute, fundamental and necessary to society but was also given a divine sanction by being considered a creation of God (Brahma). "God created the fourfold caste order with their specific aptitudes and functions", with the result that people born into the different castes have certain special biologically inherited aptitudes which eminently fit them to perform the caste functions which it is their duty to perform.

The central philosophy of Buddhism: A study of the Madhyamika system

It is worth investigating the misrepresentation of Mahamaya in sculptures depicting events from t... more It is worth investigating the misrepresentation of Mahamaya in sculptures depicting events from the Buddha's life or teachings in these caves. The inclusion of Gajalakshmi prompts an intriguing question, leading historians to explore this anomaly further. Consequently, the image of Gajalakshmi, absent in Buddhist texts, may be regarded as an appropriation of Queen Mahamaya's sculpture, emphasizing the need for rectification of the anomalies caused by scholars.

Gajalakshmi Image: Appropriation of Queen Mahamaya's Sculpture

A Newly Discovered Buddhist Cave in Wai Village of Satara District, Maharashtra

Heritage Multi Disciplinary Journal, 2020

During my trek in the mountains of Wai, I lost direction and stumbled upon a scarp in the mountai... more During my trek in the mountains of Wai, I lost direction and stumbled upon a scarp in the mountain where I discovered a cave. The cave is not seen from the foothills. Even near the scarp, one has to sneak between the boulders to enter this cave since the entrance is nearly covered with boulders. This cave is not known to the scholarly world and thus has not been documented by anyone so far. Renusevasti, a small settlement of 10 houses, lies adjacently to the foothills of this mountain. The entire architecture confirms this cave to be of early Theravada period. This newly discovered cave adds up to the number of Buddhist caves already seen in this region and helps in revising the chronology of the rock cut caves of Western Maharashtra.

BODHGAYA - the real story

Buddhist Journal, 2019

BODHGAYA… place of The Buddha's Enlightenment Its real story from 250 BCE to 2018 Buddha Gaya (Bo... more BODHGAYA… place of The Buddha's Enlightenment Its real story from 250 BCE to 2018 Buddha Gaya (Bodhgaya) is an important and holy place for all the Buddhists of the world. It is at this place that Siddhartha attained enlightenment and proclaimed the Four Noble Truths through the Eight Fold path leading to Nibbana. Buddha Gaya was earlier known as Uruvela during the Buddha's times. Uruvela was situated on the sandy banks of Neranjana river, now known as Falgu river. In around circa 250 BCE, Emperor Ashoka visited this place during his 11 th year of reign and donated 1,00,000 gold coins for building a vihara. He also built a 10 feet high wall for protecting the Bodhi tree (pipal) under which the Buddha meditated. During Ashoka's time, this place was known as Sambodhi or Mahabodhi. The name Buddha Gaya came into use in the 18 th century. Ashoka built a polished Vajrasana (a seat where the Buddha sat for meditation and attained enlightenment). Ashoka also recreated the cloistered walk of the Buddha with 22 pillared base each with a mark of "a" to "t" in Ashokan Dhammalipi script. The donations and the work carried out by Ashoka can be seen on the 8 th major rock edict, toranas of Sanchi Stupa 1 and on the Stupa railing at Bharhut.

How Buddhist Caves came to be known as Pāndavā caves

Many of the Buddhist caves in India have been erroneously called as Pandava caves. This paper res... more

The Vajrachedika Prajnaparamita Sura

History of Buddhism in Nashik

Caste system In India with reference to Buddhist Texts.

The Indian society from the past has been static and dominated by the idea of caste. The traditio... more The Indian society from the past has been static and dominated by the idea of caste. The traditional fourfold order of priests, soldiers and administrators, merchants and agriculturists and menial workers was considered not only to be absolute, fundamental and necessary to society but was also given a divine sanction by being considered a creation of God (Brahma). "God created the fourfold caste order with their specific aptitudes and functions", with the result that people born into the different castes have certain special biologically inherited aptitudes which eminently fit them to perform the caste functions which it is their duty to perform.

The central philosophy of Buddhism: A study of the Madhyamika system