Pandava Caves
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Rock_cut_caves_at_Dhanadibbalu_01.jpg/220px-Rock_cut_caves_at_Dhanadibbalu_01.jpg)
The Pandava Caves are located near Kadri Manjunath temple in Mangalore, Karnataka.[2] Historians found that the current temple was a Buddhist monastery known as Kandarika Vihara. The shrine had a standing Buddha image in it. This image was replaced by the King Kundvarma of the Alupa dynasty, who was a devotee of Shiva. However it was not the Buddha but a bodhisattva who was historically integrated with Shiva. Historians concluded that the vihara was originally a centre of the cult of the bodhisattva Manjusri.[3] This temple was one of the famous centres of learning and pilgrimage until the 11th century AD.[citation needed] This particular doctrine opened the doors for Tantric religion. Both Shilinga and the bodhisattva were worshipped for many centuries until the Buddhist temple was converted to a purely Saivite temple.[3]
According to the mythological sources, Pandavas stayed here during their exile in the Mahabharata period.[1]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "These places in India have distinct Mahabharata, Ramayana connections". cnbctv18.com. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ "Ourkarnataka". Archived from the original on 23 August 2000. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Jaini, ed. by Padmanabh S. (2001). Collected papers on Buddhist studies (1. ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 148–149. ISBN 81-208-1776-1.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- Caves of Karnataka
- History of Mangalore
- Buddhist monasteries in India
- Buddhist caves in India
- Indian rock-cut architecture
- Former populated places in India
- Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India
- Buddhist temples in India
- Architecture of India
- Buddhist sites in Karnataka
- Buildings and structures in Mangalore
- Geography of Mangalore