[Solved] Who used the Barabar Caves? | Ashoka's Donation

Who used the caves of Barabar as their shelter-house?

[40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma included religious pluralism, where he patronized non-Buddhist heterodox sects like the Ajivikas.

Authentic Source Evidence

Inscriptions on the walls of the Lomas Rishi and Sudama caves in the Barabar hills (Bihar) state that King 'Piyadassi' (Ashoka) donated these dwellings to the Ajivika ascetics.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: The Ajivikas were a fatalist sect founded by Makkhali Gosala, highly influential during the Mauryan period.

Logic 2: These are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, known for their glass-like interior polish.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What is unique about the interiors of the Barabar caves?"

They feature a remarkable 'Mauryan Polish' that makes the sandstone surfaces shine like glass, a hallmark of that era's craftsmanship.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The donation of caves to the Ajivikas by a Buddhist emperor like Ashoka is a powerful historical example of state-sponsored secularism."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Makkhali Gosala 2