24°54′N 85°17′E / 24.90°N 85.28°E Sitamarhi Cave is an Indian artificial cave, and an important example of Indian rock-cut architecture. Located 20 km southwest of Rajgir and 10 km southwest of Hisua, it dates from the Maurya empire.[1] It was hewn in a huge hemispherical rock of granite.
The cave has the structure and Mauryan polish qualities of the Barabar caves, but without any inscriptions. It is smaller than the Barabar caves, measuring only 4.91x3.43m, with a ceiling height of 2.01m. The entrance is also trapezoidal, like the Barabar caves.[1]
According to a later Hindu legend, the cave was built by the legendary builder Vishvakarman. It is also the cave in which Sita took refuge from Mara, hence the cave's name.
The cave is sometimes considered part of the "Rajgir group", together with Son Bhandar Caves.[2]
- ^ a b Gupta, The roots of Indian Art, p.194-
- ^ Le, Huu Phuoc (2010). Buddhist Architecture. Grafikol. ISBN 9780984404308.