SATTAPANNA GUHA (Beglar 1873)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A group of six or seven rift caves situated at the foot of the northern flank of Vaibhara hill. BEGLAR (1872-1873, Archaeological Survey of India Report, vol. 8 = VIII : 80sqq, sketch map, cross-section) searched for Sattapanna Guha in the direction indicated by FAXIAN (–>Chhe ti Stone House), i.e. by going to the west from Pi-po-lo Dong (–>Pippala Cave) and then skirting the north foot of -Bhaibar Hill-. There he came across a series of six fissures (with possibly a seventh hidden in impenetrable jungle), all facing to the west and forming a row of little chambers (1.2 to 3 m wide and long), designated as a large natural cavern … divided by natural Septa of rock into compartments (note 1), Owing to the peculiar configuration of the rocks, these recesses are said to be distinctly visible when going from east to west but escape notice on moving in the opposite direction (note 2). KURAISHI & GOSH (1975, plate IX = 9) mark Hall on the northern foot of Vaibhara Hill. BUDDHIST SHRINES…(195: 46) erroneously ascribes the Sattapani of BEGLAR 1873 to STEIN (1901: 57-58): … the identification of the Sattapanni Cave … is not beyond doubt. … Stein [sic!] may probably be right when he identifies the site with the large terrace with a group of cells at the back in a semi-circular bend of the rock on the northern scarp. STRASSER (1991 map 16) marks the site with letter -d- on the northern foot of Vaibhargiri.: 46) erroneously ascribes the Sattapani of BEGLAR 1873 to STEIN (1901: 57-58): … the identification of the Sattapanni Cave … is not beyond doubt. … Stein [sic!] may probably be right when he identifies the site with the large terrace with a group of cells at the back in a semi-circular bend of the rock on the northern scarp. STRASSER (1991 map 16) marks the site with letter -d- on the northern foot of Vaibhargiri.