Indrasala Cave


The Indrasala Cave, also called Indrasila Guha or Indrasaila Cave, is a cave site mentioned in Buddhist texts. It is stated in Buddhist mythology to be the cave where Buddha lived for a while, and gave the sermon called the Sakkapañha Sutta to deity Indra. This Sutta is found as chapter II.21 of Dīgha Nikāya.

Legend

In the Sakkapañha Sutta sermon, the Buddha addresses Sakra accompanied by Pancasikha. After some harp-playing by Pancasikha, Indra asks 42 questions to the Buddha, which he answers. The teachings in this Indrasala Cave Sutta is, in part, the basis for the Theravada tradition of punna and varam ''.''

Location

Buddhist texts mention the Indrasala Cave to be in the Vediya or Vediyaka mountain, to the north of Ambasanda, near Rajagrha.
Since the 19th century, many scholars had attempted to identify this hill and the location of the Indrasala Cave where Buddha lived. Alexander Cunningham believed it to be in modern Giryak.
More recently, a cave on the solitary hill in Parbati village in Nawada has been proposed, which is situated north to the village of Apsarh.
According to Dr.Senarath Paranavithana in his book Inscription of Ceylon volume I Early brahmi inscriptions published in 1970 indicate that Indasala guha is located in Bambaragala Purana Rajamaha Vihara, Teldeniya, Kandy, Sri Lnaka.

Depictions

The visit is a scene in series showing the life of Buddha in art, though not one of the most common, especially after the first centuries of Buddhist art. Numerous depictions of the scene are known, the earliest being those of the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, circa 150 BCE. In a Gandhara artwork dated to 89 CE, the scene "Visit to the Indrasala Cave" is depicted with Indra identifiable with his elephant seated to the right, the Buddha is shown living in a cave by the wavy rocky landscape with wild animals above.
According to Dr.Senarath Paranavithana in his book Inscription of Ceylon volume I Early brahmi inscriptions published in 1970 indicate that Indasala guha is located at Bambaragala Purana Rajamaha Vihara, Teldeniya, kandy. About 19km away from Kandy. There in the mountain have many caves and among one of which is a cave with early brahmi letters on the cave above indasala guha sagasa. Dr.Senarath Paranavithana read it as The cave named indasala-guha is given to the Sangha.
In the same book on p. 103 GLOSSARY Dr.Senarath Paranavithana further express that
''Inda-sala, name of a cave in which the Buddha once dwelt.''