Under the Patronage by post Mauryan small dynasties like shakas, kushans, kanvas (north), satvahanas (south), Rashtrakutas (west) and various religious sects like Shaivites, vaishnavites, shaktites
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Caves
- Two types of caves
- Chaitya - prayer hall for monks
- Vihar - rest place for Monks
Karle Chaitya (MH)
- Largest chaitya
- Huge lion pillar in front of chaitya
- Stupa is cylindrical
- Octagon shaped pillar behind stupa without decoration
Nasik Vihar (MH)
- a.k.a Pandavleni (but not related to Pandavas)
- Hinayana Buddhism
- group of 24 caves
- Only 18th cave is a chaitya
- Has idols of buddha & bodhisattva
Stupas
- Enlarged stupas when compared to Mauryan period
- Gateways(torans) are intricately decorated