A New Buddhist Sect in Kanheri
Summary
This miscellany piece examines a recently re‑transcribed inscription from Kanheri cave no. 76 and argues that it refers to a previously unidentified Buddhist sect. The inscription, published in West’s List No. 28 and translated by Bühler, records a donation by a female ascetic named Sapa (Sarpa), her sister Ratnika and their family. The donors excavated a cave and a water cistern as a meritorious gift for eight ascetics from the four quarters of the horizon. A critical re‑examination of the inscription shows that the phrase previously read as athasu purisesu (‘for the eight persons’) should instead be read atha aparisesesu, which refers to the Aparaśaila sect of Buddhism. By restoring this reading, the author identifies the donors as followers of a sect belonging to the southern branch of the Mahāsāṃghika order. The article discusses the significance of the Aparaśaila and compares the inscription to other Kanheri records. It highlights the role of women donors and notes that the inscription provides rare evidence for sectarian diversity in western India. The piece concludes that careful epigraphic study can reveal overlooked historical data and correct earlier misinterpretations.
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Conclusion
The note demonstrates that a small inscription from Kanheri alters our understanding of western Indian Buddhism by attesting to an Aparaśaila sect. Correcting the reading of a single phrase not only identifies the sect but also highlights the involvement of female donors. This underscores the importance of meticulous epigraphic scholarship for reconstructing Buddhist sectarian history.