DDK HistoryF.p65 - CSIR

268 WEALTH OF CAVE FOUNDATIONS [8.5
different villages there still preserve cults of Rummin-dei.
Even more indispensable than this civilising influence of the
Buddhist almsmen was the economic function of their great cave
monasteries, which were already of considerable size before 150 B. c.,
and continued to gain in wealth till about the early 7th century. The
inscriptions show that caravan traders were generous donors, and
make it certain that retired merchants also joined the foundation without
dividing their wealth among lay relatives or heirs as the older practice
had been. The most interesting of these associations is of the merchant
community of Dhenukakata with the Caitya cave at Karle (JRAS 30-
2, 1956, 50-71 + 4 plates). Apart from having a remarkable early union
of merchants (vaniya-gama), this place had wealthy and generous Greek
merchant settlers, one of whom donated the rt. 13th pillar of the Caitya
with a sphinx (hitherto unnoticed because of the poor light) copied
from some statuette. With the Tndianised centaurs at Bhaja and chimaeras
at Nasik, Pitalkhora, Bharhut, this gives a link passing through Gandhara
to Asia Minor. The Dhenukakatan Yavanas are more likely to
have received their foreign supplies by sea, via Chaul. The place
itself has been identified with the modern Dharanikota right across
the peninsula and the village of Dongri on the northern the tip of Salcete
island, but was more likely to have been at the modern hamlet of
Devghar near the Karle caves. Chinese records (GAEB) show how the
early Buddhist monasteries, consciously modelling themselves upon
Indian practice, played a leading role in the development of the Chinese
hinterland. They engaged in trade, money lending, direct cultivation, and
stimulated agrarian settlement. Moreover, the leading school of this
sort in China was of the Mahasanghikas, which has left us the beautiful
caves at Karle. The great wealth of Indian cave-foundations is attested
by their huge ruins. They were obviously important customers, as also
banking houses and supply depots for caravans. They had a
considerable prestige because of their sanctity, which made their
Fig. 35 Dedication
by Greek Dhamma on
the left third pillar
Karle Caitya cave.