The Jogimara and Sitabenga Caves

 

 image source- PURATATTVA

The Jogimara and Sitabenga Caves, also known as the Sitabenga Cave or Jogimara Cave, are ancient cave monuments nestled in the north side of the Ramgarh hills in Puta village, Chhattisgarh, India. These remarkable caves date back to approximately the 3rd-century BCE to 1st-century BCE and hold significant historical and artistic value 1.

Here are some fascinating details about these caves:

1. Non-Religious Inscriptions and Ancient Frescoes:

   • The Jogimara and Sitabenga Caves are notable for their non-religious inscriptions in Brahmi script and Magadhi language. They also feature one of the oldest colored frescoes in Asia.
   • Scholars debate whether the Sitabenga cave was an ancient performance theater or a resting place along an ancient trade route. Some consider it the oldest performance theater on the Indian subcontinent 2.
   • The inscription at the Jogimara cave is equally intriguing. It has been interpreted both as a love-graffiti by a girl and a boy, and as a depiction of a female dancer and a male sculptor-painter creating the two caves together to serve others .

2. Location and Description:

   • The Jogimara and Sitabenga caves are situated in the Surguja district of Chhattisgarh, approximately 45 kilometers southwest of Ambikapur.
   • To reach the caves, take India’s national highway 130, followed by a small spur road that climbs into the Ramgarh hills (also known as the Ramgiri hills or Devapahari).
   • The area between the two forested hills leads to the Ram Janaki temple and nearby Hindu temple ruins. From there, a short hike west on a marked, stone-paved trail reveals the caves.
   • The Sitabenga cave lies to the north, while the inscribed and painted Jogimara cave is on the south side. The Jogimara cave features platforms and railings for visitors 1.

3. Regional Tradition and Ramayana Connection:

   • The regional tradition associates these caves with the epic of Ramayana. According to legend, Sita, Rama, and Lakshmana visited this area at the start of their exile.
   • The oldest ruins and temple artwork found here relate to the Ramayana, likely dating from the 8th to 12th century CE based on their iconographic features