Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

SR No.: 006774
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Others
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 726
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 51 MB

Page 51

Rock-cut Jaina Architecture
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extant pilaster of the verandah carries on its top a pair of winged galloping horses.
The upper cave is approached by a flight of rock- cut steps. Of the two restored pillars of the benched verandah the capitals are intact. The inner bracket in one capital is what looks like a royal elephant with attending ones, that in the other has a lion holding a prey in its mouth; the side brackets are relieved with pairs of winged animals with the head of a bird or human being. The pilaster on left shows on its top a man carrying a woman and that on right has an elephant entwined by a serpent. The cell has three entrance doors.
Cave 5 (Jayāvijayāgumphā) - It consists of two cells with a common verandah supported on two pilasters and a modern pillar. The front face of the left pilaster shows a standing male figure, now damaged, on the shaft and a lion on the capital, and that of the right depicts a female fondling a parrot perched on her flingers and a Sālabhañjika respectively: Each cell has a single door with pilasters surmounted by winged animals. The arches over the doors are decorated with lotuses or creepers. The space between the arches depicts, above the three-barred railing, a sacred tree in square railing which is being worshipped on either side by a human couple.
Cave 6 (Panasagumphā) - The cave is so named because there is a panasa (Artocarpus integrifolia) tree in the front. Owing to large scale quarrying it is now open on the front.
Cave 7 (Thākurāņigumphā) - It has two storeys one above the other, each comprising of a cell and a benched verandah. The lower cell is comparatively spacious and high and has convex ceiling. The verandah has an usual pillar with a pair of winged animals on the inner bracket of the capital. The tops of the pillar and pilasters are adorned with addorsed crocodiles and winged animals, some being bird-headed.
The upper cell is a smaller one; its verandah has no pillar.
Cave 8 (Pātālapurigumpha) - It consists of four cells, two at the back and one on each side of the benched verandah. The roof of the verandah is supported by two pillars (originally three) and two pilasters. The tops of the pillars are adorned with crude figures of winged animals standing back to back. One extant bracket of the capital depicts an armed man fighting a lion. The cells are high enough to stand erect. Their ceiling is arched and the facade is left plain.
Cave 9 (Mañcapuri and Svargapuri) - It consists of two storeys, the lower called Mañcapuri and the upper, Svargapuri. The Mañcapuri has four cells in two wings, three in the main wing at the back and one on the right side of the benched verandah. The ceilings of the back cells are slightly arched. The four guards occupying the front face of the pilasters in two wings are carved in high relief and carry a long sheathed sword. The four pillars have been restored. Their outer brackets are all gone; the inner ones are relieved with a pair of cavaliers or a figure of woman. All the doorways are flanked by pilasters having ghata-base and animal capitals. The arches over the doors are adorned with floral pattern; in one case it shows animals and chasing boys in alternate folds of creepers. The arches are crowned by śrīvatsa or triratna. The space above the two-barred railing connecting the arches of the second and third doorways is relieved with an unidentified Jaina symbol being worshipped by a group of six votaries of which one with turreted crown looks like a king. The scene is witnessed by the Sun god and Vidyadharas as well. The spaces between the other arches depict three-barred railing only. There is an inscription recording the dedication of the cave by king Kūdepasīrī or Vakradeva whose relation with Khāravela is not known. The right wing of the cave has a single cell preceded by a verandah with two pilasters and a pillar, all devoid of carvings.
The Svargapuri does not rest immediately above the Mañcapuri but is recessed back to form an open
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