Report On Elura Cave Temples and Bramhanical and Jaina Caves in Western India

SR No.: 011091
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Trubner and Company London
Publication Year: 1883
Total Pages: 209
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 14 MB

Page 71

46
IRCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WESTERN INDIA.
animals, and the male is probably meant for Indra, who plays as great a rôle in the Jaina as in Bauddha mythological literature, being an interested listener to the teaching of the Jinas; and the female might be his consort, the voluptuous Sachi or Indråņi, but it is much more probably meant for Ambika, whose proper vehicle is a tiger or lion, and who is a special favourite among the Jainas.
Behind cach of these figures, but entered from the side aisles of the hall, is a small room about 9 feet by 11, by which access is obtained to the shrines ou each side of the front area. A few steps lead down from each side room into a smaller one, carved all round with Jaina figures, at the ends of the verandahs of these side shrines. On the east the verandah has two pillars in front and two behind, rising from low parapet or screen walls, with Ambika in the south end facing the entrance, at the right side of which Indra is represented with a bag in his left hand and a cocoa-nut in his right, exactly like the figures we find in the shrines of the Bauddha caves facing the principal images. The hall is about 25 feet wide by 23 feet deep, the roof supported by four square pillars with round capitals. On each side is a deep recess; in that on the right is a naked figure of Gomatêśvara, a favourite with the Digambara Jains, and of whom several gigantic figures exist in the Cavarese country. He is always represented with creeping plants twining themselves round his limbs, snakes coming out of ant-hills at his feet, his hair falling over his shoulders, and attended by worshippers. In the corresponding recess on the left is Parávanatha, also nude, and with attendant figures. In smaller recesses are figures of Maha vira seated cross-legged; on pilasters at each side the shrive door are nude Jaina dwârapâlas; the architraves are carved with numerous small figures; and on the throne inside is a cross-legged Mahavira.
Another door in the south-west corner of the great hall has a four-armed Dêvî on the right side, and below, on the left, a figure of Sarasvati, eight-armed, with a peacock. Passing tbrough a small room and down a few steps with sculptures on each side, we enter the verandah, a small ball similar to that just described. Ambika is seated at the right side of the steps, and a Dêvî opposite to her, four-armed, with two round discs or flowers in her uplifted hands, and something very like a vajra in her left upon the knee. Indra is seated in the west end of the verandah facing the entrance. A figure of Mahavira Occupies the shrine and several compartments in the walls. In deep recesses again L'arávanátha is placed on the left, and Gomateśvara on the right side of the hall, which is very similar in plan to the one on the east side, but the four central pillars are more elaborately and sharply carved after the pattern of those in the great hall. The two on the inner screen have sixteen sides, and also correspond to those on the screen in the great hall. One of these is represented on plate xxxix, fig. 3, and the carving on the members of the corresponding pilaster in fig. 4. Pairs of figures in dalliance fill the compartments of the low inner screen. On the ceiling are some fragments of painting in this room.
The faça le of this side cave is shown in the accompanying plate vii, the greater part
1 The Nutrujuya Jihatmy, for example, is a relation made to Indra, at his own urgent desire, by Mahavira.
Her name does not necur in the list of the twenty-four Sasaradêvis of the Jinas.
3 Inl. Antily., vol. ii, pp. 129, 353 ; vol. v, p. 37. An inscription on the Karkala statue, however, calls it an image of Bahubalin, who was the second son of Risliabhanátha, the first Tirtharkara. See also Arch. Sur. II. Ini Rup, vol. i, pl. xxxvii, and 1. 25.
+ See a representation of one of these figures of Parsvanatha in Cave Temples, il. lxxxvi.