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 76

ELURA: JAIXA CAVES.
The approach to the upper floor has been very clumsily planned-probably it was quite forgotten at first, and afterwards inserted-at the right corner of the court, where a rude stair leads up to the right corner of the great hall, which is 57 feet wide by 11 feet deep, and varying in height from 13 feet 4 inches in the front aisle to 14 feet in parts of the central area. Twelve massive pillars arranged round an oblong central area support the roof, and two in front with a low counecting parapet wall and corresponding pilasters, form three openings in 38 feet to light the interior. This arrangement, which is followed with slight modifications in all the Elurâ caves, renders them much lighter than the plan adopted in the Ajanta, Nasik, Kuda, and other Bauddha caves. Outside, the parapet is sculptured with a large elephant head at each end.and in front of each pillar, with smaller figures of human beings in the central division, and of animals in the two side divisions; and over them is a rail of small colonnettes and flower-jars, the body of each of the latter being carved with human and other figures. The front of the drip above has been carved with forty little gana, and other sculptures above them, now much weatherworn. Over this, but removed back a few feet, are the decayed remains of a frieze richly sculptured with elephants, makaras, human figures, &c.
The lower floor of this is on the model of that of the Indra Sabha, but is much smaller. and has been finished, whereas in the latter case the pillars are little more than blocked out and the side aisles hardly commenced. This hall is only about 24 feet square and 13 feet high, with four pillars in the floor, and having in front a narrow verandala with two square pillars on the screen wall. This parapet has been finished only on the left of the entrauce, with elephant heads below and water-jars above, while the carving on the portion to the right of the entrance has only been begun along the upper portion.
One of the front pillars to the left of the entrance, with a portion of the screen wall, is represented on plate xxxviii, fig. 3.
Two more pillars on a low partition separate the verandah from the hall, which has two recesses--oue on the left side containing the usual standing figure of Parsvanatha with the snake-hoods over him and attendant figures, and another on the right side containing the corresponding figure of Gòmatèśvara and attendants, all remarkably sharply cut. Figures of Jinas seated cross-legged fill the other six wall areas between the pilasters. In the verandah Indra occupies the left or west end, and Ambibà the right or east end. The shrine is entered through a small antechamber with a fine torant arch over the entrance; it is about 9 feet by 7, and 10 feet 8 inches high, with a cross-legged figure of Mahavira on the throne. The drip over the entrance has not been carred, and large pieces have fallen out of it.
The hall on the left side of the court is about 27 feet square and 12 feet high, with a sbrine 9. feet by 8, and 9 feet 1} inches high, and on each side of it is a cell, the left ove breaking into the next cave. This and the breaking into the cell at the left end of the upper storey of the recess on the right of this hall may perhaps indicate that it was forced in bere after the others were completed.
On the other side of the court are two other small chapels, the walls of which are covered with Jaina sculpture.
CAVE XXXIV., The last of the series of caves, joins close on to the Jagannath Sabha, and has been broken into by the hall on the west side of the court of the latter. The verandah in front