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 77

ARCILEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WESTERN INDIA.
has been quite destroved, except a small fragment of the left end. The back wall of it bas two pilasters, and is pierced by a door and two windows. The hall is 20 feet wide by about 20 feet deep, and is 9 feet 8 inches high, with four pillars in it, and corresponding pilasters on the wall. One of the pillars is given in plate xl, fig. 4. All the spaces between the pilasters on the walls are covered with rich sculpture.
The colossal figure of Parsvavatha ou the other side of the ridge is described in The Cure Temples (p. 502), where a translation of the inscription upon it, dated 3rd Phâlguna sudi S. 1156, corresponding to Wednesday, Feb. 21, A.D. 1235, will also be found. It records the dedication of this image by one Chakreśwara of (Varddhana pura.
CHAPTER VII.
THE CAVES AT BADAMI AND AIHOLE. Is The Cave Temples (pp. 101-416) and in the first volume of these Reports the Brahmanical and Jaina caves at Badami and Aihoļe, in the Kalâdgi district, were illustrated in considerable detail. The discovery of the date of the finest of them also supplied an important datum for the settlement of the chronology of these works. Little need here be added to the details there given, but, extensive as is the illustration in the first Report, it falls far short of representing the full sculptured wealth of these caves, and I now add a ground-plan showing the whole group of caves at Bâdâmi (plate xli, fig. 2). The ascent is from the Saiva Cave No. I., at the west corner of the scarp, to Caves II. and III., which are Vaishnava. Beyond them, and accessible from below, is the Jaina Cave No. 11.
Round the upper part of the walls, over the pillars in front and back of the verandah in Cave II., is a frieze containing a belt of sculpture only 10 inches broad, in which the figures are crowded together so as to represent a considerable chapter of mythology. This is given on plate viii, where figs. 1-3 represent the portion on the inside of the front wall, and figs. 4-8 that on the back. It would be needless describing these scenes in detail; those acquainted with Hindu mythology will make them out. They begin with Vishnu sleeping on Śêsha, with the lotus springing from his navel bearing a very small Brahma; in the first half of fig. 2 is Sri, his consort, bathed by elephants, &c., with Vishnu mounted on Garuda, Indra on the elephant Airâvati, and other gods to the left; and well to the right Chandi destroying Mabishasura. The next compartment is the churning of the ocean by the gods and Asuras, and the horse Uchchaihsravas, one of the products of the operation. The end section (fig. 3) represents a battle. Fig. 5, on the left end of the back wall, hardly seems counected with the others ; * figs. 5, 6, 7 apparently relate to the history of Krishņa."
On the rock outside Cave I., the Saiva Cave, is sculptured a figure of Siva performing
I See Cave Temples, pl. xci, fig. 2, for a drawing of one compartment.
R ot on the Belgaum an Kaludyi Districts (1874), Pr. 15-28, 37-40, and plates xvii to xxxvii anil xlviii to l. In the Iml. Ant., vol. vi, PP. 351-366, will also be found an account of the sculptures, illustrated by seven plates.
S See Reports, vol. iii, On Bcular and Aurangabad, P. 17.
4 Purtions of these sculptures are very similar to some of those on the pillars of the temple of Virupaksha at Pattadakal. Unfortunately, they are not labelled with the names of the actors, as is the case on one pillar there, where the war of Râma with the Rakshasas is represented. --See Reports, vol. I, p. 32.
The principal sculptures, which are Vaishnava, have been described in vol. i, ut sup.