________________
100
Jaina Rock-cut Caves in Western India turned back with his face slightly turned on one side and hands in añjali mudra. Below and above these figures, small fat dwarfish figures are shown amidst clouds. All the figures have heads toward the inside of the hall.
The frame depicting the fighting scene shows two males. They move in opposite direction, but their heads are turned back to face each other. One man has a shield held up in left hand and a sword in the attitude of attacking the opponent in the right hand. The other man is shown taking the attack of the sword on his shield held in front, while the other hand is held up. Close to him is a female with one hand around his waist as if trying to stop him. This representation could be either a secular scene or an episode from some story of Jaina mythology. It could be the fighting scene between Bharata and Bahubali, but the depiction of the female figure does not fit in the story. As there are no other narrative panels in the cave, probably it is a secular
scene. 9. Two couples: The stone beam between right pillars originally had two squares, as on
the stone beam between back pillars. But now only one square remains, which is damaged at one corner. The extant panel has two couples holding each other with heads towards the inside of the hall.
Right aisle: 10. Figures: On the right aisle ceiling, three panels are extant, though corners of side
panels are damaged. The panel near back wall is damaged, but a couple is seen. The female plays cymbals, while the male behind her is moving ahead with his head turned back. The central panel is very well preserved. It has a male flanked by females. Both the females have garland in the hands, while male has hands in anjali. His head is slightly bent down in adoration. The next panel is damaged on one side. It also has a male flanked by females. The male has his both the hands around the neck of a female. The female in turn has right hand around him and the left hand is held up, perhaps holding a flower. The head of the male is slightly turned back to look at the female figure behind him, which is only partially preserved. Below this couple is a fat,
dwarfish figure holding a garland in both the hands. 11. Figures: On the left aisle ceiling, there are five squares. All the panels are highly
damaged as the colours have peeled off from almost all the panels. Like the right aisle ceiling, the figures here have heads towards the inside of the hall. They are moving in the direction of shrine. The panel near back wall has two couples holding each other and moving ahead. The next panel is quite faded, but shows a male flanked by females. Next two panels are very unclear. The last one is damaged on one side, but
shows a couple moving ahead. Behind these is a male. 12. Figures around carved lotus: The central portion of the hall ceiling has a lotus
carved within a square. A band of figures is painted along all four sides of the square. This band is extant only to the right and back of the lotus near back wall, which shows couples moving ahead. They are depicted in various attitudes. Three couples are seen near back wall. Two couples are dancing while one couple is holding each other. Only the female figure of the next couple is intact. To the right of lotus can be seen a couple, of which the female is damaged. The traces of two