Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain, Others
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 49

Rock-cut Jaina Architecture
The Jaina recluses being known for their rigorous UDAYAGIRI CAVES asceticism and extreme mortification, these caves provide The Caves on the Udayagiri hill are approached little amenities to them. The height of most of the caves, by flights of steps and an ancient ramp rising gradually including even the larger ones, does not allow a man from the foot of the hill and reaching the high terrace to stand erect. Some of the caves are so narrow that in front of Cave 14 (Hāthīgumpha). On reaching the one cannot even stretch oneself. The floor of the cells lowest terrace one comes across the Cave 1. has a sloping rise at the rear end, serving of course Cave 1 (Rānigumphā) - This is the largest and the purpose of a pillow. The doors of the cells are most interesting cave on the Udayagiri-Khandagiri hills. invariably small; some doors being so small that one It is a two-storeyed excavation (Figs. 13-15; Pl. 2) with crawls into them. These cells were actually meant for a courtyard enclosed on three sides by dwelling cells, Jaina monks to sit or lie and do penance.
the fourth side providing the entrance. The upper storey The verandah, which is laid out on a floor lower does not exactly rest over the lower one but recedes than the cells, has a row of pillars and pilasters on the back to form an open terrace in the front. The cave front and a plain or ornate wall at the back. Its roof is known not as for its architecture as for sculptures projects outwardly in the form of incurved eave-cornice which are badly damaged due to the collapse of the to ward off rain-water. It has rock benches to sit on pillared verandah of the lower storey of the main wing. and shelves to keep articles of bare necessity. The The right wing of the lower storey consists of a columns are generally square below and above and single cell with three entrance doors and a pillared octagonal in the middle, and are surmounted by cut- verandah with a bench at the rear end. The terminal out brackets, often ornamented with animal figures. The pilasters carry two sentries holding spear in the right square facets of the columns touching the narrow hand and a sheathed sword hanging from the left octagonal section are rounded off and their small corners shoulder. The capitals of the pilasters are adorned with so formed are bevelled. On the front facets of the wall elephant and horse figures. The pillars have disappeared pilasters stand the figures of boldly relieved sentries except for the stepped bases and ornate capitals bearing holding spears.
figures of bulls and lions. The verandah has a shelf The back walls of the verandah have plain and on each side. The pilasters flanking the entrance doors square pilasters flanking the doorways. The capitals of show figures of bull, winged lion etc. on their corbels. the pilasters are very ornamental. From the capitals From the corbels emerge torana-arches which are adorned emerge semi-circular torana-arch forming an ornament with honey-suckle design or creepers. The flat walls over the door. The arches are relieved with varied above the railing pattern are relieved with four scenes creepers issuing from the mouth of animals and crowned representing an adoring human couple with two in the centre by a srivatsa or triratna symbol, or made attendants, a royal person with his two queens (with pointed. The circular space formed by the arch is often folded hands) and two female attendants, a female filled with various sculptures and decorative motifs, dancer with musicians, and a man (with folded hands) while the outside spaces between the arches are covered accompanied by a boy and two females carrying a tray with various scenes selected from popular folk lore and of offerings respectively. contemporary life. Below the scenes is a decoration of The left wing of the lower storey has three cells railing (vedikā) consisting of two or three crossbars on three sides of the verandah with usual doors (three supported below by the bracket figures of diminutive in the rear cell and one in each side cell) and pilasters. ganas, Yakşas and Yaksis.
The pillars have completely gone and the figures of
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