Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 50

Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
sentries are weather-worn.
The rear or main wing of the lower storey has four cells, three on the back side of the verandah and the fourth on the right side. The roof of the 50 ft. long verandah and its six pillars have gone. The central rear cell has three doors and the side ones have two each, while the remainder has only one doorway. The doors, pilasters and arches are ornate like those in the right wing. The railings connecting the arches are supported by the bracket figures of Yaksas and Yaksis and the spaces above them are filled with nine scenes representing probably the victorious campaign of king Kharavela.
At the two corners formed by the sides of the three wings of the lower storey are two small rooms; on the outer walls of both of these is a scene of the capture of elephants by monkeys and the turning of a monkey into an ascetic.
The upper storey consists of a 63 ft. long verandah and six cells of which four are excavated in the rear wing and one each in the left and right wings. Though the upper storey is better preserved, the front portion of the verandah together with seven of the nine pillars has disappeared.
All the four cells in the rear wing of the upper storey have two doors each, flanked by two pilasters with a torana-arch. The capitals of the pilasters are formed by a set of two winged addorsed animals like horse, bull, lion, elephant etc. The arches are relieved with flowers, lotus, creepers, and animals chased by boys, and are crowned by śrīvatsa, nandipada, snake and lotus symbols. The spaces between the arches above the railing pattern depict nine scenes of hovering Vidyadhara, three mad elephants attacking a panicky crowd, the rape of a woman, the first meeting of Duşyanta with Sakuntala (Pl. 3), dance and music, a scene having obliterated, three amorous couples enjoying drinks, a scene having damaged, and a hovering Vidyadhara respectively. The guard on the terminal
pilaster on the right is pot-bellied and stands on a lion, and that on the left mounting a bull is damaged.
The cell in the right wing of the upper storey has benched verandah with one pillar and two pilasters. The guard on the left pilaster is clad in schythian dress and carries a sheathed sword, and that on the corresponding right side is in Indian garb, also carrying a sheathed sword.
The cell in the left wing of the upper storey is not in front of the benched verandah but lies to its left; it is lighted by a small window. Its own verandah is narrow and has two pilasters only.
Cave 2 (Bājāgharagumphā) - It consists of two independent cells with their own verandahs, each having one pillar and two pilasters. The front wall of the left cell, the bench and the left pilaster of its verandah are gone. The capital of the extant pilaster is adorned with a pair of bird-headed animals. The capital of the pillar has two pairs of animals of which one is winged.
The front wall of the right cell and the pillar of its verandah are also gone. The intact pilasters have elephant brackets.
Cave 3 (Chotā Hāthigumphā) - It is a small cave without verandah. It has a single door and a low ceiling. The facade is very rich in sculptures. It shows six vigorous elephants heading towards the pointed arch executed over the door; the arch is decorated with lotus flowers and plants. On the extreme right is a mango tree. Below the elephants, on each side, is a three-barred railing with uprights carved with half medallions. The pilasters flanking the doorway are surmounted by winged animal capitals. There is a short inscription, now worn out.
Cave 4 (Alkāpurigumphā) - It consists of two caves one over the other, each having a spacious cell and a verandah. The ceiling of each cell is convex. The partition wall between the cell and verandah of the lower cave being removed and the floors having dug down for stone, it presents a very bare appearance. The
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