Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 52

Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
terrace on the front, reached by a ramp. It consists of a long cell with three doorways at the back, a smaller one with single door on the side and a common benched verandah in the front, the last one having collapsed. The pilasters flanking the doors carry winged animals (horse and deer being identified) on their tops and the arches surmounting them are decorated with creepers issuing from the mouths of makaras. The arches are connected by the representation of roof supported on bracket figures and crowned by finials. There is an inscription recording the dedication of the cave by the chief queen of king Khäravela. The terrace is fenced on the front by a three-barred ornate railing.
Cave 10 (Gaņeśagumphā) - The cave is named after Ganesa whose image is carved on the back wall of the right cell. It consists of two cells with low ceiling and a benched verandah. There were five pillars in the verandah of which two on right side were probably knocked off to provide more space in front of the right cell. At the time of alteration two detached elephants, each holding the branches of a mango tree over a lotus, were probably added on two sides of the approach to this cell. The pilaster carries a figure of guard holding spear on the front face and a recumbent bull on the bracket. The pillar brackets are relieved with male or female figures holding flowers, spouted vessel, tray etc. The lower portion of the back wall of the verandah is carved with railing pattern.
Each cell has two doorways with sloping jambs. The pilasters flanking the doors have a stepped base and carry addorsed figures of deer, bull, horse and lion on the capitals. The arches over the doors are carved with lotuses or creepers emerging from the mouths of makaras and crowned by śrivatsa or triratna. The lower ends of the arches are connected by three-barred railing borne by pot-bellied squatting male and female figures. The spaces at two places above the railing are filled with a rape scene of a woman (similar to that in cave 1) and a scene depicting the storey of Udayana and Väsavadattā.
The remaining spaces have the representation of barrelvaulted roof crowned by finials against the background of railing supported by squatting figures. The floors of the cells are raised in the rear end. The left cell has a crude late representation of Jina figure. The right cell has an inscription of the 8th 9th century A.D. recording the name of physician Bhimața and engraved in the reign of the Bhauma king Santikara.
Cave 11 (Jambeśvaragumphā) - It consists of a low cell with two plain doorways preceded by a benched verandah with two pilasters and a pillar. There is a an inscription saying that it was the cave of Nākiya, wife of Mahämada.
Cave 12 (Bāghagumphā) - The cave is so called because its front resembles the head of a tiger (bagha). The expanded upper jaw with a row of formidable teeth forms the roof of the verandah, while the gullet has the entrance door to the inner cell. The door with sloping jambs is flanked by two pilasters having a ghata-base on stepped pedestal and a pair of crouching elephants on the capital. The arch over the door is pointed at the top and has a railing decoration on each side. At one place in the ceiling of the verandah is a representation of lizard. An inscription in the cave says that it was the cave of the town-judge Sabhūti.
Cave 13 (Sarpagumphā) - The cave was called Sarpagumphä on account of the three-hooded serpent carved on the facade of the narrow verandah excavated in front of a small cell with a doorway with jambs sloping inwards at a considerable angle. It has an inscription stating that the cave was a gift of Kamma and Halakhiņā.
Cave 14 (Häthigumphā) - This is a natural cavern. The cave is not known for its architecture but for the famous inscription of king Kharavela carved on the rock above the cavern.
Cave 15 (Dhanagharagumphā) - It consists of a long cell with low ceiling and three doorways, and a benched verandah with two pillars and two pilasters.
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