Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 57

Rock-cut Jaina Architecture
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of a dwelling cell with three doorways and a verandah having two pillars and two pilasters, with two shelves on either end, but later on it was converted into a sanctuary by removing the walls between the doorways and by lowering the floor-level. On the three walls of the cell are carved 24 robeless figures of Tirthankaras of crude workmanship dating not earlier than the 15th century A.D. Eight of these, viz. Rşabha, Ajita, Sitala, Pārsva, Vāsupujya, Vimala, Śreyāmsa and Mahavira, appear to be more important as they are standing in käyotsarga pose and are larger than the seated ones. All of them are attended upon by two cauri-bearers.
At the rear end of the cell are three chlorite images of Rşabhanätha installed on a masonry alter. These images did not originally belong to this cave but were transferred there from elsewhere. Stylistically, they seem to belong to the 11th 12th century A.D.
Cave 10 - This cave has been completely destroyed by large-scale quarrying. Only three relief figures, two of Rsabha and one of Ambikā, are now intact on the back wall of the cell. Both the figures of Rsabha stand robeless in käyotsarga pose on a lotus and have a triple umbrella over the head. The figure of Ambikā is a fine piece of work. It stands in three-flexured posture under a mango-tree with a boy near her right palm and her lion mount below the seat.
Cave 11 (Lalātendukeśarigumphā) - Like the preceding cave it has also been destroyed by quarrying. Originally, it consisted of two cells with a common pillared verandah. On the back and left walls of the left cell are carved two figures of Rşabhanātha and three of Pärsvanatha, all standing in kayotsarga posture with usual paraphernalia. The right cell has two figures of Pārsvanatha and one of Rşabhanātha in the same posture. In addition, it has an inscription of the Somavamsi king Udyotakeśari recording the restoration of a decayed step-well (probably the Ākāśagangā near the cave) and decayed temples on the Kumāra hill (Khandagiri), and also setting up of twenty-four Tirthankaras there.
Caves 12-15 - The Cave 12 consists of two cells with the floor having raised at the rear end. The Cave 13 consists of two long cells and a benched pillared verandah, all in ruins. The Cave 14 is a long dwelling cell open in front. Its roof is supported by a modern masonry pillar. The Cave 15, also open in front, consists of a small cell with raised floor at the rear end.
GUJARAT JUNAGADH
Four miles east of the district town of Junagadh (Gujarat) is the famous Girnar hill where three of the five kalyāṇakas (auspicious events), viz. dikṣā (initiation), kevalajñāna (attainment of omniscience), and mokṣa (liberation), of the 22nd Tirthankara Neminatha are known to have taken place. It has a group of 15 Jaina caves located within the walls of Bāvā Pyarā Matha or Monastery. The caves (Fig. 16) are arranged in three rows; the upper and lower rows of caves lay nearly parallel in east-west line and face south, and the third row of caves, at the eastern ends of the other two, faces mostly the east. They were excavated for the residence of Jaina monks. This is evident from this that Dharasenācārya, who taught Jaina tenets to Puspadanta and Bhūtabali, the authors of the famous Digambara Jaina text entitled Satkhandāgam, lived in one of these caves.
The upper or north row of four caves runs eastwest and consists of a large cave at the west end and three smaller ones in a line at the east. The larger cave has a hall measuring 28 ft. by 16 ft. with two (originally three) plain square pillars in a line supporting the roof. At the west end of the hall is a chamber (17 ft. by 6 ft.) screened off by two plain square pillars and two pilasters, while at the back or north side are three cells, each about 11 ft. square. The front portion of the hall is partly destroyed, but it still has three square pillars with chamfered necks. On the facade is a fragment of caitya-gavākṣa ornament carved in low relief. The three smaller caves consist each of a verandah (13 to 16 ft.
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