Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 65

Rock-cut Jaina Architecture
with creepers. Inside the sanctum, on the back wall, is carved an image of Mahāvīra sitting in dhyānamudrā.
Cave 32 (Indra Sabhā) - It is not a single cave but a group of Jaina caves excavated in two storeys (Figs. 20-21). It has a rectangular courtyard (56 ft. by 48 ft.) in the front, which is entered from the south through a small gopura made at the centre of a low prākāra-wall bearing plain battlements (Pl. 9). In the centre of the court and facing the gopura is a monolithic Sarvatobhadra-vimāna (four-faced shrine) approached from the front as well as rear side by a flight of about nine steps. In the fore court, to the right of the vimāna, is a free-standing pillar or Manastambha (27 feet 4 inches high) and in the corresponding left side is a large elephant carved in the round.
The pillar with corners chamfered into three angles stands on a moulded pedestal made up of jagati, inverted padma, tripatta kumuda, usual padma and prati. The shaft is square below with a sculptured niche on each face; then it turns into an octagonal and sixteen-sided sections with a recessed padma between and a scroll band on the top; and lastly comes a circular fluted kalasa. The fluted capital consists of triple padma, bulbous ghata with a scroll band, pāli and circular abacus supporting a quadruple of Yaksa.
The Sarvatobhadra-vimāna (Pl. 10) is dvi-anga on plan consisting of bhadra and karņa. Its adhisthāna consists of tall jagati, inverted padma, tripatta kumuda, kantha with floral diamonds, and kapota decorated with näsis. The wall has openings in all the four directions with a short pillared porch in front of each. The pillars have a square moulded base; their shaft shows square, octagonal, sixteen-sided and circular sections, and the capital consists of double padma, bulbous kumbha and curved corbel. All these pillars are plain. The kumbha supports brackets of vyāla and lion figures. The wall cantoned at corners by square plain pilasters is shaded by a large kapota bearing enrichment of creepers on the upper side and of rafters on the soffit. Above the
kapota comes a band of makaras and square-shaped flowers. Each corner above the decorative band is occupied by a small kūta with näsīs and stupi, while the cardinal space on each face is occupied by a large, fine panjara-nāsi sheltering a käyotsarga Jina. Each panjara-nāsi is borne by two Vidyādharas appearing at corners. Above this comes the second storey (tala) carrying panjara-nasis (not the kutsas) with seated Jinas, a band of vyālas and elephants above the kapota, and bhūtas (goblins) blowing conch-shell at the corners. The vedi, grīvā and śikhara are octagonal and perfectly worked out. The vedi is plain, the grivă has small kosthas, and the sikhara carries tiny vimana models. The stūpi has disappeared. Behind each door is an antechamber with a flat ceiling. The ceiling in the south chamber is carved with a beautiful lotus flower having two rows of petals and a central pistil. In the centre of the shrine is a Samavasarana panel with Jina on each of the four faces.
On the west side of the court, opposite the Sarvatobhadra-vimāna, is a cave with two pillars in front and four inside. In the central compartment of its south wall is a large standing image of Pārsvanātha and in the corresponding north wall is that of Bahubali. At the back is a shrine containing a seated image of Mahāvīra with attendant figures. Outside the shrine, but flanking the door, are Sarvānubhūti and Ambikā mounting elephant and lion respectively. Adjoining this cave, at the end of the court, is a small cave with two attractive images of Sarvänubhüti and Ambikä. On the corresponding east side also are two caves, but they do not have pillars. The one opposite the Sarvatobhadravimāna is quite plain, while the other towards the northern end has a shrine with hall containing four Jina images.
Outside the court, on the east, is a cave or hall with two pillars in front and two more at the back. On the north wall of the hall is depicted the temptation scene of Pārsvanātha and on that of south the asceticism
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