Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 70

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Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
standing Jinas (Fig. 26). On the lower part of the sakhās This cave seems to have been excavated in the stand dvarapālas. Inside the shrine is an image of first quarter of the 9th century A.D. Mahāvīra seated in dhyānamudrā.
Cave 33 (Jagannātha Sabhā) - It lies to the west Behind the colossuses of the verandah, but entered of the Indra Sabha and has been excavated so close from the side aisles of the hall, is a small cell which to the latter that the west wall of its upper storey has provides access to the caves on each side of the court. been broken through into a cell on the east side of the From each cell a few steps lead down to a smaller cell upper storey of the Jagannatha Sabha. It is also a twocarved all round with Jina figures. The smaller cell opens storeyed cave (Figs. 27-28) with a square open court up in a verandah which has two pillars in front and (38 ft. by 38 ft.) in the front, but the screen wall and two on the behind with corresponding pilasters, standing monolithic shrine, if present, have now disappeared. On on a low parapet wall. At the south end of the verandah the west side of the court is a cave with verandah, hall of the east cave is an image of Ambikä facing the and a central shrine with one more on either end. The entrance and at the right or north side of the entrance verandah, opened on the front and screened by two is that of Sarvānubhūti. Behind the verandah is a four- heavy square pillars and two pilasters on the back, has pillared hall (25 ft. by 23 Y2 ft.) with a standing image an image of Sarvānubhūti at the south end and of of Pārsvanātha in the central panel on the left and of Ambikā at the north. The hall (27 ft. square and 12 Bahubali in that of right, while the smaller panels ft. high) shows four massive pillars supporting a flat between the pilasters contain seated images of Mahāvīra. ceiling carved with an eight-petalled fine lotus flower On the back wall of the shrine is an image of Mahāvīra (Pl. 13). The pillars have a square moulded base of seated in dhyānamudrā, and on the pilasters flanking jagati, inverted padma and pattikā, the last two being the shrine door stand nude dvārapālas.
clasped on each face by a plain triangular boss. The The cave on the west side of the court is almost shaft is square below, sixteen-sided in the middle and identical in plan, design and sculptural setup to that on octagonal above, with a sixteen-faceted constricted lasuna the east, but its entrance door has a four-armed image (vase). The square section is plain below and has a of female divinity on one side and of an eight-armed stylised ghatapallava above. The sixteen-sided section Sarasvati on the other. Besides, its facade is very is unadorned. The octagonal section bears a band of ornamental. Its lower storey in the centre shows a garland loops with gana figures, a band of diamonds vertical panel representing fighting scene, religious and beads, and a pattikā with eight ornate nāsis occupying discourse and seated Parsvanātha. The parapet wall alternate facets of the lasuna. The capital, also faceted, enclosing the verandah of the upper storey shows consists of double padma, phalaka with diamond-band alternate elephants and vyālas on the vedikā, pürnaghatas and flattened round corbel. The two central panels of on the kaksāsana and an amorous couple in the central the hall shelter a standing image of Pārsvanatha in the part. The entablature above the pillars of the upper left wall and that of Bahubali in the right, while other storey, shows a heavy curved eave-cornice with panels and pilasters carry some other Jinas. In the back Vidyadharas and other figures on the facade, and a wall of the hall is a shrine (9ft. by 8 12 ft. and sculptural panel showing Jinas in projecting niches and about 9 ft. high) with an image of Mahāvira seated in goddesses in alternate recesses. In the centre of the dhyanamudra. Opposite to this cave, on the other side panel is a large śālā-śikhara representing Jina in kantha of the court, is a small cave with usual figures but and Pärśvanātha in the lalatanāsi.
without pillars.