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3. BAVAN GAJ CAVE COMPLEX
On the opposite side of the Tritirthika cave, across the road leading to Urwahi Gate, there is another important cave group on the left side. To the road starting from the Urwahi gate going down to the city, on the left side, almost running along a length of 1 km., there is a retaining wall. The road is separated by a passage 3-4 m. wide, at the foot of the hill slope containing Urwahi group of Jain caves. Along the road a passage, 6 m. wide is provided. Below the retaining wall of the road, a wicket gate is installed, to get down from to passage and to the floor level of the caves. (plate 36)
Getting down through the wicket gate and looking up the caves and the Tirthankaras inside, the first impression is, that images are made on a high profile but the execution is rather poor. There was no attempt to make them artistic. Added to these, there is more exfoliation, as such, in several images, the face mouldings, the natural flaky sandstone had disfigured them.
Coming through hearsay and tradition, it is said, that this region has 52 yards long Tirthankara and several small and miniature images. It has six inscriptions dated between 1400-1443 A.D. The sculptured images, are seen along the vertical face of the hill, ranging variously from 16 m. to 50 m. in height and spreading to a length of one kilometer.
The Bavan Gaj Group :
This group contains :
(0) Relief Sculptures. (ii) Tirthankaras in niches. (iii) Tirthankaras in Cave and reliefs.
(iv) Bavangaj Cave The relief sculpture :
(0)
As we get down the wicket gate to the passage, along the hill slope containing, the Jain sanctuaries, towards the left, we find some reliefs. The reliefs start with a seated figure of Parsvanatha shown along the rock, area of 12 sq.m., and cut to a depth of 1.5 m.
Parsvanatha Relief :
This image is behind the seated in padmasana over a vrttapitha raised over a simhapitha. The Tirthankara has a seven hooded snake behind the head to indicate that the image is of Parsvanatha. As he sits over the vrttapitha, the width across the knees is 2 m. while it is sculptured stretching to a height of 3 m.
One peculiarity of Urawahi group is that as in Ek-Patthar-ki-Bavdi group, there is no
(98)
