Jain Sanctuaries of the Fortress of Gwalior

Author(s): T V G Shastri
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore

Page 99

The projecting rocky sheet is given an artficial look by providing sculptured capitals over vertical pillars. (plate 23) The plinith of the pavilion is a square of side 3.5 m. It is a levelled up rock sheet below, containing some of the pillars that have fallen. They formed the front portion or the mukhamandapa which is now in ruins.
The Entrance Doorway :
This shows exquisite workmanship. It measures 2 x 1.3 m. The joints on either side have central trellis work with 'chain-and-conch' representations. The lintel shows the scroll work of lotus stalks in a prominent central niche. There are more similar scrolls on either side corresponding to the top portion of the dvarasakhas. Some human figures are also seen in the niches. The central niche of the lintel is usually known as the lalatabimba. It contains the portrait of the main deity Neminatha, after whom the cave group is named.
The Vestibule :
The shrine a passage doorway leading to the garbhagrha towards west. It can be identified as the antarala.
The closed Shrine Chamber (Garbhagrha):
This forms the dark space of the cave. It is a squarish area of side 6 m. It is divided into the upper and lower chambers created by a projecting ceiling slab of 1 m. wide towards west from the eastern wall. It is built fairly above the door lintel on the interior side. It is the ceiling slab of the front chamber 6 m., above the ground floor of the lower chamber. The height of the garbhagrha is 8 m. from the floor level. Corresponding to the doorway, of entrance, the upper chamber has also a plain rectangular opening that admits sun light into
The western wall of the cave shows the image of seated Neminath. The huge image of Tirthankara Neminatha is sculptured to a height of 6 m. from pedestal upto the head and another 6m. from knee to knee. Over the head of the image, two- elephants are represented on either side pouring waters with pitchers. Again, in between them, in a niche, there is a small standing figure of a Tirthankara. All these are enclosed in a hemispherical scroll work. Above the shoulders of the mulanayaka on either side, the maladharis are seen.
The pedestal over which the image is seen, stands to a height of 1.50 m. over the ground floor. The top member of the pedestal has two emerging elephants with stretched trunks on either side. The one towards left is shown slightly at a lower level as if the animal is standing below.
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