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JAINA ANTIQUARY
[ Vol. I
buted. With this qualification of the symbolism of the structure and ornament has the same significance as in Brahmanical and Buddhist temples."1
The entrance of the Indra Sabha is completely sculptured out of a living rock, like the Kailas temple which it resembles in many respects, though on a considerably smaller scale. Immediately within the walls is the Jaina equivalent of Siva's Nandi shrine. The cubical cell is of the Brahma type, and stands for the fourheaded Brahma symbol as seen at Elephanta, though the four sides are sculptured with the figure of Mahavira. The main block of Indra Sabha consists of a two-storeyed temple, out into the rock for a depth of over 100 ft. "Perhaps the most remarkable of the sculpture of the Indra Sabha," observes Havell, is the strikingly beautiful and original façade of the side chapel on the western side of the main temple, the richness of which contrasts so admirably with the larger surfaces of the grand chhaja shading the the main front and the magnificent profile of the elephants kneeling above it."2
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The figure of Indra himself is sculptured on the left of the main temple, seated on a sleeping elephant. Similarly seated under a tree, carved with infinite care and accuracy with birds, fruits and leaves brought into remarkable relief, is Indrani in the opposite corner facing her Lord. This goddess, unlike Indra, is seated on a crouching lion whose head is completely damaged. She is not the only goddess in the group. There is also four-armed Devi with two discs in the upper hands, and a vajra in her left, resting on her knee. To her left is another goddess with eight arms seated on a pea-cock; evidently Saraswati. Some of the remarkable things to note are the dogs and deer at the foot of Mahavira's throne in the Jagannatha group. There are numerous other figures common to other Jaina temples, but the magnificent pillar carving with nude standing Digambaras on their inner face, is particularly note-worthy. (See photograph opposite.) To be Continued.
1. Havell, op. cit., p. 201. The Brahmanical caves predominate at Ellora; they are 17. whereas Buddhist ones are 12, and Jina only five. All are situated within the radius of a mile. 2. Cf. Plate LX1, Havell, op. cit., p. 202.
