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Jaina Monuments of Orissa
The first full spandril represents a duel between a herd of elephants and a large crowd consisting of one stout man and ten women (Fig. 11). The scene is laid in a forest as is suggested by the natural cave containing a lion and an elephant a rare combination, a tree having drooping pennate leaves and tufts of flowers somewhat resembling bunches of grapes and the lotus pool in which the three elephants are being attacked. As it appears the three elephants were sporting in the pond and when the group of men and women had arrived at the spot, they were disturbad and apprehending counter attack by the herd of elephants the group became panic and made efforts to dislodge the elephants, from the pond with whatever objects they could procure readily. In the encounter that took place, one of the women showed great courage in taking her stand too resolutely even in front of the man with dishevelled hair and aiming against the elephants a ring like object (anklet). Two such ring like objects (anklets) are seen already sticking on the body of the front elephant. The stout man fighting bravely with a big staff (raised over his head in both hands) but the other women in the group being nervous drag one another and create a great confusion. One of the women is helping another who had dropped down. Three other females in the farthest background are crowding together in fear or sustaining their courage by holding each other by their hands. The whole scene is a representation of certain elephants having taken possession of a sacred cave, the dwelling of some simple people, who with a party of their neighbours are trying their utmost with the very insignificant means at their disposal to dislodge them.
The second full spandril represents a richly decorated woman seated cross-legged in front of an artificial cave with a man resting his head on her thigh (Fig. 12). Beyond this a lady holding the right hand of a warrier armed with sword and shield is seen leading him to the couple in the cave. The lady appears to have disuaded the armed man from any drastic action. The centre of the panel shows the woman, armed with a large shield and a broad sword bravely standing up and fighting a warrior similarly accoutred, and evidently the amazon was defeated in this combat, for we see her being carried away, forcibly, on the right by the victorious warrior in his arms. The scene was laid in forest as evident from the representation of rock shelter, monkeys, snake, tree, a frightened animal and lion cubs.
The panel has some delightful elements of realism, or rather observation, such as the stepping out of the warrior, his right arm raised, holding the sword, almost equally well done is the amazon, with slender legs seen from behind, in a forward bending movement. The composition is the typical ribbon composition, reading from left to right like a book; it is a little muddled space is not handled with the sensitivity we find later, in classical times, and it almost seem as if the sculptor had been anxious to tell all he knew, all he wanted to express.
Like the previous two, the third full-spandril (Fig. 13) is also laid in forest as evident from the two flowering trees, a series of running antelopes and the bushy tailed
4. R.L. Mitra, The Antiquities of Orissa, Vol. II, p. 16. 5. Charles Fabri, History of the Art of Orissa, p. 22,
