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JAINA MONUMENTS
it. The bhavyas are said to get down into the lank, wash their feet and please themselves as best as thcy can. And ou painting shows this tank-region with those men pleasing themselves by gathering lotus flowers, while animals such as elephants and bulls and birds and fishes are frolicking about and pleasing thcmselves too as best as they can (Plate 6).
The other paintings in a tolerable state of preservation are two dancing figures on the cubical pillars that catch our eye as we enter the cave (Plate 2-b). They have been figured by Mehta in his book in plates 3 and 4. The one on the right side is not so well preserved as the one on the left, a sketch of which was published by Dr. Dubreuil in the Indian Antiquary. Vol. LII, p.46. From a sketch of the figure left out by Dr. Dubreuil but figured by Mehta in plate 4 of his book we can see that the left hand of the danseuse is stretched out gracefully in the danda-hasta posc. The left hand of the other figure (figured by Dr. Dubreuil) is thrown in the gaja-hasta pose. Both are treated with singular grace, their supple movements being rendered with ease, charm and sureness that could result only from the closest observation and aesthetic insight. Mr. Mehta was so much attracted by these danseuses that he bursts out as follows :- 'It was left to the artists of Southern India to crystallize into immortal form, the rhythm of dance and the energy of dynamic movement, as seen respectively in the glorious figures of swaying Apsarās, “loaded with jewelled ornaments, broad-hipped, narrow-waisted, powerful and graceful as panthers", and in the noble conception of Siva as Natarāja-the Divine Dancer".
On the inner side of the right-hand pillar as we face the cave can be seen a beautiful head wity traces of a figure in front and of a woman's head behind. It has been figured in plate I of Mehta's book. I examined the copy of Mr. Sarma which shows many more details than Mr. Mehta's. It is that of a splendid figure with an ornamental coronet or head-dress and with patra
