Book Title: Jaina Rock Cut Caves In Western India Part 01
Author(s): Viraj Shah
Publisher: Agam Kala Prakashan

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Page 115
________________ 89 Description and Chronology of Caves mattavāraṇa is carved with pilasters and an elephant head on each side of the opening. As in all the caves, the kakşāsanas are carved with pūrmaghatas alternating with a pair of pilasters and a decorative band of creeper above. Outside the cave, on sides arc carved two large figures of dvārapalas with their outer hand resting on a gada kept on the side and inner hand on the hip (Plate 61). The kapota is damaged. Like matta varana and kaksāsanas, the central portion of the kapota projects out. It has figures of flying vidyādhāras and floral designs. The underside of the kapota is carved with stone rafters divided by a bar decorated with flowers. Above the kapota is a frieze of animals. The façade is almost destroyed. But the extant portion and the comparison with the facades of J19 and J20 suggest that there must have been a bhadraśala flanked by two or three kuta vimānas. The figures in the body portions of these vimānas are of a standing Jina, a seated Jina, a standing Jina, a standing Jina, a multi-armed god and a standing ina. The verandah is about 10.3m by 2.5m. The pillars and pilasters on the kakşāsanas are staggered with the bases shown jutting out from the kaksāsanas. The front or the southern faces of the pillars have large vyālas. The inner wall of kaksäsanas to the right is carved with a sculpture, identified by Pereira as panchaparamestins. The parapet wall separating the hall from verandah has two dwarf pilars and corresponding pilasters and opening in the centre with steps, chandrašila and hastihasta. As in the case of pillars and pilasters on the kakşāsanas, the bases jut out from the parapet wall. The verandah side of this wall has a kapota supported by pilasters. The kapota is carved with alpanasis, while between the pilasters are mithuna couples. The wall to the right of the right pillar is carved with three vimāna models alternating with mithuna couples. The side vimänas are shown half. All are dvitala dravida structures. The adhisthana is not shown in any case. Instead, there are pilasters on a patta. While the first tala of the central vimana has bhadrasala flanked by panjarasikhara, the side vimanas have bhadrasala flanked by karnakūtas in the first tala. The second tala of all the vimanas have bhadraśala flanked by karnakūtas. The sikhara is brahmachhanda with a stupi (Plate 29). There are stone beams on the ceiling between all these pillars and pilasters. There runs a stone beam on the floor between the pillars on the kaksāsanas and parapet walls. In this way, the ceiling is divided in three aisles. There are large figures of SarvanubhutiAmbika in verandah ends, covering the sidewall completely (Plates 39 & 40). The hall is about 16.8m by 13.8m. It has twelve pillars arranged in a square with corresponding pilasters on the side and back walls. While the pillars are of three different types, all the pilasters are similar. The floor between the pillars is raised. Between the central pillars of the front row is a step leading to the raised floor. On the raised floor is a stone beam running between all the pillars. Similarly, there runs a stone beam between all the pillars on the ceiling too. Between the central pillars of the back row and the pilasters on the back wall are stone beams on the floor as well as the ceiling. There is a large lotus within a square on the ceiling. In the middle of the hall was a chaumukha with a standing figure of a Jina on each face. Now only the pedestal and the lotus on which the Jinas stood, remain. The pedestal is about 1.6sq.m (Plate 62). The side and the back walls are covered with sculptures carved in niches, which are cut between pilasters. The central niche in each sidewall is deeper than other niches.

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