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

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Page 116
________________ 90 Jaina Rock-cut Caves in Western India While the central niche is about 1.6m deep, the rest of the niches are around 0.9m deep. In front of the central niche are two elephant heads with two large kunjarakşas in between. The sidewalls of these deeper niches have pilasters, which are similar to the hall pilasters. In front of the shrine is a makara tõrana, carved between the central pillars of the back row. The shrine doorway is very elaborate. It is fronted by two steps with hastihasta and chandrašila. It has six śākhās of padma, vidyadhāra, Jina, stambha, a plain sakha and ratna. The vidyādhari sakhā is carved with the figures of flying vidyadhara couples, carrying garlands or flowers, or hands raised up in adoration. There is a small figure of seated Jina in the centre above the door. The pillars in the stambha sākhā are completely relieved. These slender pillars have bases as in the hall pillars and pilasters, above which the shaft rises in a square portion surmounted by an octagonal, sixteen sided, fluted portions, a band of festoons, fluted round portion, kalaśa with thick beaded rim, double tați and kumbha, all fluted. Above the kumbha is a plain circular recession, padma with outturned petals on the top and a phalaka supporting four-armed, rounded brackets. The pedyā has figures of dvarapalas on padma sakha and kumbhavahinis on vidyadhāra sakhā. Above the door is a heavy kapota, which is carved with three alpanāsis. Above the kapota, on uttaranga are bhadraśāla flanked by phamsaņā śikhāras and sala śikharas. On the body portion of each vimāna is a figure of seated Jina. The Jina in the left sala vimāna is Parsvanatha. On the härantara are a nāsi and a figure of standing Jina on the body portion. In the lintel is a figure of seated Jina. The shrine is around 4.6m by 3.7m with a large seated figure of a Jina on the back wall. Sculptures The hall niches, except the central niche has two figures of seated Jinas, each. The larger central niche has a single figure of seated Jina. On the back wall, to the right of the shrine doorway is the panel of Kamatha's attack on Parsvanatha and to the left is the panel of Bahubali's penance. On the pilasters flanking the shrine doorway is a figure of standing Jina. The shafts of central pillars in back row also carry figure of standing Jina, each. On the pilasters beyond the panels of Parsvanātha and Bahubali are figures of seated Jinas. In each end of back wall is a niche with two seated Jinas, as in the sidewalls. Apart from these, there are some smaller figures on pillars and corners. There are a few Jina figures on the corner pillars. On the western face of the second pillar in the left side is a small figure of a goddess. On the front wall of hall, beyond the right pilaster on the parapet wall is a small figure of yakşi Padmāvati. Near the first niche from the front, in the right sidewall is another goddess, while beyond the left pilaster on parapet wall are two standing Jinas (Fig. 28).

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