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Description and Chronology of Caves
115 14. Figures: On stone beam between central pillars on the right is a panel with border on all the four sides. The panel depicts a male flanked by females. One of the females has a garland in both the hands, while the other female has a patra with offerings. The male has both the hands around females. 15. Figures: The panel on the stone beam between back pillars on right is damaged. It depicts three males and three females. In the centre, there is a face of a man, turned sideways. The remaining part of his body is damaged. To his left is a woman with head bent down and to her right stands a man. Between them, there is a face of a woman. Above standing woman is a face of another woman. There is another man standing with face turned sideways. The faces of all the figures are titled slightly. 16. Dancing figures: On the stone beam between two central pillars in back row is a panel of dancing figures. In the centre is a couple dancing with legs bent and heads titled. To their right are two females moving ahead. To the left of dancing couple is another male dancing with his back turned. There is a face of female on his side. Beyond this figure is a couple. The man is playing a drum and the woman, though unclear. scems to be playing flute. 17. Two couples: The panel on the stone beam between central pillars of left side has two couples, which are shown moving ahead. All except one man have hands in anjali.
All the pillars including brackets were painted. However, now only traces of paintings remain on the shafts and brackets of some of the pillars. Each of the rolls of the brackets is painted in different colour and the median band has either geometric or floral design painted on it. Curiously enough, the rolls of pillars on kakşāsanas are made even by thick plaster and over it are painted bands of alternate colours with a band in the middle. It can be seen at some places where plaster has come off (Plate 80). The median band is painted with a design of diamonds filed in with flowers. The colours, designs and the style of the paintings on these brackets are quite similar to the other paintings in the cave. Thus, it is quite unlikely that these paintings were conceived and executed later. But it is not certain why so much trouble was taken to first carve the bracket and then make it even by plastering it and paint similar design on it, instead of just painting the rolls as in hall pillars or carve plain brackets.
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This cave is in a very bad state of preservation as the rock has weathered away. The sculptures are also damaged. The front of the cave is almost destroyed. There must have been steps leading the cave. But, at present one has to climb the cave with some difficulty. Unlike any cave on the site, this cave has a verandah and a hall (Fig. 37).
The verandah is 3.7m by 1.4m. The door to the hall is plain. The hall is enclosed and irregular. The front wall to the left of the door is broken and is reconstructed. It is about 3.7m by 3.2m. On the side and back wall are carved the sculptures. There are no pillars or any other architectural features.
