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Jaina Rock-cut Caves in Western India the early 9;h century, following Kailasa and Lankesvara. The entire group of these caves is so compact architecturally, iconographically and also stylistically that these must have been almost contemporary or very close in time. Thus, Pereira's dating appears quite logical, though Amoghvarsha's involvement in the excavation of these caves remains open to debate.
Intra-site chronology
It would be very interesting to work out an intra-site chronology of these caves. Most of the scholars have refrained from such an exercise, claiming it to be 'unnecessary' (Soundara Rajan 1981: 230). However, some of the scholars have attempted it. Fergusson and Burgess feel that Chhota Kailasa and J4 are the latest in the group (1880: 495), while according to Pereira, Indra Sabha and Chhota Kailasa are more or less contemporary (1977: 28.
The first cave to be excavated at the site appears to be the double storied cave (J15 and J18) with a monolithic sarvatobhadra shrine, a mānastambha and a free-standing elephant in the court in front that is enclosed by a prakāra wall with a gopura. The mānastambha and monolithic elephant were obviously depicted in imitation of Kailasa. The caves in the sides of the court were added later on, as is clear from their haphazard placement at different levels and different sizes. It should be rentembered that though the monolithic shrine in the centre of the court is sarvatobhadra, it has a flight of steps only in front and back and thus actually faces the double storied cave. Like Kailasa, both the stories have verandahs, which are narrower than the width of the hall. But here they are a little larger than at Kailasa, where it is more like a mukhachatuski. It was perhaps necessitated by the larger façade and also the sculptures in the verandah ends. The deeper niches in the sidewalls of the hall supplemented the side verandahs or the parávachatuskis of Kailasa. The iconographic programme of the cave with Sarvänubhūti-Ambikā in verandah ends, Parsvanatha-Bahubali on the back walls of the halls. figures of seated Jinas on the sidewalls of the hall and a standing Jina on the pillar flanking the shrine, set a standard, which was followed in almost all the caves later on, with some changes in their placements.
After J15 was left unfinished for the reasons unknown to us, a number of small caves were excavated on the sides of the court, almost simultaneously. Of these, Jll and J12 were started almost together as can be inferred from their better placements than other caves. Both the caves on the sides of court, near the main cave are positioned very well. Perhaps a cave next to J12 was also begun at the same time, but was left unfinished due to some unknown reasons. The next cave is J10. Curiously enough, in this cave, there are kakşasanas on the left and only partial kakşāsanas on the right or southern side. The portion of the hall beyond the kaksāsanas on right is closed with a wall. The reason behind such a peculiar arrangement is the already existing mänastambha, which blocks the right half of the entrance. Thus, it would have been unnecessary and also difficult to have kak şasanas on the rest of the portion. This also confirms the assumption that this cave is later than the other caves, as it had to be adjusted in an asymmetrical manner because no other space was available for such a large cave. Another reason for believing that this cave is later than the other caves, at least J11, is the placement of the small panel
