________________
127
Description and Chronology of Caves of Parśvanātha on the left sidewall of the hall. Unlike other panels, this panel is carved only in the upper portion of the wall. This is because while excavating the lower portion of the wall, the cave has broken through J11. Thus, the panel had to be carved in the upper portion and also in smaller dimensions.
J19 and J20 were the next caves to be added, facing each other on the sides of the court. These two caves are almost identical in size, the type of façade; including the figures on the façade, the number of pillars, shrine doorway, shrine image and also the theme as well as the arrangement of the paintings on the ceiling, though the pillars in J19 are less ornate and the shrine doorway as well as the mattavāraņa-kakşīsana are unfinished. It is quite possible that both the caves were patronised by the same donor. The peculiar entry to these caves through a room behind the verandah of J18 confirms that the caves were an afterthought. The empty rooms leading to these caves were necessary to push the caves on the sides, in order to have the proper rock face for the façade. Both the caves are placed slightly lower than J18, because of the contour of the hill. Of these. J19 is much lower than J20. The reason behind it seems to be the bad quality of the rock on this side of the court. The facade of this cave is quite damaged due to weathering. The iconographic programme is almost similar to J18. As the cave was entered from one of the ends of the verandah, the icons of Sarvanubhuti or Ambika was placed in another small room preceding the verandah. But in this case, the icon could not be shown facing the other icon on the opposite end of the verandah. The opposite wall of the small room, consisting of the icons of Sarvānubhuti-Ambikā was ut:lised for depicting another icon, which is of a goddess in both the cases. These small rooms, which provide the entry to these caves, were almost converted into small shrines with decorative doorframe, chandraśilā and lotus on the ceiling. The Jina figures on the wall of J19A, above the door leading to J19, are hidden when viewed from J19, but can be seen very clearly when one enters from J18. These figures are carved because they almost face the devotee as one climbs down the high step. Thus, every attempt was made to encourage' the devotees to enter these caves. Similarly, the figure of Padmavati, carved behind the right end of verandah of J18, next to the door leading to the large empty room preceding J20A and two standing Jinas near the door to the empty room preceding J19, also seem to be 'intrusions'. The figures were perhaps carved after J19 and J20 were excavated, as they are in a position where it is difficult to miss them while entering either J19 or J20. but could not have been even noticed otherwise.
The last caves to be excavated in the court of Indra Sabha were J13, 17. J14 and J16, probably in that order. Most probably they were started almost simultaneously and soon after J19 and J20 were undertaken. J13 in the verandah end of J15 and J17 on the way to J18 are well placed, while the positions of J14 and J16 are least favourable. As they are above Jll and J12 respectively, the entry to both the caves is difficult. At present, both the caves can be entered by jumping over from the kakṣāsanas of J15. Originally, a wooden stair may have been provided. J14 must have been started soon after J13 was started, but before it was finished. The right sidewall of J14 has broken through the sidewall of J13. Thus, the large panel of Bahubali is carved on the rock face outside the cave, while the sidewall is carved with figures of seated Jinas, but only in the upper portion. Similarly, an adjustment is made in J13 also, where the broken portion of the wall is left uncarved, though the opposite wall has a figure of the seated Jina. Thus, it is
