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Description and Chronology of Caves
153 There are three caves, the last being just a shallow room with large icon of Parsvanātha on the back wall. At present, apart from these three caves, there are two structural temples, built much recently, one to the south of the last cave and one to its east. Cave II of the district gazetteer is not considered here, as it was just a recess suggesting the beginning of a cave and of which nothing is left. Thus, Cave I of the gazetteer is Cave I here, but the Cave III of the gazetteer is Cave II and Cave IV is Cave III. It has not been possible to exactly measure the caves and the icons or photograph the caves because the Jainas, who are in charge of the caves, did not permit it. Still, approximate measurements of the caves are given here. But the measurements of the icons are as reported by the earlier sources,
All the caves face southeast.
Cave I
This cave at the southern end has a verandah and a hall, which serves as the shrine (Fig. 46a). On the rock over the cave was a lotus bud cupola like those on structural temples (Nasik District Gazetteer 1975: 876). Now it is modified and turned into a proper sikhāra.
The verandah is around 12m wide and 3m deep. The verandah was reported to be open with four pillars and a pilaster. Three pillars were plain octagons, while a pillar and its corresponding pilaster were rough square shafts (Nasik District Gazetteer 1975: 876). Now, the pillars have square base and octagonal shaft surmounted by mouldings, while the verandah has been closed with a wall running between the pillars and the pilasters except between the two central pillars. This space forms a door to enter the verandah. The door has an iron gate. On the back wall is a door leading to the hall. To the right of this main door was another door, which was just begun but not cut (Nasik District Gazetteer 1975: 876). Now, there is no trace of it. To the left of the main door is a side door. It used to lead into a rough part of the cave, which was walled from the rest (Nasik District Gazetteer 1975: 876). But now it leads to a high bench in the left sidewall of the hall, There was a window on the back wall of the verandah, one beyond the uncut door and another between the main door and the side door. They are still present but with iron bars.
A cell was reported in the proper right end of the verandah and an unfinished cell with a bench was located in the left end. At present the cell in the left end is complete. There is an icon of seated Rsabhanatha in the right cell and a seated Jina in the left cell. They seem to be carved of the rock, but as none of them were reported by the earlier scholars it seems that they have been carved later on.
On the lintel of the main door was reported a seated Jina with three lions on the throne and flanked by a chauri bearer. To his proper right was Sarvānubhūti seated on a kneeling elephant and on the left was Ambikā seated on some crouching animal and holding a child on her knee (Nasik District Gazetteer 1975: 876). At present only the seated Jina remains with a single elaborate chhatra on the head. The three lions on the throne are gone and instead there is a design of ovals. Over the doorway of the left cell was a sculpture like the one over the main door, but somewhat larger (Nasik District Gazetteer 1975: 876). Now there is a Jina seated on the throne with a lion on each side and a flower in the centre.
Flanking the central doorway is a large standing figure of Jina.
