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Description and Chronology of Caves Sculptures
Among the sculptures are icons of Sarvānubhūti-Ambika on the right and the loft end of the verandah in the lower storey. Of this the icon of Ambikā is carved in situ, while the icon of Sarvanubhuti is loose sculpture, inserted at a later date.
1. Sarvānubhüti: 2.85m by 2.47m (extant portion)
The figure of Sarvānubhūti and his vahana elephant is a loose sculpture, made of two separate blocks of stone and of much later date. The sculpture is within a niche with pilasters on the sides and makara törana above, which are carved on the rock i situ. It is possible that the original icon of Sarvānubhuti was destroyed and was later on replaced with another loose icon.
The figure of Sarvānubhūti, measuring 1.7m by 1.24m, is seated in maharajalilasana on an elephant, shown in profile with head turned to face the front. He is pot-bellied. His right hand is broken from the elbow, while in the left hand is held a purse. Behind his head is a halo carved with a beaded border and pointed petals. He is fully adorned and is flanked by a small figure of garland bearer, shown near his head.
The original carving of the niche and the makara törana is elaborate. The pilaster is staggered square shaft with four bands at regular intervals and a four-armed kichaka on the brackets and a few figures on the shaft. On the right pilaster, there is a female, standing in abhanga with a danda or a sword in the right hand and the left hand on the hip. To her left is a small male figure seated in maharajalilasana on a plain pedestal with hands kept on the knees. Above him is a female figure in profile with a ghata held in both the hands. On the left pilaster is also a similar female figure. But here the object in the right hand is not shown. To her right is a small figure of a male with his right hand held up and the left hand hanging down. From the side of the brackets emerge mai ara emitting a tõrana arch, which hangs above the head of Sarvanubhuti in four curves. Above the head of Sarvānubhuti and below the torana arch is carved a banyan tree with the figure of a seated Jina in it. On each side of the tree is a peacock, shown in profile. Beyond the pilaster are two sakhas. The first is carved of two types of flowers. The second is a vyala sakhā. Each vyāla is in profile and standing on the hind legs with hands in anjali
2. Ambikā: 2.75m by 2.64m.
Ambikā, measuring 2.27m by 1.43m is seated in Vāmalalitasana on her viihana, a lion, shown in profile with head turned to face the front. Her right foot is rested on a footstool. In her right hand is held amralumbi, while with the left hand, she supports the child seated in her lap. Interestingly, the child is Ganesa (Plate 114). It is difficult to say whether it is original or later alteration as it is now covered with vermilion. It is a fourarmed, pot-bellied figure with the lower hands on the lap and indistinct objects in the upper hands. Behind Ambika's head is a round halo carved with pointed petals and a disc in the centre. The crown and the carving on the halo seem to be modern retouching'. Below the torana and above Ambika is carved a mango tree with a figure of a seated Jina in it.
Flanking the figure of Ambikā is a female chauri bearer, with a chauri held above the head in the inner hand. To Ambika's right is a male on an elephant, shown facing
