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Description and Chronology of Caves
The hall doorway, projecting slightly, has five sākhās. While the outermost śākha is plain, other sakhas are ratna, stambha, rupa and ratna. The pilaster of the stambha sakha is similar to that in the shrine doorway of Cave II with the differences in the upper portion. Here above the pürnaghata is a round portion surmounted by the mouldings of antarpatta, kumuda, antarpatta, kumuda, antarpatta, tripatta kumuda, a ghata-shaped capital and three-sided brackets with snake-hoods. The rupa sakha has standing figures of male devotees, some with hands in añjali mudrā. There are male and female figures on the pedyā, with garland, chauri and ghata. The figures on the stambha śikha are of dvārapālas, placed within pilastered niche. The figure on the right holds a long staff and possibly a fruit, while the figure on the left jamb is four-armed with sankha in the upper right hand, chakra in the upper left hand, gada in the lower left hand and perhaps a fruit in the lower right hand. Below each of these figures is a lozenge in a compartment. The uttaranga has three pieces of khura type moulding divided by recesses, while on the lintel is a seated Jina with a leaf near head. The mandaraka is flanked by kirtimukhas. The chandrašilā on the floor is on a low pedestal and is flanked by a leaf design.
The hall is 7m by 6m with four pillars arranged in a square. The pillar has a square base with mouldings and a triangular plate, shaft rising in a square block surmounted by octagonal portion carved with petals, round portion with an octagonal band in the middle, octagonal band, square block with a design of kirtimukha flanked by flowers, octagonal band, round portion, antarapatta, kumuda, antarpatta. kumuda, antarapatta and karnika, a ghata-shaped capital and square brackets with kichaka figures. There are some minor differences of designs carved on octagonal bands and the square block (Fig. 54c). Otherwise, all the pillars are similar. The kichaka figures are as in Cave II, playing viņā, flute or holding dagger and shield and ghanta or flower. The floor of this central manadapa is raised slightly.
There is a very elaborate lotus on the ceiling (Fig. 53c). It is enclosed by an octagonal band, which is carved with the design of lozenges alternating with circles. This band, in turn, is enclosed by a square. In each corner of the square are carved some figures. In the northwestern corner is a male playing a drum, flanked by two small figures, also with some musical instruments. In the southwestern corner are also similar figures. In the northeastern corner is a male dancing in bhujangatrāsita mudra and holding a drum near right shoulder, flanked by small figures, while there is standing figure of a male in the southeastern corner. The lotus has four concentric rows of petals. The outer two rows have twenty-four petals each. The inner two rows have sixteen petals each, while in the centre of the innermost row is the disc. On the petals of middle two rows are carved figures. On the inner row are male figures of drum players alternating with the figures in dancing attitude. Only one figure plays a flute. The figures in the outer row are of deities. Beginning from northwest and going anti-clockwise, these deities are:
1. Male seated in savylalitāsana: right hand is on lap, in left hand is held a fruit. He is
placed within a shrine. 2. Male seated in savyālalitāsana: the hands are on the lap, but the objects are not clear. 3. Couple seated on makara: the right hand of the male is raised up, while in left hand is
held a fruit. The female has hands in añjali mudra. 4. Male seated on a lion: in the right hand is a ball, while in the left hand is a fruit.
