Book Title: Jaina Rock Cut Caves In Western India Part 01
Author(s): Viraj Shah
Publisher: Agam Kala Prakashan

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Page 222
________________ 196 Jaina Rock-cut Caves in Western India brackets of pilasters on the back wall, the brackets and capitals of pillars and the stone beams running between pillars and pilasters are carved out of rock in situ. The hall is 9.9m by 9.3m. The ceiling is around 3.2m high. The floor is covered with mud as the water trickles from the ceiling. In the centre, there are four pillars, of which only the northwestern pillar and the brackets of the other pillars remain (Fig. 61e & f) On each sidewall are pilasters corresponding to the pillars, while there is a halfpilaster in each corner. The pillars are structural, while the pilasters and the brackets of the pillars are carved in situ. There are stone beams on the ceiling, running between the pillars and pilasters. The floor between four pillars is slightly raised. Along the sidewalls, there are benches, though very damaged. These are structural and not carved in situ. The benches in the northeastern and the southeastern corners are similar to benches in the verandah. These are made of a long slab supported on few vertical slabs. The upper slab is carved of mouldings of antarpatta and kapōta. The benches in the northwestern and the southwestern corners are also carved with mouldings of bhitta, jaḍyakumbha, antarpatta, karnika, antarpatta and kapota. These mouldings are interspersed with a compartment containing lozenge motif. The antechamber is 4.05m by 2.55m. In each corner near the back wall is a half pilaster, similar to those in the hall. The pilaster on the left is destroyed. In the ceiling to the left is an opening, now filled with stones. It is said to lead up to the fort. The shrine doorway is similar to the hall doorway, but less elaborate and highly damaged. It has three sakhas. The outermost is a stambha sakha with the pilaster similar to those in the verandah. The inner sakhas are plain. On the lintel is a seated Jina. The uttaranga is similar to that in the hall doorway. But here the seated Jina is carved only in the central niche. There are no figures on the pedya, while the mandaraka and chandraśila are present. The door fittings are in the form of a round groove on each side, in the ceiling of doorway inside. The shrine is 3.7m by 3.45m. The floor is completely destroyed. The ceiling is around 3m high. On a bench along the back wall is an icon of Rṣabhanatha. There is a two-line inscription on the cushion of the Jina, which is not very clear except the date, Saka 1266. Sculptures The only icon carved in situ is the main image of Rṣabhanatha in the shrine. There are three loose pieces of sculptures lying in and around the cave. These are broken. Near the cave is a sculpture of standing female without head. Nearby is another piece, which is just a head of a figure. Near the entrance to the cave is another piece of sculpture, which is also a head of a figure. 1. Seated Rsabhanatha: 1.77m by 1.4m. The upper part of the icon including the head is destroyed. The lower part is also is very damaged. The Jina is seated on the cushion, which is 0.2m high. In the centre of the cushion is his lanchhana, the bull. It is carved in profile.

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