________________
228
Jaina Rock-cut Caves in Western India ELLORA (Later Caves)
Compared to the caves of 9th century CE, the caves excavated in the same hill, but at a higher level and at a much later date are small, plain and crude. Of these, J5 is closer to earlier group and is excavated near J6. It is missed by most visitors because it remains hidden behind thick vegetation almost throughout the year except summer. A path behind J4 leads up to other caves. At the top of the hill is carved a large icon of Pārsvanātha on the rock face, now covered in a room and numbered J27 by Pereira. Below it are three more caves and a few icons carved on the rock face. The largest of these has a chaumukha within a structure. To the south of this structure, there are a few sculptures on the rock face. These sculptures are numbered J28, the chaumukha is J29 and the cave is J30. On each side of J30 are large figures of elephants and some icons on the rock face above each elephant. To the south of this cave are two small caves. Of these, J31 is empty, while J32 has a number of icons. There is a water cistern to the south of J32.
Description
J5
The cave is a cluster of a few roughly excavated rooms (Plate 166). It has a verandah with a rough room at the left end. The verandah is approximately 3.85m by 1.8m. The room in the left end is around 1.95m by 1.85m. In the front of the verandah, there are three rooms. Of these, one is around 2.6m by 2.2m, while the other room is 2.4m by 2.3m. All are very rough and uneven. There are a few sculptures carved in the verandah and three rooms. (Fig. 18).
Sculptures
In the right end of the verandah is a figure of Rsabhanatha. In the room in the left end of the verandah is a figure of Jina. In the room in the front of the verandah are figures of Ambikā and Jina. In the other room are tritirthikā, seated Jina, seated Parsvanātha and a chauvisi. The third room is empty. Between the two rooms is depicted a figure of Kshetrapala.
1. Panchatirthika: 0.57m by 0.46m.
The mūlanāyaka is Rşabhanātha, seated in padmāsana on a cushion and flanked by a standing and seated Jina on each side. He has a triple chhatra of diminishing size, surmounted by a kalasa above the head and śrivatsa on the chest. His lañchhana, bull is depicted below the cushion. There are two curved lines on the chest, while the face is damaged. The standing Jina to right is Parsvanatha.
2. Seated Jina: 0.5m by 0.43m.
The Jina is seated in ardhapadmāsana with a single chhatra above head. There are five seated figures of devotees below.
