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Description and Chronology of Caves
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square blocks separated by a band and topped by a kalaśa. Above the throne back is carved a triple chhatra surmounted by a small flying figure. It is topped by an arch of creepers forming circles and filled in with flowers with a kirtimukha in the centre. The smaller niches in left sidewall are similar, though the triple chhatra and the flying figure are absent. One niche has a kalaśa instead of the kirtimukha in the arch. There are flying garland bearers above the throne back. The niches in the front and the back walls have only the platforms in the place of thrones, while the niche to the right of the shrine. doorway is plain. All these niches must have been used to house the loose icons of Jinas. The shrine doorway is plain with a seated Jina in the lintel. The bench in the front is used as a step to reach the shrine, which is at a higher level. It is around 2m by 1m. On the corners are pilasters, which are similar to hall pilasters. The floor has been cemented recently. On the back wall is a niche, which is now plastered. Another smaller niche is cut inside that houses a modern, small icon of Parsvanatha. In front of the niche is a step with a chandraśila. A smaller niche with a seated figure of a male flanks this niche.
Sculptures
Pereira had identified a few figures on the front side of the court. According to him, there were figures of seated acharya with two devotees and a seated acharya with four devotees to right. There was a dvarapala flanking the stairway. These figures have disappeared now. However, there are two figures of acharya to the left.
On the outer wall of the hall, flanking the doorway, there is large male figure. These have been identified as Hanuman and Kshetrapala by Pereira (1977: 172), but are attendants.
1. Attendant: He stands in abhanga and is slightly turned to the left. His hands are broken, but the postures of the extant portion suggest that he may have carried a jar, as in J27 (Plate 173).
2. Attendant: This figure is similar to the previous figure. But it is quite damaged.
3. Gomukha: This figure is carved on a mass of rock on the bench. It is a four-armed, bull-faced figure, seated in vamalalitasana. His right foot is placed on a flower. The right lower hand is held in varada, in the right upper hand is held an akṣamala, in left upper hand is held a parasu and in the left lower hand is held a matulunga, which is mutilated. Below him is shown a small figure of a cow. He wears a necklace, wristlets and anklets (Plate 174).
4. and 5. Seated males: Both the figures are similar except that the figure to right is in vamalalitasana, while the figure to left is in svayalalitasana. They are seated on a rounded pedestal. They have long ears and single chhatras above the head. Each of these figures holds a flower in the right hand, while the object in the left hand may be either a chakra or a fruit. They are fully decked, while the hair is tied in a sort of a ponytail. On the pedestal of the right figure is an object in a low relief and an inscription. The inscription is very unclear, but appears to be in Devanagari.
