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

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Page 261
________________ Description and Chronology of Caves 235 śrivatsa on the chest. A part of a throne back and a chauri bearer to the right is visible. The Jina is painted in white and the srivatsa is in red. The throne back is in red, while the chauri bearer is in yellow with red outlines (Plate 176). There are traces of thick white plaster on the niches, similar to that in Chhota Kailasa. This appears to be much later than the date of the cave. J31 It is a small, empty room with phāmsaņā roof. J32 This cave is just a room with phāmsaņā roof (Fig. 71, Plate 177). On the first tier of the roof are oval-shaped plates, while on each tier is a semi-circular plate in the centre. The room is 3m to 2.75m wide and 1.7m to 1.6m deep. The door is 1.4m wide and 1.1m high. It is plain. At present the room is just 1.35m high. But the floor is covered with earth and the lower portions of the sculptures are buried. Thus, the height of the cave must be more than what is today. There is a stone beam on the ceiling on all the sides, except the back. There is a lotus in the centre, while on the stone beam on each side are three smaller lotuses, except on front side. The walls of the cave are covered with sculptures. There is a long niche in the back wall, which is divided into three parts by plain bars. Each compartment is carved with a plain pedestal and a plain throne back rounded at the top. These must have been used to install the loose icons. At present, they are empty. Sculptures All the sculptures are very eroded and crude. The facial features and the other such details are not clear. There is an arch above each icon. 1. Tritirthikā: 1.07m by 0.95m It consists of three Jinas, seated in padmāsana with triple chhatra. As the figures are eroded, it is difficult to determine whether srivatsa was depicted or not. The main icon is on a cushion decorated with petals and placed on a throne with wheel and lions. He has chauri-bearers on sides, a flying figure of a drum player and another flying figure with indistinct object in the hands. To the left of the main icon is a figure of Ambikā, while the figure of Sarvānubhūti is to right, carved on the front wall. 2. Bahubali: 1.22m by 0.59m The head of the figure is destroyed. He has creepers on the body, a halo and a single chhatra. He is flanked by small figures of chauri bearers. There are three flying figures of musicians above the chhatra. The central figure is a drum player, while the figures on the sides are cymbal players. There is a small standing figure holding a flower or a chhatra to his right. It is difficult to identify this figure.

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