Jaina Rock Cut Caves In Western India Part 01

Author(s): Viraj Shah
Publisher: Agam Kala Prakashan

Page 51

Description and Chronology of Caves
25 oval-shaped cushion with a vyala head on each side, which has a lion face with goat like horns and a parrot beak.
Among the attendants are chauri bearers and flying garland bearers, one on each side of Parsvanatha. The right chauri-bearer holds a chauri in his right or outer hand. His Jeft or inner hand is shown partially. The left chauri bearer holds a chauri in both the hands. From the front, only their bodies, up to the chest can be seen. But when viewed from the side, the whole body and one leg can be seen, which are depicted behind the throne. Above each chauri bearer is a fat, dwarfish garland bearer holding a garland in both the hands. Each is shown heading towards Parsvanatha. They almost touch the ceiling.
At present, the icon, except the throne is plastered and painted, Parsvanatha in black, attendants in cream, snake-hood in grey and white and vyalas in white. The chauri bearers wear crown, necklace, wristlets, earrings and a lower garment. The garland bearers wear headband, necklace, wrislets and waistband. The vyalas have a band in the neck, while on the head of each snake is a crown. All these ornaments are painted in cream and are jewelled. They are inlaid with mirror glass and painted in various colours like red and green to give the appearance of semi precious stones. The facial features of attendants, snake-hood and vyāla are done with black. Thus, all have prominent wideopen eyes and the attendants have moustaches. It is difficult to determine the date when this plastering and the painting of the icon were carried out. According to Burgess, the standing Jina in the cell to the right of the shrine was plastered and painted "some ten or twelve years ago". The black paint on this image is very similar to the paint on this icon. It is possible that this renovation was carried out sometime in the sixties of 19th century by some local people or Jaina population from other parts of the country,
5. Standing Jina: 2.5m by 1.49m
On the back wall of the cell to the right of the shrine is a standing Jina. The panel covers the entire height of the cell. The Jina figure measuring 1.78m by 0.58m, stands in kāyotsarga mudrā. Behind his head is a halo with petals carved on it. Above the head is triple chhatra, which touches the ceiling.
The entire panel is smoothened and plastered. To the each side of the Jina, the panel has some mouldings with designs on it, while there is a moulded pedestal below. The image is painted in black, similar to that of the main icon. Most probably, the renovation of this image including the petals on the halo was done at the same time as that of the main icon.
6. Seated Jina: 0.49m by 0.44m
On the western or the right wall of the cell in the right end of the verardah is an outline of a seated Jina.
7. Seated Jina: 0.43m by 0.38m
On the same wall, near front wall is another similar outline of a Jina.
8. Chaumukha: 1.0lm by 0.33m
In the cell to the right of the shrine is kept a loose chaumukha resting on the right wall. On each face of this chaumukha is a Jina standing in the kayotsarga mudra. Each