Jaina Rock Cut Caves In Western India Part 01

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

Page 83

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Description and Chronology of Caves
brackets are two-armed and taranga with a median band. These are carved with floral design. This type is found in the central four pillars of the hall in J21 (Fig. 13a)
(8) This variety of pillar has a base on which, the shaft rises in a square portion with a
floral design at the upper part. The members above the shaft are as in the aforementioned variety. The rest of the pillars and pilasters of J21 are of this type (Fig. 13b). The pillars and pilasters on the kakṣasānas are slightly different. The pillars have gaņa figures in the corners instead of the floral design on the square portion of the shaft. The front or the southern face has a vyāla figure as a bracket figure.
(9) This variety of the pillar has a base on which, the shaft rises in a square portion
surmounted by an octagonal portion, which is carved with two bands. The lower band has beaded festoons, while the upper band has the design of lozenges. Above the shaft is a kalaśa with beaded rim, double tati, flattish kumbha and a padma, all fluted. The ribs of each of the tatis and also the padma are treated as outturned petals on top. Above the padma is a phalaka supporting two-armed, rounded brackets. The pillars and the pilasters in J3 and the pillars in the sukanāsa shrine of J2 are of this type with minor differences (Fig. 13c).
(10) This variety of pillar is slender and ornamental. They have a base on which, a shaft
rises in a square portion, pūrnaghata and a round portion. The upper part of the square portion is carved with a design of flowers overflowing from the vase. The round portion of the shaft is carved with intricate designs. The shaft is surmounted by a kalaśa with a plain patti at top and alpanāsis at the bottom, double tati, kumbha with a median band and padma, all fluted. The ribs of each of the tatis and padma are treated as outturned petals at top. Above is a plain phalaka supporting the brackets, which are rounded and two-armed. This type is found in J11 (Fig. 13d).
Doorways
Most of the shrine doorways are plain with two or three plain sākhas. While J10, J24, J25 and J26 have stambha sākhā supporting a kapota along with plain sakhās (Fig. 14a), the shrine doorways of J2, J3, J18, J19, J20 and J21 are ornamental (Fig. 14b). The three hall doorways of J2 are also very elaborate. These doorways have various sakhās apart from the stambha sakha, such as vidyādhara, pātra, ratna, Jina and rupa sakhas. They have a kapõta resting on the stambha sakhā, mostly carved with alpanāsis. The stambha sakhā of J18 is completely relieved from the rock behind. The uttaranga has sala and kūta vimānas. However, the uttaranga of J19 is plain, while J20 has depiction of auspicious dreams (Plate 33). On the pedyā are carved dvārapālas and kumbhavāhinis. The doorway in J21 has padma and sankha nidhis also. Here the kumbhavahinis are Ganga and Yamunā as their vahanas are also depicted. Only the hall doorways of J2 have large figures of dvārapalas, flanking the doorways. The large dvarapalas in J18 are carved outside the verandah, on the rock face. Only one such dvarapalas is begun in J21, but is left unfinished. J20 has figures of padma and sankha nidhis in the same position.