Jaina Rock Cut Caves In Western India Part 01

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

Page 87

Description and Chronology of Caves
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also male chauri-bearers in some cases. J12 has only one attendant on the right. In J24, apart from the male attendants, there is a female attendant on each side. All the figures, including the elephant are fully decked.
Ambika
The two-armed figure of Ambika in all the caves is shown seated in vamalalitasana on a lion under a mango tree with the dangling foot placed on a pedestal. Behind her head is shown a halo. In some cases, a throne back is also shown. The lion is shown seated with the head turned to the front in some cases. As in the case of Sarvanubhuti, the figure in J11 does not have the tree, but there are makara heads with riders, female chauri bearers and flying couples. The tree is shown with mangoes hanging down and monkeys and some birds, usually peacocks, in some cases. In J24, a squirrel is shown on the trunk of the tree. Ambika has an amralumbi in the right hand, which is held at the shoulder level except in J25. The only exceptions are J18 and J25, where she holds a flower in the right hand. With the left hand she supports the child seated in her lap in J3, J6, J14, J17, J18, J22 and J25. In other cases, a matulunga is held in the left hand and the child is shown standing behind the lion, except J24 and J26, where the child is in the front of the lion. The child is a fat and nude figure in most cases. In J25, a second child is also shown to her right.
In J11 and J22, there are no attendants, while in J21 only a female chauri bearer is carved on each side. J17, J18, J20, J23, J24, J25 and 126, have other attendants along with the female chauri bearers. Among these is a male with a chauri in most cases or a flower in some cases. This figure is absent in J10 and J25. He is depicted to the right of Ambika, except in J3 and J13, where he is to the left. In J24 and J26, a small figure of a male devotee is shown. All the figures are fully decked. Another figure, which occurs in the most panels, except in J14 and J25, is a large figure of a male holding a chhatra above his head. He is usually depicted to the left of Ambika. He has a plain head and has a beard in most cases except J6, J10, J23, J24 and J26. He wears a lower garment, sacred thread and minimum ornaments. The lower garment in J10 and J26 is just a short piece of cloth. He appears to represent the Brahmaṇas, who got angry when they realised that the food prepared for them was given to Jaina monk by Ambika in her previous life and who after realising their mistake came to pay their respects to the goddess (Plate 40).
Kamatha/Meghämalin's attack on Parsvanatha
The scene depicting the attack of Kamatha on meditating Parsvanatha is very popular at the site. The principal figures of this scene are a large figure of meditating Parsvanatha in the centre, Padmavati to his right with a chhatra held above his head to protect him from the attack, a number of attackers all around him and a subjugated figure of Kamatha with his queen, seated near Parsvanatha's feet; to the left. Parsvanatha is shown standing either on a lotus or a round pedestal with a halo and a seven-hooded snake above the head and coils of snake behind him. Each of the snake-hoods has distinct face with mouth, eyes and nose. Over the snake-hood is the chhatra held by Padmavati. In J25, a drum is shown above the chhatra. Padmavati stands to his right on either a lotus or a round pedestal