Jaina Rock Cut Caves In Western India Part 01

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

Page 96

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Jaina Rock-cut Caves in Western India adhisthānas and the kakşāsanas of all the verandahs are only blocked out. Above the dwarf pillars rested on the kaksāsanas, is a kapota, the underside of which is carved with stone rafters. On the kapota of the main verandah is carved a couple on the left, while on the right and centre blocks are left (Plate 56). The kapotas above side verandahs are plain. The roof of the northern verandah is elevated slightly, while the roofs of the other verandahs are plain.
Each of the verandahs has two dwarf pillars resting on kaksāsanas and two corresponding pilasters on the back wall. The main verandah is finished and better worked. It has a large lotus on the ceiling. The hall doorway from the main verandah has three sakhas of stambha, rupa and ratna. The rupa sakha has flying couples on sides and flying garland bearers above the doorway. Among the figures on pedyā, there is a dvārapāla on the stambha sakha and females on other two. The dvārapālas have fivehooded snake above the head and hold a staff or a sword and a gada (Fig. 17a). The doorway is surmounted by a kapota carved with alpanāsis, above which is a hāra of five temple models of sala in the centre and sides and kuta between them. In the central sala is a figure of a seated Jina, while the kūtas have figures of standing Jinas. The right sāla has a figure of Sarvānubhūti, while the left has a figure of Ambikā. In the lintel is a seated Jina. Flanking the doorways are large figures of dvārapalas and a small, corpulent and dwarfish male figure on each side. These are fat, dwarfish figures. The heads and hands of both the figures are gone. Beyond this figure on the right is a standing female with a flower in the right hand and stick like object in the left hand, while there is no such figure on the left
The verandah to the north is similar to the main verandah. But the doorframe is not finished. The stambha sakha on the left jamb is plain. The ratna sakha of the same jamb is not carved. There are no base figures, chandrašila and hastihasta. The dvarapalas are also not carved. The necklace of sala-kūta above the kapota has figures of seated Jinas. The ceiling is plain, while the floor levels are also not even.
The southern verandah is also similar to the main verandah. But here the figures on the pedya of the hall doorway are absent. The kūta models above the doorway have standing figures of dvārapalas, instead of seated Jinas.
The hall is 10.9sq.m with 16 pillars and corresponding pilasters.
The antechamber has a makara torana with a figure of a seated Jina in the centre of the arch. Above the makara head is a figure of flying vidyadhāra, while below it is a standing female as the bracket figure of the pilaster. The shrine doorway has six sakhas of padma, valli, khalva, stambha, vidyadhari and ratna. The pedya of the doorway has usual figures of dvārapala, chauri bearers, males etc. The male figures on the padma sakhas have three-hooded snake above the head. The kapota and the necklace of sala-kuta above the śākhās are as in the hall doorways. Here all the models have figures of seated Jinas, while the lintel has a figure of seated Parsvanātha.
The shrine is 4.2m by 3.35m.