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İzo
JAINISM AND KARNĀTAKA CULTURÈ
significance as in Brahmanical and Buddhist temples "' 164 The entrance to the Indra Sabha is completely sculptured out of a living rock, like the Kailas temple which it resembles in many respects, though on a considerably smaller scale. Immediately within the walls is the Jaina equivalent of Śiva's Nandishrine. The cubical cell is of the Brahma type, and stands for the four-headed Brahma symbol, as seen at Elephanta, though the four sides are sculptured with the figure of Mahavira. The main block of Indra Sabha consists of a two-storeyed temple, cut into the rock for a depth of over 100 ft. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the sculpture of the Indra Sabhā ", observes Havell," is the strikingly beautiful and original façade of the side-chapel on the western side of the main temple, the richness of which contrasts so admirably with the larger surfaces of the grand chhaja shading the main front and the magnificent profile of the elephants kneeling above it. "165
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The figure of Indra himself is sculptured on the left of the main temple, seated on a sleeping elephant as represented in the photograph facing this page. Similarly seated under a tree, carved with infinite care and accuracy with birds, fruits and leaves brought into remarkable relief, is Indrāņi in the opposite corner facing her Lord. This goddess, unlike Indra, is seated on a crouching lion whose head is completely damaged. She is not the only goddess in the group. There is also a four-armed Devi with two discs in the upper hands, and a vajra in her left, resting on her knee. To her left is another goddess with eight arms seated on a pea-cock; evidently Saraswati. Some of the remarkable things to note are the dogs and deer at the foot of Mahavira's throne in the Jagannatha group. There are numerous other figures common to other Jaina temples, but the magnificent pillar-carving, with nude, standing Digambaras on
164 Havell, op. cit., p. 201. The Brahmanical caves predominate at Ellôrā; they are 17, whereas Buddhist ones are 12, and Jaina only five. All are situated within the radius of a mile.
165 Cf. Plate LXXI, Havell, op. cit., p. 292.
