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The expression to aesthetic import observed in several themes gives distinction to Rashtrakuta art It is sometime a motif, sometime the iconographic form or an episode from literature Especially in Chhota Kailasa and Indra Sabha caves the projecting courts in front of the mandapa appear with profuse decorations of Purnakumbha motifs Further it is noted that Chhota Kailasa is the most pleasant form of Sukanasa which is not found in succeeding centuries It has been observed that the southern temples with their characteristic tiered vimana shrines, major and minor, their axial and peripherial mandapa, their flat roofed halls and the towering gopura entrances form a distinct class by themselves, as against the Northern Prasada, with their curvilinear superstructures, the crowing amalaka, and mandapa with rising tiered roofs The Jamna excavations on soft trap ridge cut at Ellora testify the same thing The Jaina group of caves enjoys an important position in the evolution of Jaina architecture, that assimilates both northern and southern features Moreover, they excel rest of the caves particularly in details and perfection in cutting of their pillars, whidh can be noted as floriated fluted pillars with exquisite decorations Beauty of ornamentation, drapery, grace poses, and stances have been infused in the sculptured pillars of dwarpalas The archtectural carvings and painted designs eloquently reflect the cultural dynamics of the period
The Ellora Jaina rock cut shrines perfectly reflect the varied currents of Indian art It is interesting to note that Ellora Jaina caves were the product of the confluence of Northern and Southern Indian art trends and constitute a unique specimen of the configuration of northern and southern features of Jaina art
Department of Journalism
Marathawada University Aurangabad (Maharastra)
76
The friendship of the virtuous is of exceeding excellence, and yields glorious results-like (seasonable) ram, but the friendship of the vicious, even in the time of its exuberance, is as when the rain fails in the time of drought
(Naladıyar, 232)
