DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0070
48 EASTERN CAVES.
tions these were formed in stone, and became the most ornamental
parts of the structure.
The other Son Bhandar cave is situated at a distance of 30 feet
from the larger one and in all respects similar except that its dimen-
sions are only 22 feet by 17. The roof has almost entirely fallen in,
and only one mortice hole exists to show that it had a wooden
verandah similar to that in front of the other cave.
Between these two caves a mass of rock is left standing in order
to admit of a flight of steps being cut in it, leading to the surface of
the rock above the roof of these two caves. Whether this led to an
upper storey either in Avoodwork or brick, or whether there was not
a dagoba or shrine on the upper platform, can only be ascertained
when some one visits the spot after having his attention specially
directed to this object, from its analogy with what is found in other
places. From the arrangements of some of the Katak caves, I would
rather expect to find the remains of an upper storey. But it may be
very difficult to determine this, for whether it was a stupa or dwel-
ling, if in brick, it may have been utilised long ago. As before
mentioned, General Cunningham seems to think that a vihara in brick,
but with granite pillars, existed in a corresponding situation above
the Vapiya and Yadathi caves at Barabar.1 If he is right in this,
which seems very probable, it would go far to establish the hypothesis
of the existence of a second storey over the Son Bhandar cave.
There seems to be nothing except its architecture by which the
age of this cave can be determined. Kittoe, indeed, says " there are
some rude outlines of Buddhas carved upon it," and there is also
a handsome miniature Jain temple much mutilated,'2 which he gives
a drawing of. The Buddhas I fancy are much more likely to be
Jaina Tirthankaras, which are so easily added when there is so much
plain surface, and as the " temple " shows that the cave was after-
wards appropriated by the Jains, nothing is more probable than that
they should ornament the walls by carving such figures upon them.
Broadley is more distinct. " Outside the door," he says, " and 3
feet to the west of it, is a headless figure of Buddha cut in the
rock, and close to it an inscription in the Ashoka character."3
But as neither Cunningham nor Kittoe saw either; and they do not
Reports, vol. i. p. 49. 2 Kittoe, J. A. S. B., Sept. 1847, Plate XLTI.
3 Indian Antiquary, vol. i. p. 74,
tions these were formed in stone, and became the most ornamental
parts of the structure.
The other Son Bhandar cave is situated at a distance of 30 feet
from the larger one and in all respects similar except that its dimen-
sions are only 22 feet by 17. The roof has almost entirely fallen in,
and only one mortice hole exists to show that it had a wooden
verandah similar to that in front of the other cave.
Between these two caves a mass of rock is left standing in order
to admit of a flight of steps being cut in it, leading to the surface of
the rock above the roof of these two caves. Whether this led to an
upper storey either in Avoodwork or brick, or whether there was not
a dagoba or shrine on the upper platform, can only be ascertained
when some one visits the spot after having his attention specially
directed to this object, from its analogy with what is found in other
places. From the arrangements of some of the Katak caves, I would
rather expect to find the remains of an upper storey. But it may be
very difficult to determine this, for whether it was a stupa or dwel-
ling, if in brick, it may have been utilised long ago. As before
mentioned, General Cunningham seems to think that a vihara in brick,
but with granite pillars, existed in a corresponding situation above
the Vapiya and Yadathi caves at Barabar.1 If he is right in this,
which seems very probable, it would go far to establish the hypothesis
of the existence of a second storey over the Son Bhandar cave.
There seems to be nothing except its architecture by which the
age of this cave can be determined. Kittoe, indeed, says " there are
some rude outlines of Buddhas carved upon it," and there is also
a handsome miniature Jain temple much mutilated,'2 which he gives
a drawing of. The Buddhas I fancy are much more likely to be
Jaina Tirthankaras, which are so easily added when there is so much
plain surface, and as the " temple " shows that the cave was after-
wards appropriated by the Jains, nothing is more probable than that
they should ornament the walls by carving such figures upon them.
Broadley is more distinct. " Outside the door," he says, " and 3
feet to the west of it, is a headless figure of Buddha cut in the
rock, and close to it an inscription in the Ashoka character."3
But as neither Cunningham nor Kittoe saw either; and they do not
Reports, vol. i. p. 49. 2 Kittoe, J. A. S. B., Sept. 1847, Plate XLTI.
3 Indian Antiquary, vol. i. p. 74,