DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0167
THE CAVES, MAHAVALLIPUR. 145
seription. "We are even deprived here of the division of the different
caves into classes, according to religions, which is one of the most
obvious means of characterising them in almost all other groups.
There is not in the sculptures at Mahavallipur a single trace of any-
anterior Buddhist or Jaina religion, or any feature that can be
traced back to any pre-existing faith, except of course, as above
pointed out, the mechanical forms of the architecture. One cave,
the ninth in the following enumeration, may be said to be wholly
Vaishnava, but in all the others, representations borrowed from the
religion of Siva alternate with those relating to Vishnu, in a manner
that is most unexpected, at least to anyone accustomed to the
antagonism that grew up between these two religions after the rise
of the Lingayets in the ninth century. This, however, is only a
further proof, if any were requisite, that it was before that time
that these caves were excavated.
Under these circumstances the best mode will probably be to
begin at the southern end of the ridge, nearly opposite the great
group of Rathas above described, and take each cave, as nearly as
can be done, in sequence as we proceed northward. Following this
plan, we find—
1. At the south end of the ridge is a very neat cave in excellent
preservation known as Dharmaraja's Mandapa,1 measuring 17 feet
by 124, with four pillars, two in front and two in the middle, square
above and below and octagonal in the middle. In the back wall
are three empty shrines with steps ascending to their doors. Along
the back wall is a moulded base, and the central door has had
(Iwarpalas, now hewn off.
2. Just behind the southern sculptured rock is another cave2
with two pillars in front, but the work has been little more than
begun.
3. To the north of the first is the Yamapuri or Mahishamarddani
Mandapa, a fine lofty caves 33* feet long by 15 feet deep. In front it
had originally four round pillars (the second is quite destroyed) and
wo pilasters. These pillars have a thick torus capital surmounted
by a spreading cima recta, carrying a square tile. This upper portion
1 Carr's No. 44; Braddock, p. 103 (?).
2 Carr's map, No. 46.
8 Cavr, No. 32; Braddock, No. 19, p. 96, see also pp. 7, 32, 49, 149, 208.
X
seription. "We are even deprived here of the division of the different
caves into classes, according to religions, which is one of the most
obvious means of characterising them in almost all other groups.
There is not in the sculptures at Mahavallipur a single trace of any-
anterior Buddhist or Jaina religion, or any feature that can be
traced back to any pre-existing faith, except of course, as above
pointed out, the mechanical forms of the architecture. One cave,
the ninth in the following enumeration, may be said to be wholly
Vaishnava, but in all the others, representations borrowed from the
religion of Siva alternate with those relating to Vishnu, in a manner
that is most unexpected, at least to anyone accustomed to the
antagonism that grew up between these two religions after the rise
of the Lingayets in the ninth century. This, however, is only a
further proof, if any were requisite, that it was before that time
that these caves were excavated.
Under these circumstances the best mode will probably be to
begin at the southern end of the ridge, nearly opposite the great
group of Rathas above described, and take each cave, as nearly as
can be done, in sequence as we proceed northward. Following this
plan, we find—
1. At the south end of the ridge is a very neat cave in excellent
preservation known as Dharmaraja's Mandapa,1 measuring 17 feet
by 124, with four pillars, two in front and two in the middle, square
above and below and octagonal in the middle. In the back wall
are three empty shrines with steps ascending to their doors. Along
the back wall is a moulded base, and the central door has had
(Iwarpalas, now hewn off.
2. Just behind the southern sculptured rock is another cave2
with two pillars in front, but the work has been little more than
begun.
3. To the north of the first is the Yamapuri or Mahishamarddani
Mandapa, a fine lofty caves 33* feet long by 15 feet deep. In front it
had originally four round pillars (the second is quite destroyed) and
wo pilasters. These pillars have a thick torus capital surmounted
by a spreading cima recta, carrying a square tile. This upper portion
1 Carr's No. 44; Braddock, p. 103 (?).
2 Carr's map, No. 46.
8 Cavr, No. 32; Braddock, No. 19, p. 96, see also pp. 7, 32, 49, 149, 208.
X