DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0174
152 EASTERN CAVES.
and 10 deep, with four lion pillars blocked out in front (similar to
Cave 6) which is not far to the south of this. A large recess is also
roughly hewn out in the back.
The other (11) is about 34 feet in length by 15 feet deep, and
has four square and octagon pillars in front, with a second row
inside, 16 sided, with capitals similar to those of the Raths, with
brackets above, but no abacus over the torus.
In the back are five cells, three of them with steps leading up to
the doors, which have male dwarpalas by their jambs. Over the
doors is a projecting cornice with a drip on which are carved
Chaitya window ornaments each with a head within it.
All the cells have had lingams in them, which are now removed.
12. Kotikal Mandapa.1
One hundred and twenty yards to the north-east of the last is a
third cave on this west side of the rocks. Like the last, the two
pillars in front are square below and above, and octagonal in the
middle with brackets only roughly blocked out. It has only one
shrine which is empty ; but the door has a female dwarpalas on
each side, indicating that (like Draupadi's Eatha) it was dedicated
to a goddess or Sakti. Over the door is a plain drip, no frieze but
with small square holes countersunk in the rock as if a wooden
verandah were once intended and perhaps executed.
At first sight the style of this cave, externally, looks older than
the others, and it may be so, but can hardly be removed from them
by any great interval, and the contrast between the outer and the
inner rows of pillars as in Cave 11 seems to be in favour of its being
of about the same age. If its outer appearance only were taken
into account it would be difficult not to believe that it was the
oldest cave here.
13. Kapul Iswara.—Proceeding from this to the north-east, we
reach three shrines joined together cut in the face of the rock, with
slender pilasters at the sides of their doors, and by each are dwarpalas
with high, peaked caps ; those to the left are bearded. The cornice
or drip is ornamented with Chaitya-window sculptures, each con-
taining a head, and the facade above is carved in the usual Batha
style. On the rock to the right or south of these is an eight-armed
Durga, standing on a buffalo's head.
1 Can-, No. 52.
and 10 deep, with four lion pillars blocked out in front (similar to
Cave 6) which is not far to the south of this. A large recess is also
roughly hewn out in the back.
The other (11) is about 34 feet in length by 15 feet deep, and
has four square and octagon pillars in front, with a second row
inside, 16 sided, with capitals similar to those of the Raths, with
brackets above, but no abacus over the torus.
In the back are five cells, three of them with steps leading up to
the doors, which have male dwarpalas by their jambs. Over the
doors is a projecting cornice with a drip on which are carved
Chaitya window ornaments each with a head within it.
All the cells have had lingams in them, which are now removed.
12. Kotikal Mandapa.1
One hundred and twenty yards to the north-east of the last is a
third cave on this west side of the rocks. Like the last, the two
pillars in front are square below and above, and octagonal in the
middle with brackets only roughly blocked out. It has only one
shrine which is empty ; but the door has a female dwarpalas on
each side, indicating that (like Draupadi's Eatha) it was dedicated
to a goddess or Sakti. Over the door is a plain drip, no frieze but
with small square holes countersunk in the rock as if a wooden
verandah were once intended and perhaps executed.
At first sight the style of this cave, externally, looks older than
the others, and it may be so, but can hardly be removed from them
by any great interval, and the contrast between the outer and the
inner rows of pillars as in Cave 11 seems to be in favour of its being
of about the same age. If its outer appearance only were taken
into account it would be difficult not to believe that it was the
oldest cave here.
13. Kapul Iswara.—Proceeding from this to the north-east, we
reach three shrines joined together cut in the face of the rock, with
slender pilasters at the sides of their doors, and by each are dwarpalas
with high, peaked caps ; those to the left are bearded. The cornice
or drip is ornamented with Chaitya-window sculptures, each con-
taining a head, and the facade above is carved in the usual Batha
style. On the rock to the right or south of these is an eight-armed
Durga, standing on a buffalo's head.
1 Can-, No. 52.