Fergusson, James; Burgess, James: The cave temples of India (London, 1880)

KONDANE. 221

which were the doorways leading to the interior and it was fixed to
them, as seems to have been the case with all the earlier caves.
The Chaitya Cave at Bhaja and that at Kondane had similar fronts
constructed in wood. The caves at Bedsa and Karle are apparently
among the earliest, where these screens were carved in the rock
instead of being erected in the more perishable material.

There are still, however, remains of seven pillars on the left side of
the cave, and six on the south, which rake inwards, as do also those
at Bhaja and Bedsa, to be described hereafter—a proof of the early
date of the work;: those behind the dagoba and six near the front
on the right side have disappeared entirely. On the upper portion of
one column on the left is a symbol or device somewhat resembling a
dagoba, with a rude canopy over it. (Plate VII., fig. 2.) The arched
roof has had wooden rafters as at Karle and elsewhere, but they are
gone, and the only remains of the woodwork is a portion of the
latticed screen in the front arch. The facade bears a strong family
likeness to that at Bhaja. On the left side is a fragment of sculp-
ture in alto rilievo—part of the head of a single figure about twice
life-size. The features are destroyed, but the details of the head-
dress show the most careful attention to finish of detail. Over the
left shoulder is an inscription in one line in Mauryan characters of
perhaps the second century B.C., or it may be earlier, which reads—

KanJiasa antevdsind Balalcena Jcatam,
^hich Dr. Kern translates — "Made by Balakena, the pupil of
Kanha (Krishna)."

Over this head, at the level of the spring of the great arch in the
facade, is a broad projecting belt of sculpture: the lower portion
°f it is carved with the rail pattern; the central portion is divided
mto seven compartments, filled alternately, three with a lattice
pattern and five with human figures —one male in the first, a male
and female in each of the third and fifth, and a male with a bow—
and two females in the seventh. Over these is a band with the
representations of the ends of tie-beams or bars projecting through
n' ancl taen four fillets, each projecting over the one below, and the
"Pper half of the last serrated. The corresponding belt of carving
°nthe right side of the fagade is much damaged by the falling away
0f the r°ck at the end next the arch.

1 Fergusson, Ind. and East. Archit., p. 110.