DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0253
BEDSA. 231
local official, under the idea of " cleaning " this fine cave, had the
whole beslobbered with whitewash, and obliterated all the paintings.
On five of the pillars on the right side, near the dagoba, are roses
and other Bauddha emblems—the dharmachakra, shield, trisula, lotus,
fte. {See Plate VII., figs. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 11.)
The dagoba has a broad fillet of " rail ornament" at the base
and top of the cylinder, from which rises a second and shorter
cylinder, also surrounded above with the rail ornament. The box
of the capital is small, and is surmounted by a very heavy capital,
in which stands the wooden shaft of the umbrella,— the top has dis-
appeared. This cave faces the east.
Leaving this and passing a well not far from the entrance, at a dis-
tance of eighteen yards, we reach a large unfinished cell, in the back of
which is a water-cistern. Close by this is the Yihara, Plate X., quite
unique in its kind, having an arched roof and circular at the back
like a Chaitya. How it has been closed in front is not very clear (see
Woodcut 44), but probably by a structural wall with some sort of
window in the arch, as in the Chaitya caves. Outside are two
benched cells, one on each side the entrance, which is 17 feet 3 inches
wide, with a thin pilaster, 3 feet 5 inches broad on each side. Within
this it is 18 feet 2 inches wide and 32 feet 5 inches deep to the back
of the apse, and has 11 cells, all with benches or beds. Their doors
are surmounted by Chaitya-arches connected by a string-course of
" rail-pattern," and in line with the finials of the arches is another
similar course. The cell-doors have plain architraves, and outside
each architrave a pilaster, a portion of which has the arrises taken
off after the style of the earlier forms of pillars. In the walls
between the doors mock grated windows are carved. The whole
has been plastered, and probably painted, but it is now much
smoked,—some devotee having made his asylum in it and carved his
Patron divinity on the back wall, to which ptijd is done by the
villagers when they visit or pass the place.1
Beyond this, and under steps that lead up to the left, is a small
"e ' an<^ in the stream or nala beyond is a small open tank, 3| feet
y '. with sockets cut in the rock. A dozen yards farther is another
P am room, about 14 feet 8 inches square, with a door 7 feet wide.
. as also been carefully whitewashed by an over zealous official, so as to vul-
" entlrely and to obliterate all its more important features.
local official, under the idea of " cleaning " this fine cave, had the
whole beslobbered with whitewash, and obliterated all the paintings.
On five of the pillars on the right side, near the dagoba, are roses
and other Bauddha emblems—the dharmachakra, shield, trisula, lotus,
fte. {See Plate VII., figs. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 11.)
The dagoba has a broad fillet of " rail ornament" at the base
and top of the cylinder, from which rises a second and shorter
cylinder, also surrounded above with the rail ornament. The box
of the capital is small, and is surmounted by a very heavy capital,
in which stands the wooden shaft of the umbrella,— the top has dis-
appeared. This cave faces the east.
Leaving this and passing a well not far from the entrance, at a dis-
tance of eighteen yards, we reach a large unfinished cell, in the back of
which is a water-cistern. Close by this is the Yihara, Plate X., quite
unique in its kind, having an arched roof and circular at the back
like a Chaitya. How it has been closed in front is not very clear (see
Woodcut 44), but probably by a structural wall with some sort of
window in the arch, as in the Chaitya caves. Outside are two
benched cells, one on each side the entrance, which is 17 feet 3 inches
wide, with a thin pilaster, 3 feet 5 inches broad on each side. Within
this it is 18 feet 2 inches wide and 32 feet 5 inches deep to the back
of the apse, and has 11 cells, all with benches or beds. Their doors
are surmounted by Chaitya-arches connected by a string-course of
" rail-pattern," and in line with the finials of the arches is another
similar course. The cell-doors have plain architraves, and outside
each architrave a pilaster, a portion of which has the arrises taken
off after the style of the earlier forms of pillars. In the walls
between the doors mock grated windows are carved. The whole
has been plastered, and probably painted, but it is now much
smoked,—some devotee having made his asylum in it and carved his
Patron divinity on the back wall, to which ptijd is done by the
villagers when they visit or pass the place.1
Beyond this, and under steps that lead up to the left, is a small
"e ' an<^ in the stream or nala beyond is a small open tank, 3| feet
y '. with sockets cut in the rock. A dozen yards farther is another
P am room, about 14 feet 8 inches square, with a door 7 feet wide.
. as also been carefully whitewashed by an over zealous official, so as to vul-
" entlrely and to obliterate all its more important features.