DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0271
JUNNAR. 249
tigers, and other animals appear on the capitals in one or two caves,
the sacred tree and some other symbolical figures in others.
Although none of these caves can compare either in magnificence
or interest with the Chaityas of Bhaja or Karle, or the viharas of
Nfasik, their forms are still full of instruction to the student of cave
architecture. The group comprises specimens of almost every
variety of rock-cut temples, and several forms not found elsewhere,
and though plainer than most of those executed afterwards are still
not devoid of ornament. They form, in fact, an intermediate step
between the puritanical plainness of the Kathiawar groups and those
of the age that succeeded them.
It is not easy to speak with any great precision with regard to
the age of this group. They certainly, however, all belong to the
first great division of Buddhist caves. Some of the earliest as the
Manmodi Chaitya, for instance, may be 100 or 150 B.C.; the other
chaitya on the Sulaimani hill may, on the contrary, be 100 or 150 a.d.;
and between those two extremes the whole may be arranged from
their styles without any material error being committed in so
doing.
The Sivaneri hill-fort, the birth-place of the Maratha champion
Sivaji Bhohsle, lies to the south-west of the town, and going well to
the south, along the east face of the hill, we reach several cells in
the lower scarp, and then a cave which has originally had two
columns with corresponding pilasters in front of a narrow verandah.
The cave has a wide door, and is a large square cell, containing the
cylindrical base of a dagoba, coarsely hewn out. Can the top or
garbha have been of wood or brick ? On the sides of the scarp to
the north of these excavations are several water-cisterns.
The ascent of the hill above this is peculiarly steep and difficult
of ascent. On attaining the base of the upper scarp, at the south
end, there is a cave of two storeys with a stair in the north end
leading to the upper floor. It has been a small hall, of which the
front is now entirely gone, except one pilaster at the south end. In
the south wall is a small recess roughly excavated, and over it, near
5 foof, is an inscription, in one line, of deeply incised letters. At
e Deginning of it the same shield ornament occurs which marks the
commencement of the Aira inscription on the Hathi Gumpha at Katak
'"> PP- 66 and 74, see also woodcut No. 15), and which occurs so
tigers, and other animals appear on the capitals in one or two caves,
the sacred tree and some other symbolical figures in others.
Although none of these caves can compare either in magnificence
or interest with the Chaityas of Bhaja or Karle, or the viharas of
Nfasik, their forms are still full of instruction to the student of cave
architecture. The group comprises specimens of almost every
variety of rock-cut temples, and several forms not found elsewhere,
and though plainer than most of those executed afterwards are still
not devoid of ornament. They form, in fact, an intermediate step
between the puritanical plainness of the Kathiawar groups and those
of the age that succeeded them.
It is not easy to speak with any great precision with regard to
the age of this group. They certainly, however, all belong to the
first great division of Buddhist caves. Some of the earliest as the
Manmodi Chaitya, for instance, may be 100 or 150 B.C.; the other
chaitya on the Sulaimani hill may, on the contrary, be 100 or 150 a.d.;
and between those two extremes the whole may be arranged from
their styles without any material error being committed in so
doing.
The Sivaneri hill-fort, the birth-place of the Maratha champion
Sivaji Bhohsle, lies to the south-west of the town, and going well to
the south, along the east face of the hill, we reach several cells in
the lower scarp, and then a cave which has originally had two
columns with corresponding pilasters in front of a narrow verandah.
The cave has a wide door, and is a large square cell, containing the
cylindrical base of a dagoba, coarsely hewn out. Can the top or
garbha have been of wood or brick ? On the sides of the scarp to
the north of these excavations are several water-cisterns.
The ascent of the hill above this is peculiarly steep and difficult
of ascent. On attaining the base of the upper scarp, at the south
end, there is a cave of two storeys with a stair in the north end
leading to the upper floor. It has been a small hall, of which the
front is now entirely gone, except one pilaster at the south end. In
the south wall is a small recess roughly excavated, and over it, near
5 foof, is an inscription, in one line, of deeply incised letters. At
e Deginning of it the same shield ornament occurs which marks the
commencement of the Aira inscription on the Hathi Gumpha at Katak
'"> PP- 66 and 74, see also woodcut No. 15), and which occurs so