DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0294
272 EARLY BUDDHIST CAVE-TEMPLES.
of metallic images; a cell has been attempted at each end of this,
but one of them has entered the aisle of the Chaitya-eave just below,
and the work has then been stopped. On the right side are four
cells without benches. The verandah is somewhat peculiar, and it
would seem that, at first, a much smaller cave was projected, or
else by some mistake it was begun too far to the left. It is ascended
by half a-dozen steps in front between the two central octagonal
pillars with very short shafts, and large bases and capitals, the latter
surmounted by elephants and their riders, and the frieze above
carved with the plain " rail pattern." They stand on a panelled
base; but the landing between the central pair is opposite the left
window in the back wall of the verandah, to the right of which is the
principal door, but to the left of the window is also a narrower one.
The verandah has then been prolonged to the west, and another door
broken out to the outside beyond the right attached pillar; at this
end of the verandah also is an unfinished cell. An inscription* in
three and a half lines tells us that it was the work of " Indragnidatta,
the son of Dharmadeva, a Northerner, a Yavanaka (or Greek), a
native of Dattamitri (in the Sauvira country), as a shrine for a
Chaitya in Mount Trirasmi." But inscriptions like this do not help
us much as to dates, and all we can say of this cave is that it is
evidently much later than the Chaitya next it, the verandah a little
later in style than the Nahapana Cave No. VIII., and the interior
probably executed at a much later date, or about the early part of
the sixth century a.d., when image-worship had gained full ascen-
dancy among the Mahayana Buddhists.
The next, Cave No. XII., the only Chaitya cave of the group,
belongs to a very much earlier date ; and though none of the three
inscriptions2 on it supplies certain information on this point, yet
the name of Maha Hakusiri, found in one of them, helps us to
relegate it to some period about or before the Christian era. tfle
carving, however, over the door and the pilasters with anima
capitals on the f acade on each side the great arch, and the inser-
tion of the hooded snake, will, on comparison with the facades
at Bedsa and Karle, tend to lead us to an early date for this
cave; the interior is severely simple, and there are hardly sumcien
1 Trans. Cong. Orient., 1S74, p. 345, No. II. ,
2 Trans. Cong. Orient., 1874, p. 343, Nos. 8, 9, 10. Prof. Bbaudarkw '
not attempted the mutilated inscription outside No. 7.
of metallic images; a cell has been attempted at each end of this,
but one of them has entered the aisle of the Chaitya-eave just below,
and the work has then been stopped. On the right side are four
cells without benches. The verandah is somewhat peculiar, and it
would seem that, at first, a much smaller cave was projected, or
else by some mistake it was begun too far to the left. It is ascended
by half a-dozen steps in front between the two central octagonal
pillars with very short shafts, and large bases and capitals, the latter
surmounted by elephants and their riders, and the frieze above
carved with the plain " rail pattern." They stand on a panelled
base; but the landing between the central pair is opposite the left
window in the back wall of the verandah, to the right of which is the
principal door, but to the left of the window is also a narrower one.
The verandah has then been prolonged to the west, and another door
broken out to the outside beyond the right attached pillar; at this
end of the verandah also is an unfinished cell. An inscription* in
three and a half lines tells us that it was the work of " Indragnidatta,
the son of Dharmadeva, a Northerner, a Yavanaka (or Greek), a
native of Dattamitri (in the Sauvira country), as a shrine for a
Chaitya in Mount Trirasmi." But inscriptions like this do not help
us much as to dates, and all we can say of this cave is that it is
evidently much later than the Chaitya next it, the verandah a little
later in style than the Nahapana Cave No. VIII., and the interior
probably executed at a much later date, or about the early part of
the sixth century a.d., when image-worship had gained full ascen-
dancy among the Mahayana Buddhists.
The next, Cave No. XII., the only Chaitya cave of the group,
belongs to a very much earlier date ; and though none of the three
inscriptions2 on it supplies certain information on this point, yet
the name of Maha Hakusiri, found in one of them, helps us to
relegate it to some period about or before the Christian era. tfle
carving, however, over the door and the pilasters with anima
capitals on the f acade on each side the great arch, and the inser-
tion of the hooded snake, will, on comparison with the facades
at Bedsa and Karle, tend to lead us to an early date for this
cave; the interior is severely simple, and there are hardly sumcien
1 Trans. Cong. Orient., 1S74, p. 345, No. II. ,
2 Trans. Cong. Orient., 1874, p. 343, Nos. 8, 9, 10. Prof. Bbaudarkw '
not attempted the mutilated inscription outside No. 7.