DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0332
310
LATER BUDDHIST CAVE-TEMPLES.
There is an inscription at the left end of the verandah, outside, of
about the same length as that on Cave XVI. Dr. Bhau Daji's
translation of it gives us the names of certain princes of Asmaka,—
Dhritarashtra;
Hari Samba, his son ;
Kshitipala Sauri Samba, his son ;
Upendragupta; and
Skacha, his son.
Of these we know nothing more ; they may have been petty rajas
of the sixth century.
This cave is sometimes called the Zodiac cave, from its containing
at the left end of the verandah a circular piece of painting, divided
into eight compartments by radii from the centre. This lias been
much injured by visitors attempting to remove parts from the wall.1
The compartments have been filled with human figures, variously
employed; and it may possibly have been a saugata mandala or
mystic circle representative of existence. In one a man is repre-
sented alone ; in another lie
is accompanied by animals;
in the next utensils are in-
troduced ; then buildings,
streets, &c, with numerous
men and women variously
engaged. The rim of this
circle is divided into sixteen
compartments containing
symbols, and is upheld ty
a pair of long green arm*
To the left of it, on the re-
turn of the front wall, *
painted a large yellow spotty
No. 58. Figures flying through the air. snake bent in a senneirele
with rocks on the outer side, and many figures on the other carrfi g
various sorts of burdens.2 ___.
1 In 1828 Lieutenant Blake counted 73 figures in three divisions of this slue ,
ing from 5 to 7 inches in height, aid apparently only about a third at " ^
wanting ; Dr. Bird is believed to have removed some of the figures from it, am »
fragment now lemains. ., ,i,P
xhs, w|h m
2 In this a representation of the snahe-hke. stream hemmed in by
roct
LATER BUDDHIST CAVE-TEMPLES.
There is an inscription at the left end of the verandah, outside, of
about the same length as that on Cave XVI. Dr. Bhau Daji's
translation of it gives us the names of certain princes of Asmaka,—
Dhritarashtra;
Hari Samba, his son ;
Kshitipala Sauri Samba, his son ;
Upendragupta; and
Skacha, his son.
Of these we know nothing more ; they may have been petty rajas
of the sixth century.
This cave is sometimes called the Zodiac cave, from its containing
at the left end of the verandah a circular piece of painting, divided
into eight compartments by radii from the centre. This lias been
much injured by visitors attempting to remove parts from the wall.1
The compartments have been filled with human figures, variously
employed; and it may possibly have been a saugata mandala or
mystic circle representative of existence. In one a man is repre-
sented alone ; in another lie
is accompanied by animals;
in the next utensils are in-
troduced ; then buildings,
streets, &c, with numerous
men and women variously
engaged. The rim of this
circle is divided into sixteen
compartments containing
symbols, and is upheld ty
a pair of long green arm*
To the left of it, on the re-
turn of the front wall, *
painted a large yellow spotty
No. 58. Figures flying through the air. snake bent in a senneirele
with rocks on the outer side, and many figures on the other carrfi g
various sorts of burdens.2 ___.
1 In 1828 Lieutenant Blake counted 73 figures in three divisions of this slue ,
ing from 5 to 7 inches in height, aid apparently only about a third at " ^
wanting ; Dr. Bird is believed to have removed some of the figures from it, am »
fragment now lemains. ., ,i,P
xhs, w|h m
2 In this a representation of the snahe-hke. stream hemmed in by
roct