DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0338
316 LATER BUDDHIST CAVE-TEMPLES.
24 feet 4 inches high. But whereas the former two were perfectly
plain, this is elaborately carved throughout. Besides the two in
front, the nave has 15 columns 11 feet high. These pillars are
square at the base, which is 2 feet 7 inches high with small figures
on the corners; then they have an octagonal belt about a foot
broad, above which the shaft is circular, and has two belts of
elaborate tracery, the intervals being in some cases plain and in
others fluted with perpendicular or spiral flutes (see Plate XXXVIII.,
fig. 2) ; above the shaft is a deep torus of slight projection between
two fillets, wrought with a leaf pattern, and over this again is
a square tile, supporting a bracket capital, richly sculptured with
a Buddha in the centre and elephants or sardulas with two riders
or flying figures, on the brackets. The architrave consists of two
plain narrow fascias. The whole entablature is 5 feet deep, and the
frieze occupying exactly the same position as a triforium would
in a Christian church, is divided into compartments by rich bands
of arabesque, and in the compartments are figures of Buddha—
alternately sitting cross-legged and standing (Plate XXXVI.) The
dome rises 8 feet 4 inches, whilst the width of the nave is only
12 feet 2 inches, so that the arch is higher than a semicircle, and
is ribbed in stone. Between the feet of every fourth and fifth rib
is carved a tiger's head.
The Ghaitya or ddgoba is a composite one ; it has a low pedestal,
on the front of which stand two demi-columns, supporting an arch
containing a basso-rilievo figure of Buddha. On the under part of
the capital above the dome there is also a small sculpture ot
Buddha, and over the chudamani, or four fillets of the capital, are
three umbrellas in stone, one above another, each upheld on four
sides by small figures. These may be symbolic of Buddha—" the
bearer of the triple canopy—the canopy of the heavenly host, the
canopy of mortals, and the canopy of eternal emancipation," or they
are typical of the hhuvanas or heavens of the celestial Bodhisattwas
and Buddhas.
The roof of the aisles is flat and has been painted, chiefly with
ornamental flower scrolls, Buddhas, and Ghaityas, and on the wa s
there have been paintings of Buddha—generally with attendan »,
the upper two rows sitting, and in the third mostly standing, bu
with aureoles behind the heads.
There is but one entrance to this cave. The whole is in exce <
24 feet 4 inches high. But whereas the former two were perfectly
plain, this is elaborately carved throughout. Besides the two in
front, the nave has 15 columns 11 feet high. These pillars are
square at the base, which is 2 feet 7 inches high with small figures
on the corners; then they have an octagonal belt about a foot
broad, above which the shaft is circular, and has two belts of
elaborate tracery, the intervals being in some cases plain and in
others fluted with perpendicular or spiral flutes (see Plate XXXVIII.,
fig. 2) ; above the shaft is a deep torus of slight projection between
two fillets, wrought with a leaf pattern, and over this again is
a square tile, supporting a bracket capital, richly sculptured with
a Buddha in the centre and elephants or sardulas with two riders
or flying figures, on the brackets. The architrave consists of two
plain narrow fascias. The whole entablature is 5 feet deep, and the
frieze occupying exactly the same position as a triforium would
in a Christian church, is divided into compartments by rich bands
of arabesque, and in the compartments are figures of Buddha—
alternately sitting cross-legged and standing (Plate XXXVI.) The
dome rises 8 feet 4 inches, whilst the width of the nave is only
12 feet 2 inches, so that the arch is higher than a semicircle, and
is ribbed in stone. Between the feet of every fourth and fifth rib
is carved a tiger's head.
The Ghaitya or ddgoba is a composite one ; it has a low pedestal,
on the front of which stand two demi-columns, supporting an arch
containing a basso-rilievo figure of Buddha. On the under part of
the capital above the dome there is also a small sculpture ot
Buddha, and over the chudamani, or four fillets of the capital, are
three umbrellas in stone, one above another, each upheld on four
sides by small figures. These may be symbolic of Buddha—" the
bearer of the triple canopy—the canopy of the heavenly host, the
canopy of mortals, and the canopy of eternal emancipation," or they
are typical of the hhuvanas or heavens of the celestial Bodhisattwas
and Buddhas.
The roof of the aisles is flat and has been painted, chiefly with
ornamental flower scrolls, Buddhas, and Ghaityas, and on the wa s
there have been paintings of Buddha—generally with attendan »,
the upper two rows sitting, and in the third mostly standing, bu
with aureoles behind the heads.
There is but one entrance to this cave. The whole is in exce <