DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0411
AURANGABAD CAVES. 389
higher up in the rock than the next two. It also combines the charac-
teristics of a Vihara and a temple, consisting of a shrine with its
antechamber in the centre, surrounded by a passage or pradahshind,
with four cells in each side and two in the back—the latter contain-
ing images of Buddha. The front has been supported by four
square pillars, of which little more than the bases are left. In
front of the antechamber are two square pillars and their corre-
sponding pilasters, with bracket capitals, standing on a step about
15 in. high. On each side the shrine door is a tall dwdrpdla as in
Xo. II., each accompanied by a smaller female worshipper on the
side next the door. By the door jambs stand small male figures,
each with the snake-hood canopy. Inside is a colossal Buddha
attended by two c/ta?m-bearers, 7 ft. high. Here, again, in the
front corners of the shrine are worshippers, but not so large as in
Cave III.,—five male figures on the right and five females on the left
of the entrance.
There are traces of painting left on the roof of the front aisle of
this cave in the same style as is used in the roofs of the verandahs
at Ajanta, and probably of about the same age.
Cave VII. is (after No. III.) the most interesting of this series.
The front hall is about 14 ft. deep by 34 ft. in length, with four
square pillars and their pilasters in front, and a chapel raised a few
steps and cut off by two smaller pillars at each end. From the plan
("late LXV.) it will be observed the arrangements of this cave make
a still further step in advance towards those afterwards found in
wahmanical temples. The cells containing the image of Buddha is
boldly advanced into the centre of the cave, and with a pimdakshind,
0r procession path, round it, so that it can be circumambulated by
worshippers, as the Dagoba was in the earlier caves. The two cells
at ™e ends of the verandah, and the two at the back of the cave, are
'led with sculpture, but there are still six remaining, which are
stable for the abode of monks. Notwithstanding this, from the
"■angement of its plan and the character of its sculptures, it may
e considered one of the very latest caves here, and probably con-
temporary with the Do Tal or Tin Tal Oaves at Elura, and conse-
1 lently as excavated after the middle of the seventh century,
n this cave we have the Mahdydna mythology full-blown, with a
aeon rivalling the ordinary Brahmanical one, but differing from it
'emarkable way. The hideous and terrible Rudra, Bhairava, and
higher up in the rock than the next two. It also combines the charac-
teristics of a Vihara and a temple, consisting of a shrine with its
antechamber in the centre, surrounded by a passage or pradahshind,
with four cells in each side and two in the back—the latter contain-
ing images of Buddha. The front has been supported by four
square pillars, of which little more than the bases are left. In
front of the antechamber are two square pillars and their corre-
sponding pilasters, with bracket capitals, standing on a step about
15 in. high. On each side the shrine door is a tall dwdrpdla as in
Xo. II., each accompanied by a smaller female worshipper on the
side next the door. By the door jambs stand small male figures,
each with the snake-hood canopy. Inside is a colossal Buddha
attended by two c/ta?m-bearers, 7 ft. high. Here, again, in the
front corners of the shrine are worshippers, but not so large as in
Cave III.,—five male figures on the right and five females on the left
of the entrance.
There are traces of painting left on the roof of the front aisle of
this cave in the same style as is used in the roofs of the verandahs
at Ajanta, and probably of about the same age.
Cave VII. is (after No. III.) the most interesting of this series.
The front hall is about 14 ft. deep by 34 ft. in length, with four
square pillars and their pilasters in front, and a chapel raised a few
steps and cut off by two smaller pillars at each end. From the plan
("late LXV.) it will be observed the arrangements of this cave make
a still further step in advance towards those afterwards found in
wahmanical temples. The cells containing the image of Buddha is
boldly advanced into the centre of the cave, and with a pimdakshind,
0r procession path, round it, so that it can be circumambulated by
worshippers, as the Dagoba was in the earlier caves. The two cells
at ™e ends of the verandah, and the two at the back of the cave, are
'led with sculpture, but there are still six remaining, which are
stable for the abode of monks. Notwithstanding this, from the
"■angement of its plan and the character of its sculptures, it may
e considered one of the very latest caves here, and probably con-
temporary with the Do Tal or Tin Tal Oaves at Elura, and conse-
1 lently as excavated after the middle of the seventh century,
n this cave we have the Mahdydna mythology full-blown, with a
aeon rivalling the ordinary Brahmanical one, but differing from it
'emarkable way. The hideous and terrible Rudra, Bhairava, and