DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0440
418 BKAHMANICAL CAVE-TEMPLES.
wide by 13 feet 2 inches to 14 feet 8 inches deep, much filled up,
and with a cell or plain shrine at the back, but nothing to indicate
to what sect it belonged. Above it is another small monolithic
temple.
About six yards to the north of this is a second, 23 to 25^ feet
wide by 16f feet deep, with a cell in the north wall, of very irregular
shape. In the south wall is also the commencement of a cell.
None of the walls are straight or perpendicular. It contains a very
rude image of a Jina or Tirthahhara, perfectly featureless, seated
with his legs crossed under him as usual.
Beyond this are remains of cuttings in the rocks, as if for open
courts, and perhaps a well, and a stair leading to the top of the hill;
then, thirty yards from the last, we reach one of the largest of the
series;—a double cave of two storeys, very irregular in plan, and
roughly about 50 feet deep by 70 feet wide, divided into two halls
above and below. Close to the front of the north half of the care
stands an octagonal pillar, the mouldings about the top of which,
however, are almost effaced. In the top is a hole about a foot
square and the same in depth, but whether it held the trihda of Siva
or a cresset for fire, is left to conjecture. In the floor of the north
side of the excavation there have been sixteen square pillars of rough
form, with rudely blocked out bracket capitals; but, except seven,
all are rotted away. At the back is the shrine standing forward
into the cave, and from the way the excavations terminate on each
side of it, it would seem that it was intended to carry the
pradahhina quite round it. The shrine is an oblong cell with
sculptures on the back wall, which are much obliterated. The
central figure has lost his head, but he had a battle-axe or parak w
the upper right hand, a small trihda or trident in the upper left
while the lower hands seemingly rested against the thighs. -
this is distinctly enough applicable to Siva. The right side figure
appears to have been Vishnu : while the left-hand one had the three
faces usually assigned to Brahma.
The floor of the south half of this cave is about 6 feet 5 inches
below that of the other hall. In front it has a screen with two
pillars supporting a massive lintel; but, inside this, what may
termed the verandah, it is open above, and has a roughly fashion*^
dwdrpdh or door-keeper on the south end and an unfinished oitf
the other. A descent of seven steps leads down to the floor o
wide by 13 feet 2 inches to 14 feet 8 inches deep, much filled up,
and with a cell or plain shrine at the back, but nothing to indicate
to what sect it belonged. Above it is another small monolithic
temple.
About six yards to the north of this is a second, 23 to 25^ feet
wide by 16f feet deep, with a cell in the north wall, of very irregular
shape. In the south wall is also the commencement of a cell.
None of the walls are straight or perpendicular. It contains a very
rude image of a Jina or Tirthahhara, perfectly featureless, seated
with his legs crossed under him as usual.
Beyond this are remains of cuttings in the rocks, as if for open
courts, and perhaps a well, and a stair leading to the top of the hill;
then, thirty yards from the last, we reach one of the largest of the
series;—a double cave of two storeys, very irregular in plan, and
roughly about 50 feet deep by 70 feet wide, divided into two halls
above and below. Close to the front of the north half of the care
stands an octagonal pillar, the mouldings about the top of which,
however, are almost effaced. In the top is a hole about a foot
square and the same in depth, but whether it held the trihda of Siva
or a cresset for fire, is left to conjecture. In the floor of the north
side of the excavation there have been sixteen square pillars of rough
form, with rudely blocked out bracket capitals; but, except seven,
all are rotted away. At the back is the shrine standing forward
into the cave, and from the way the excavations terminate on each
side of it, it would seem that it was intended to carry the
pradahhina quite round it. The shrine is an oblong cell with
sculptures on the back wall, which are much obliterated. The
central figure has lost his head, but he had a battle-axe or parak w
the upper right hand, a small trihda or trident in the upper left
while the lower hands seemingly rested against the thighs. -
this is distinctly enough applicable to Siva. The right side figure
appears to have been Vishnu : while the left-hand one had the three
faces usually assigned to Brahma.
The floor of the south half of this cave is about 6 feet 5 inches
below that of the other hall. In front it has a screen with two
pillars supporting a massive lintel; but, inside this, what may
termed the verandah, it is open above, and has a roughly fashion*^
dwdrpdh or door-keeper on the south end and an unfinished oitf
the other. A descent of seven steps leads down to the floor o