DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0442
420 BRAHMANICAL CAVE-TEMPLES.
of Siva. The facade is 43| feet long, with a low parapet wall in
front, from behind which rise four square pillars with thin bracket
capitals. The roof is supported by six lines of three pillars, each
running from front to back,—one row on each side haying five
pillars, and running up the pradalcskina. There are thus twenty-six
pillars in all, including the four in front, all approximately square
except four immediately in front of the shrine, which stand on low
octagonal plinths, and have shafts with sixteen shallow flutes, then
a thick square member, and above it the capital, the lower portion
of it being a conoidal frustrum fluted to the neck, and the upper part
octagonal with a few simple members.1
The shrine is about 16 feet by 11 and 8 high, has four doors,
and contains a large linga in a salunlchd or altar, not 2 feet above
the level of the floor. The front of the shrine is carved with two
rude dwdrapdlas, each leaning on his club. The door has a narrow
architrave and slender pilaster on each side, outside which are two
huge snakes,—their tails are grasped by a human figure over the
door, and their human heads turned up below. On the basement,
on each side the steps, and below the dwdrwpdla, is an elephant in
bas-relief.
At the sides of the south door of the shrine are a pair of tall male
and female figures, the male in each case next to the door, and
leaning on a heavy club,—the female attended by a small dwarf.
At the north door are similar pairs of guardians, but without the
dwarfs.
The sides of the cave are covered with large sculptures, but m
many places so damaged as to be almost unintelligible. Along the
south or right wall they are generally Vaishnava, while those on the
north side are Saiva. All have been at one time covered with
plaster, and the appearance of the whole must have depends
greatly on the manner in which this was done. Beginning on the
south side,—just behind the pilaster, on the back of the front wall,
—are represented a number of men with clubs or swords, a&
engaged in an action, below are two elephants and several numa
figures some of them greatly defaced.
Beyond these and on the return of the wall are two figures wre**"
ling, and above them other two apparently similarly engaged.
1 See Third Arch. Report, Plate XIV.
of Siva. The facade is 43| feet long, with a low parapet wall in
front, from behind which rise four square pillars with thin bracket
capitals. The roof is supported by six lines of three pillars, each
running from front to back,—one row on each side haying five
pillars, and running up the pradalcskina. There are thus twenty-six
pillars in all, including the four in front, all approximately square
except four immediately in front of the shrine, which stand on low
octagonal plinths, and have shafts with sixteen shallow flutes, then
a thick square member, and above it the capital, the lower portion
of it being a conoidal frustrum fluted to the neck, and the upper part
octagonal with a few simple members.1
The shrine is about 16 feet by 11 and 8 high, has four doors,
and contains a large linga in a salunlchd or altar, not 2 feet above
the level of the floor. The front of the shrine is carved with two
rude dwdrapdlas, each leaning on his club. The door has a narrow
architrave and slender pilaster on each side, outside which are two
huge snakes,—their tails are grasped by a human figure over the
door, and their human heads turned up below. On the basement,
on each side the steps, and below the dwdrwpdla, is an elephant in
bas-relief.
At the sides of the south door of the shrine are a pair of tall male
and female figures, the male in each case next to the door, and
leaning on a heavy club,—the female attended by a small dwarf.
At the north door are similar pairs of guardians, but without the
dwarfs.
The sides of the cave are covered with large sculptures, but m
many places so damaged as to be almost unintelligible. Along the
south or right wall they are generally Vaishnava, while those on the
north side are Saiva. All have been at one time covered with
plaster, and the appearance of the whole must have depends
greatly on the manner in which this was done. Beginning on the
south side,—just behind the pilaster, on the back of the front wall,
—are represented a number of men with clubs or swords, a&
engaged in an action, below are two elephants and several numa
figures some of them greatly defaced.
Beyond these and on the return of the wall are two figures wre**"
ling, and above them other two apparently similarly engaged.
1 See Third Arch. Report, Plate XIV.