DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0445
KARUSA CAVES. 423
must be very nearly of the same age. It may consequently be safely
assigned to the latter half of the sixth century, though from the
coarseness of the materials out of which it is excavated, it is difficult
to ascertain its date with any great precision.
A little to the north of Mahadeva's cave is an unfinished cell, and
at twenty yards from the same is a cave, locally knoAvn as Lakola's.
Its entrance is reached up six or more steps. It has four pillars in
front and twenty-four inside, about 2 feet square. The cave
measures from 41 to 49 feet wide by about 58 feet deep to the back
of the pradalcshina and about 10 feet 4 inches high. In front is a
low half screen wall with a descent of four steps down into the cave.
In the cell on the south side are five female figures on the back
wall, a male and female on the left wall, and Granapati and a male
on the right, all dancing. One of those on the back wall has a
horse's head. In the back cell on the same side is a male figure
with two arms, but defaced.
In the shrine is a four-armed figure of Vishnu, 6 feet high, and
formed of a different and more compact stone than the rock in
which the cave is cut. In his left hand he has the cholera and
hnkha, and in the right a huge club and some round object. He
wears a high cap, with the radiated broad frill like a nimbus behind.
A stair leads down from the north side of this cave into the next,
m which are four pillars with corresponding pilasters, but the
pillars are much eaten away. It measures about 21 feet wide by 23
feet deep, and has a small shrine in the back wall. On each side
the outer door has been a window in latticed stone work, now
broken away.
Above this cave are two cells, one with Ganesa roughly carved on
the Wah\ and a small vedi or altar in a shrine behind it.
Between this last and the next an elephant is rudely carved on a
Projecting rock, but apparently has never been finished. The next
eave Was probably a large one, but is entirely ruined by the fall of
ie rock which formed part of the roof of it. It was, perhaps,
ever finished, as the back wall is very irregular.
io the north of this again is a low-roofed cave, with two ootago-
a pillars in. the hall, somewhat of the pattern of those in front of
J* shrine in Mahadeva's cave. The hall is about 17 feet wide by
ieet deep, but the pradaksMna extends to 34 feet 10 inches in
3 u behind the shrine, the cave being irregular in form. The
must be very nearly of the same age. It may consequently be safely
assigned to the latter half of the sixth century, though from the
coarseness of the materials out of which it is excavated, it is difficult
to ascertain its date with any great precision.
A little to the north of Mahadeva's cave is an unfinished cell, and
at twenty yards from the same is a cave, locally knoAvn as Lakola's.
Its entrance is reached up six or more steps. It has four pillars in
front and twenty-four inside, about 2 feet square. The cave
measures from 41 to 49 feet wide by about 58 feet deep to the back
of the pradalcshina and about 10 feet 4 inches high. In front is a
low half screen wall with a descent of four steps down into the cave.
In the cell on the south side are five female figures on the back
wall, a male and female on the left wall, and Granapati and a male
on the right, all dancing. One of those on the back wall has a
horse's head. In the back cell on the same side is a male figure
with two arms, but defaced.
In the shrine is a four-armed figure of Vishnu, 6 feet high, and
formed of a different and more compact stone than the rock in
which the cave is cut. In his left hand he has the cholera and
hnkha, and in the right a huge club and some round object. He
wears a high cap, with the radiated broad frill like a nimbus behind.
A stair leads down from the north side of this cave into the next,
m which are four pillars with corresponding pilasters, but the
pillars are much eaten away. It measures about 21 feet wide by 23
feet deep, and has a small shrine in the back wall. On each side
the outer door has been a window in latticed stone work, now
broken away.
Above this cave are two cells, one with Ganesa roughly carved on
the Wah\ and a small vedi or altar in a shrine behind it.
Between this last and the next an elephant is rudely carved on a
Projecting rock, but apparently has never been finished. The next
eave Was probably a large one, but is entirely ruined by the fall of
ie rock which formed part of the roof of it. It was, perhaps,
ever finished, as the back wall is very irregular.
io the north of this again is a low-roofed cave, with two ootago-
a pillars in. the hall, somewhat of the pattern of those in front of
J* shrine in Mahadeva's cave. The hall is about 17 feet wide by
ieet deep, but the pradaksMna extends to 34 feet 10 inches in
3 u behind the shrine, the cave being irregular in form. The