DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0452
430 BHAHMANICAL CAVE-TEMPLES.
many fragments of sculpture of all ages, is a modern hollow copper
lihga with a human face in front, a snake coiled round it, and the
seven hoods raised over it.
On the south wall of the cave are the Matras, eight female
divinities, with Ganesa at their head, and on the side of the pilaster
next him a tall naked figure, probably Kala. Varahi, the third,
has a boar's head; each has her cognizance below and a niwhis
behind her head; they are seated under the foliage of five trees;
and beyond the last is a form of Siva. The work is of a very inferior
sort. On the deep architrave over the inner pair of pillars in the
centre is the common sculpture of Lakshmi and the elephants pouring
water over her, and to the left some other figures.
At the north end is a chapel with two pillars in front, and on the
back wall a large sculpture of Bhairava and some snake figures.
Outside, at each end of the facade, is a tall standing female figure
with lofty headdress, and holding an opening bud in one hand.
In a recess to the north of the shrine is a coarsely hewn out
bull. In the back are three small recesses, and in the south end
a raised platform with a seat at the back, at the end of which a
hole has been made into a large cistern, the entrance to which is
a dozen yards to the south of the cave. Between the great cave
and the cistern and some way up the face of the rock, approached
by a risky stair, is a small cave, low in the roof, with a built front,
the original having given way. On each side of this is a sort 01
cell with an opening into it, about 2 or 2J feet from the floor. In
the left front corner is a trap-door into some sunk apartment
partially filled up.
many fragments of sculpture of all ages, is a modern hollow copper
lihga with a human face in front, a snake coiled round it, and the
seven hoods raised over it.
On the south wall of the cave are the Matras, eight female
divinities, with Ganesa at their head, and on the side of the pilaster
next him a tall naked figure, probably Kala. Varahi, the third,
has a boar's head; each has her cognizance below and a niwhis
behind her head; they are seated under the foliage of five trees;
and beyond the last is a form of Siva. The work is of a very inferior
sort. On the deep architrave over the inner pair of pillars in the
centre is the common sculpture of Lakshmi and the elephants pouring
water over her, and to the left some other figures.
At the north end is a chapel with two pillars in front, and on the
back wall a large sculpture of Bhairava and some snake figures.
Outside, at each end of the facade, is a tall standing female figure
with lofty headdress, and holding an opening bud in one hand.
In a recess to the north of the shrine is a coarsely hewn out
bull. In the back are three small recesses, and in the south end
a raised platform with a seat at the back, at the end of which a
hole has been made into a large cistern, the entrance to which is
a dozen yards to the south of the cave. Between the great cave
and the cistern and some way up the face of the rock, approached
by a risky stair, is a small cave, low in the roof, with a built front,
the original having given way. On each side of this is a sort 01
cell with an opening into it, about 2 or 2J feet from the floor. In
the left front corner is a trap-door into some sunk apartment
partially filled up.