DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0518
496 JAINA CAVE-TEMPLES.
be far distant in date. Except the Dhamnar Temple, -which belongs
certainly to the eighth century, no other temples in pits are known to
exist in India. During the partial excavations some loose images
were found, one of them bearing the date Saka 1169, or a.d. 1247,
which may, however, be considered as much too modern to belong
to the age when this temple was first excavated.
Near to this is another excavation also unfinished and filled with
earth to the capitals of the pillars. The porch is hewn out entirely
on three sides from the rock, and stands in a deep excavated pit, like
a structural work against a wall of rock. The pillars have " com-
pressed-cushion " capitals, and have been carefully chiselled; those
of the porch stand on a screen supported by elephants, and with
water-jars in compartments as ornamention. A large portion of
the earth m front has been removed, but inside it is left nearly
full.
The Indra Sabha.
The Indra Sabha, or " Court of Indra " so called, is rather the group
of Jaina caves than a single one and its appendages ; in reality two
double-storeyed caves and a single one, with their wings and subordi-
nate chapels, &c. The first, however, is pretty well known to Euro-
peans as the Indra Sabha, and the second as the Jagannath Sabha.
The court of the Indra Sabha proper is entered through a screen
wall facing the south. Plate LXXXYII. Outside this on the east
side is a chapel with two pillars in front, and two more at the back.
The walls are sculptured with Parswanatha on the north end, nude,—
as in all cases'in these caves,—with a seven-hooded snake overshadow-
ing him, a female attendant with a snake-hood bearing a clihatn or
umbrella over him. (See Plate LXXXVI.) Below the chhatri-
bearer are two young naganis, and above a male figure riding on a
buffalo, and above gandharvas and a figure playing on a concn
shell. On the right side "of the sculpture is the demon Kamatha
riding on a lion, and below him two worshippers, apparently a ma e
and female. The whole scene has a considerable likeness to tli
temptation of Mara, depicted in Plate LI., but even wilder in design,
and very much inferior in execution. On the south end is Gromata,
or Gotama Swami, also nude, with creepers twining round his km >n
with female attendants and worshippers, and in the shrine we m11
be far distant in date. Except the Dhamnar Temple, -which belongs
certainly to the eighth century, no other temples in pits are known to
exist in India. During the partial excavations some loose images
were found, one of them bearing the date Saka 1169, or a.d. 1247,
which may, however, be considered as much too modern to belong
to the age when this temple was first excavated.
Near to this is another excavation also unfinished and filled with
earth to the capitals of the pillars. The porch is hewn out entirely
on three sides from the rock, and stands in a deep excavated pit, like
a structural work against a wall of rock. The pillars have " com-
pressed-cushion " capitals, and have been carefully chiselled; those
of the porch stand on a screen supported by elephants, and with
water-jars in compartments as ornamention. A large portion of
the earth m front has been removed, but inside it is left nearly
full.
The Indra Sabha.
The Indra Sabha, or " Court of Indra " so called, is rather the group
of Jaina caves than a single one and its appendages ; in reality two
double-storeyed caves and a single one, with their wings and subordi-
nate chapels, &c. The first, however, is pretty well known to Euro-
peans as the Indra Sabha, and the second as the Jagannath Sabha.
The court of the Indra Sabha proper is entered through a screen
wall facing the south. Plate LXXXYII. Outside this on the east
side is a chapel with two pillars in front, and two more at the back.
The walls are sculptured with Parswanatha on the north end, nude,—
as in all cases'in these caves,—with a seven-hooded snake overshadow-
ing him, a female attendant with a snake-hood bearing a clihatn or
umbrella over him. (See Plate LXXXVI.) Below the chhatri-
bearer are two young naganis, and above a male figure riding on a
buffalo, and above gandharvas and a figure playing on a concn
shell. On the right side "of the sculpture is the demon Kamatha
riding on a lion, and below him two worshippers, apparently a ma e
and female. The whole scene has a considerable likeness to tli
temptation of Mara, depicted in Plate LI., but even wilder in design,
and very much inferior in execution. On the south end is Gromata,
or Gotama Swami, also nude, with creepers twining round his km >n
with female attendants and worshippers, and in the shrine we m11