DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0525
503
CHAPTER IV.
JAINA CAVE-TEMPLES.
DHAEASINVA.
Dharasinva is a town on the brow of the ghat that forms the
western border of the Nizam's territories, and about thirty-seven
miles north of Solapur on the railway from Poona to Madras.
About two miles north-east from this town, in the north side of a
ravine facing the south, is a small group of Jaina caves, with some
other unfinished ones on the opposite side, some of which seem to
have been intended as Vaishnava temples.
The Jaina caves are now almost deserted by the sect, and a
substantial temple has been erected to Mahadeva just in front of
them, which at first, at least, must have acted as a decoy.
The caves are excavated in a soft conglomerate rock of very
unequal texture, containing haematite, and they are greatly dilapidated
through its decay.
At the west end is a small unfinished cave, but the next has been
a large and handsome cave with a verandah 78 feet long by 10 feet 4
aches wide, the whole fagade of which, however, has fallen. Judging
from the pilaster left at one end, it must have been supported by
Passive square pillars with bracket capitals richly carved. Above
we pillars was a frieze sculptured with Tirthahkaras, and " chaitya-
^ndow " ornaments. Five doors apparently led into the hall 82 feet
^p and from 79 to 85 feet wide, the roof supported by thirty-two
columns arranged in a square of twenty and an inner one of twelve
^uare columns (Plate XCIIL), with bracket capitals and some of
em "with floriated ornamentation. Four in front of the shrine,
^ever, have round shafts, and " compressed-cushion capitals."
1 und. this hall are twenty-two cells, and the shrine in the back.
lmage i8 that of Parswanatha Seshphani with the seven hoods
snake, each head with a small crown on it, and seated on a
3 m the jhana mudnrd. Hanging from the seat is carved the
CHAPTER IV.
JAINA CAVE-TEMPLES.
DHAEASINVA.
Dharasinva is a town on the brow of the ghat that forms the
western border of the Nizam's territories, and about thirty-seven
miles north of Solapur on the railway from Poona to Madras.
About two miles north-east from this town, in the north side of a
ravine facing the south, is a small group of Jaina caves, with some
other unfinished ones on the opposite side, some of which seem to
have been intended as Vaishnava temples.
The Jaina caves are now almost deserted by the sect, and a
substantial temple has been erected to Mahadeva just in front of
them, which at first, at least, must have acted as a decoy.
The caves are excavated in a soft conglomerate rock of very
unequal texture, containing haematite, and they are greatly dilapidated
through its decay.
At the west end is a small unfinished cave, but the next has been
a large and handsome cave with a verandah 78 feet long by 10 feet 4
aches wide, the whole fagade of which, however, has fallen. Judging
from the pilaster left at one end, it must have been supported by
Passive square pillars with bracket capitals richly carved. Above
we pillars was a frieze sculptured with Tirthahkaras, and " chaitya-
^ndow " ornaments. Five doors apparently led into the hall 82 feet
^p and from 79 to 85 feet wide, the roof supported by thirty-two
columns arranged in a square of twenty and an inner one of twelve
^uare columns (Plate XCIIL), with bracket capitals and some of
em "with floriated ornamentation. Four in front of the shrine,
^ever, have round shafts, and " compressed-cushion capitals."
1 und. this hall are twenty-two cells, and the shrine in the back.
lmage i8 that of Parswanatha Seshphani with the seven hoods
snake, each head with a small crown on it, and seated on a
3 m the jhana mudnrd. Hanging from the seat is carved the