DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27191#0172
136
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
no means so objectionable in practice, they varied with the
lines of the supports, and, as these became upright, the jambs
became parallel. In like manner, when it was done, the
architects could hardly fail to perceive that they had wasted
both time and labour in cutting away the rock to make way
for their wooden screen in front. Had they left it standing,
with far less expense they could have got a more ornamental
and more durable feature. This was so self-evident that it
never, so far as is known, was repeated, but it was some time
before the pillars of the interior got quite perpendicular, and
the jambs of the doors quite parallel.
There is very little figure sculpture about this cave; none
in the interior, and what there is on the facade seems to be of
a very domestic character. But 011 the pillars in the interior
at g and h in the plan (Woodcut No. 58), we find two emblems,
and at a,e, and /Three others are found somewhat rudely formed,
but which occur again so frequently that it may be worth while
to quote them here (Woodcut No. 61).1 They are known as the
triratna, or trident—the central point being usually more im-
portant than here shown—the shield, and the chakra, or wheel.
The two first are generally found in combination, as in Woodcuts
Nos. 39 and 45, and the wheel is frequently found edged with
triratna ornaments, as in the central compartment of Woodcut
No. 43 from Amaravati. The fourth emblem here is the triratna,
6l.
Triratna. Shield, Chakra. Triratna.
in combination with a face, and the fifth is one which is
fan-shaped and frequently repeated 011 coins and elsewhere,
but to which no name has yet been given.
At a short distance along the face of the scarp, is an excava-
tion of some interest, containing a group of fourteen monolithic
dagabas of various sizes. All of them have the Buddhist-rail
pattern cut round the upper margin of the drum. Five under
the overhanging rock vary in diameter from 4 ft. 8 in. to 6 ft.
3 in., and the front two have the square box only on the dome,
as in the cave, and without the cornice, while the three behind
1 See ‘ Cave Temples of India,’ plate vii.
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
no means so objectionable in practice, they varied with the
lines of the supports, and, as these became upright, the jambs
became parallel. In like manner, when it was done, the
architects could hardly fail to perceive that they had wasted
both time and labour in cutting away the rock to make way
for their wooden screen in front. Had they left it standing,
with far less expense they could have got a more ornamental
and more durable feature. This was so self-evident that it
never, so far as is known, was repeated, but it was some time
before the pillars of the interior got quite perpendicular, and
the jambs of the doors quite parallel.
There is very little figure sculpture about this cave; none
in the interior, and what there is on the facade seems to be of
a very domestic character. But 011 the pillars in the interior
at g and h in the plan (Woodcut No. 58), we find two emblems,
and at a,e, and /Three others are found somewhat rudely formed,
but which occur again so frequently that it may be worth while
to quote them here (Woodcut No. 61).1 They are known as the
triratna, or trident—the central point being usually more im-
portant than here shown—the shield, and the chakra, or wheel.
The two first are generally found in combination, as in Woodcuts
Nos. 39 and 45, and the wheel is frequently found edged with
triratna ornaments, as in the central compartment of Woodcut
No. 43 from Amaravati. The fourth emblem here is the triratna,
6l.
Triratna. Shield, Chakra. Triratna.
in combination with a face, and the fifth is one which is
fan-shaped and frequently repeated 011 coins and elsewhere,
but to which no name has yet been given.
At a short distance along the face of the scarp, is an excava-
tion of some interest, containing a group of fourteen monolithic
dagabas of various sizes. All of them have the Buddhist-rail
pattern cut round the upper margin of the drum. Five under
the overhanging rock vary in diameter from 4 ft. 8 in. to 6 ft.
3 in., and the front two have the square box only on the dome,
as in the cave, and without the cornice, while the three behind
1 See ‘ Cave Temples of India,’ plate vii.