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The entrance of Indra Sabha.

THE ENTRANCE OF INDRA SABHA*.

‘Plate VI. Plans A.’

You enter this magnificent cave, or assemblage of caves, by a handsome gateway cut from the rock, on which there are two lions couchant. There is a small cave much choked up, No. 1, on the right-hand before entering the gateway, No. 2. No. 3,3,3,3, the area. No. 6, A pillar richly ornamented. No. 5, An elephant. Opposite the entrance in the centre of the area stands a temple of a pyramidal form. No. 4, In which is placed a kind of square altar with figures of ‘Adinatha’ (one of the epithets of ‘Vishnu’, and sometimes of ‘Budha’, signifying the ‘First Lord’) on each side No. 7,7,7,7.

In this view, higher up in the mountain, is an unfinished excavation of curious workmanship, now nearly choked up with earth, the plan of which is marked by the letter A.

‘Adinatha Sabha’ is on the left hand of the area; the apartment, No. 13, of the idol ‘adinatha’ is facing the entrance. No. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, are recesses containing abundance of sculptured figures. The outside is decorated with elephants, lions, &c. No. 19 and 20, small excavations, those on the right are imperfect above and below. No. 21, The entrance to the lower story of ‘Indra Sabha’, which is in a very unfinished state. 22, the staircase leading to the upper story. 23, an apartment with sculpture. 24, masses of unwrought rock. 25, the principal apartment of this story. 26, the recess with the idol ‘adinatha’. The front row of pillars, including base and capital, fifteen feet high; the rest about fourteen. In ascending the staircase, No. 22, which leads to the upper story about half way up, is a small apartment containing ‘Indra’ with his wife ‘Indrani’, and ‘Sesh’ at each end. In the recess fronting the entrance is the idol ‘Adinatha’.

* The temple of ‘Indra’, the god who presides over the heavens.