Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/237

 CHAP. VI. ELURA. 203 otherwise to be explained by the probability that, like the so-called Darbar cave at Kanheri, this was a refectory, which may account for its arrangements. Close to the VLrwakarma (No. 10), is a small and very pretty vihara (No. 8), in which the sanctuary stands free, with a passage all round it, as in some of the Buddhist caves at Aurangabad and in Saiva caves further on ; and the appearance of the Mahayana warders on each side of the door would lead one rather to expect an image of Siva inside than the Buddha which actually occupies it. The details, however, of its architecture are the same as in the great cave. Communicating with this one is a small square vihara (No. 7), the roof of which has been supported by four pillars of the same detail as in the Dukhya-garh, which is the cave next the chaitya on the north ; but though surrounded by cells it has no sanctuary or images. Higher up the hill than these are two others (Nos. 6 and 9), containing numerous cells, and one with a very handsome hall, the outer half of which has unfortunately fallen in ; enough, however, remains to show not only its plan, but all the details, which very much resemble those of the last group of viharas at Ajanta. In the sanctuaries of both of these caves are figures of Buddhas sitting with their feet down. On each side of the image in the principal one are nine figures of Buddhas, or rather Bodhisattwas, seated cross-legged, and below them three and three figures, some cross-legged, and others standing, probably devotees, and one of them a female the Tara of later Buddhism. Neither of these caves have been entirely finished. There is still another group of these small viharas (Nos. 2, 3, 4), further to the south, at the right in Woodcut 1 14, called the Dherwara or ' low caste's ' quarter. 1 The first is square, with twelve pillars on the same plan as those at Ajanta, though the pillars are of the cushion form of Elephanta and the Maharwara, but the capitals are much better formed than in the last example, and more ornamented ; the lateral galleries here contain figures of Buddha, all like the one in the sanctuary, sitting with their feet down, and there are only two cells on each side of the sanctuary. The next cave is similar in plan, though the detail is more like that of the Vuwakarma. There are eleven cells, and in the sanctuary Buddha sitting with the feet down ; it never has been finished, and is now much ruined. The last is a small plain vihara with cells, but with two pillars in front of the shrine and cells, and much ruined. 1 ' Cave Temples of India,' plates 57 and 58. Possibly ' Dherwara' is a corruption of Therawara or 'ascetics' quarter.'