Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c11.38

c11.38

The third is the Lomas Ṛiṣhi Cave, similar to Sudāmā in the size and arrangement of the two chambers, but the interior of the circular roof has been left rough and both the floor and the roof of the outer apartment remain unfinished, the straight wall being highly polished. The most important feature is the doorway, a rectangular opening with sloping jambs and beautified by an overhanging entrance porch, carved with ornamental features possessing not only the perfection of articing skill but also detailed architectural design which provided the norm for the façades (ghar-mukha) of the rock-cut caves. On the top of it is the finial (stūpikā) with the front arch under it supported on two huge sloping door-jambs and showing the ends of the beams of the roof. The lower ends of the arch and the upper half of the jambs were held together by three cross bolts on each side. Under the arch are a pair of concentric lunettes, the upper one decorated with lattice work (vātāyana) and the lower filled with a row of exquisitely carved elephants paying homage to the Stūpa. All the above elements although carved in stone have been inspired by wooden prototypes in which centuries of experience had accumulated both for details of architecture and careful sculpture as well as ornamentation. The high polish combined with sharply chiselled carving and the perfect preservation make it look as if it is the work of today and its beauty so attractive that it looks like an adorned mantle round a lady's face.