Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v3.c12.26

v3.c12.26

The plan of this temple consists of a narrow veranda, a small hall with corridors on all four sides, and a shrine which is without any antechamber.⁴ The front columns of the veranda are plain octagonal, but their bracket-capitals have a design of rolled-up curtain-ends, such as we notice frequently in later caves (Plate XXXVIII). There are four cells attached to the veranda and six more in the interior of the cave, the latter being connected with the left and back walls of the hall. There is also a small recess on a high level in the shrine, which was apparently meant for storing sacred relics or other valuable articles of the temple. The shrine has a sort of *pradakshiṇa* round the figure of the Buddha, which is again a feature of the later caves. In front of the figure of the Buddha there is a statue of a votary kneeling in adoration. The head of this figure being very much damaged, it is difficult to judge of its facial expression, but the pose is very natural and shows devoutness.⁵