Badami Cave-4

This article is a detailed study of the Badami Cave-4 Complex.

Reaching Badami Cave-4

Cave-4 or the Jaina caves are located towards the east of Cave-3. From Cave-3 we reach Cave-4 in almost no time. This cave is situated around ten-feet lower than the Cave-3. However, the access of the Jaina caves from this side was prohibited in the ancient times. There was a masonry wall to stop the access. In those times, these caves were accessed from the shore of the lake or the talao below. There are stairs from there up to this rock-cut shrine.

Dimensions and architecture of Badami Cave-4

These caves are smallest among all the four caves, only thirty-one feet across and sixteen feet deep and also the last among all the Badami’s rock cut monuments. Some embellishments in this cave were added as late as eleventh or the twelfth century.

This cave consists of an open verandah and an oblong antechamber with a sanctuary piercing into its rear wall. The cave has five-bayed entry with four square columns. The sanctuary is 7.8 meter wide and is 1.8 meter deep. This cave complex has relatively low ceiling with shorter pillars and stout corbels ( projections jutting out from a wall to support a structure above it) and brackets.

Bhagwan Bahubali at Badami Cave-4

The verandah wall has a relief sculpture of Bhagwan Bahubali in Kayotsarga (standing and meditating posture) posture. Creepers are growing and winding across His legs and hands. Serpents are also wrapping around Him. He is completely lost in meditation, unaware of His surroundings.

Lord Parsvanatha at Badami Cave-4

On another side of the cave is a carving of Lord Parsvanatha in penance. This statue is 2.3 m in height. In the carving five hooded Dharnendra Dev is protecting Him from his demonic enemy Meghmali Dev, also carved on the top-right. Devi Padmavathi as chauri-bearer is on His left side.

Bhagwan Mahaveer in the rear Sanctuary

On the rear wall of the cave complex is the relief sculpture of Bhagwan Mahaveer seating in Padmasana and delivering a sermon. He is sitting on a lion throne under a chaitya tree and triple umbrella (Triratna-Mukuta). Chauri bearers are attending Him. Vidhyadhar’s are offering garlands, and divine drums are beating by themselves. Mahaveera has a prabha-mandala carved behind his head.

Well, in most of the cases Tirthankara carvings look alike. The only way to distinguish them is to look at the symbols on their throne/pedestal. Lion represents Bhagwan Mahaveer.

Pious Lady Jakkare

In another carving of Bhagwan Mahaveer, at the right hand side of the rear wall entrance, a lady is sitting beside Him. She is Jakkare, a pious lady who attained salvation through sallekhana (death by religious fasting). She is worshipping Lord Mahavira with folded hands.

There are numerous small carvings of Tirthankaras in sharp relief at the rear wall. These carvings and some of the columns were added in 11th/12th century. It was the time when Jainism saw a resurgence in this region.

Bhagwan Adinath at Badami Cave-4

In the antechamber wall, there is a carving of Bhagwan Adinath standing in Kayotsarga pose with His long locks falling to His shoulders. He has twelve Tirthankara on both his side.

Kolimanchi is one of the craftsmen who signed on boulders.

All three of us were happy to be able to visit all these four caves well within time and decided to drove back to the Banashankari Temple.

References

Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal by George Michelle.

The cave Temples of India by James Fergusson and James Burgess.

The Art of Ancient India Buddhist/Hindu and Jain by Susan L Huntington

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