SARPA-GUMPHA CAVES ORISSA
Locally Known As : Gumpha
Famous As : A Jain Pilgrimage Centre
Architectural Style : Rock-cut Architecture
CAVE- 13 (SARPA-GUMPHA):
On the way back to the terrace which the visitor left to see Cave-10 and
to the steps is a detached boulder in which are excavated two tiny caves,
the upper one, facing east, called Sarpa-gumpha on account of the head of
a three-hooded snake carved on the façade of the narrow verandah.
It is now without any approach.
There are two short inscriptions in the cave, respectively above the
doorway and on the left jamb. The former mentions two persons 'Chulakama'
and 'Kothaji' and the latter labels the cave as ' the gift (pasado
Sanskrit prasada) of 'Kamma' and 'Halakhina'.
CAVE-14 (HATHI-GUMPHA):
At
the back of the terrace is a large natural cavern of an irregular shape,
enlarged by human hands for some sort of a shelter for occasional
assemblage, as shown by chiselling and finishing at the back and side
walls and platforms on the left. On the walls and platforms on the left.
On the walls are scratched a few names, some in Gupta characters.
On the brow of the rock above the cavern is the famous inscription of
King Kharavela. Architecturally, the rock-shelter is insignificant, its
whole interest and importance lying in the inscription. The masonry-shed
was built in 1902 in order to protect the inscription from the effect of
weather.
Adjoining the cave, at different levels, is a number of oblong
excavations, mostly open in front, without any verandahs, pillars or
carvings. Some of them are called 'Pavanari' or 'Pavana-gumpha'.
CAVE-15
(DHANGHARA-GUMPHA):
A few metres to the right of Cave-14, approached by steps is a long cell,
with a low ceiling, three doorways and a benched verandah, with two
pillars and two pilasters. In front of the left pilaster is a turbaned
guard, clad in a dhoti and scarf, with both hands resting on a long staff.
The bracket over him is relieved with an elephant. The corresponding
bracket on the right pilaster contains the forepart of a lion. The outer
brackets of the pillars are badly damaged and the inner ones are relieved
with honeysuckles alternating with lotuses.
The doorways are without flanking pilasters, though there are capitals,
consisting of a pair of addorsed animals on a corbelled abacus above
bell-shaped lotus. From the capitals spring plain arches, their outer
edges being pointed at the top. The spaces between the arches are filled,
in the same way as in other similar caves, with roof-shaped mouldings
supported by bracket-figures and crowned by a two-barred railing.
To the left of this cave is a small oblong excavation open in front.
Slightly higher up, near the top of the hill, is situated a damaged cave.
CAVE-16 (HARIDASA-GUMPHA):
From Cave-12 a flight of steps descends towards a group of three caves,
of which the easternmost is called 'Haridasa', after the name of a sadhu
who occupied it some time in the last century.
It is a spacious high chamber, with a slightly curved ceiling, preceded
by a benched verandah with two pilasters and a pillar. The cell has three
slanting doorways. The cave is devoid of carvings.
The inscription on the façade declares the cave to be the gift
(pasato) of 'Chulakama' and 'Kothaji', who are also mentioned in the
inscription above the doorway of Cave-13.
CAVE-17 (JAGANNATH-GUMPHA):
To the left of Cave-16 is Cave-17, Jagannatha-gumpha, so named from a
late drawing of that god on the inner wall but the drawing no longer
exists. It is a spacious rock-cut chamber, longest in the Udayagiri hill,
with four entrances preceded by a benched verandah with three pillars and
two pilasters. The central pillar passes through four, eight, sixteen,
eight and four sides, with the arrises chamfered so as to achieve the
effect of half-medallions.
The tops of the pillars and pilasters are relieved with a variety of
motifs-deer seated back-to back, winged hybrid figure with the tail of a
makara and forepart of a single-horned animal, another with the head of a
bird and the body of an animal, fish, bird, flowers and plants on a ghata.
The inner brackets are lost.
Four of the outer brackets are preserved: one has the figure of a seated
gana supporting the superstructure with his left hand, another a
vidyadhara holding a tray of flowers, the third a winged kinnara holding a
garland and the fourth a standing gana, in the attitude of supporting the
superstructure, with a crane by its side.
There are three niches for keeping lamps, two in the walls of the chamber
and one in a verandah-pillar. They are probably later additions. The cell
was plastered at one time. As in many caves, the caves are curved.
CAVE 18 (RASUI-GUMPHA):
Adjoining Cave-17 is Cave-18, the local name being due to its conversion
into a kitchen when the painting of Jagannatha in Cave-17 was in worship.
It is a small dwelling cell with a narrow pillarless verandah.
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