Government of IndiaaCave 7
3D
Floorplan
Cave Exterior
Cave Interior
Shrine
Cave type
The plan of this cave is quite unusual. It has a double portico and an oblong porch that leads to an antechamber and a shrine.
Period
It was one of the first excavations made in the Later phase.
Elements
On either side of the entrance to the shrine are painted depictions of Mahāpratihārya. Inside the shrine, Buddha is flanked by Bodhisatvas and surrounded by six other Buddhas on the wall.
Shrine
The Buddha’s right hand is in the Abhayamudrā - a gesture of fearlessness that grants divine protection to all. Traces of the painted halo are still visible. The motif with deer flanking the Dharmachakra is symbolic of the First Sermon given by Buddha at the deer park at Sarnath. The standing Bodhisatvas appear behind the throne and are holding chāmara or fly-whisks. There are six Buddhas of the past accompanying the image of Gautama Buddha. The throne has the motif of the Vyala - a composite leonine creature. Numerous Buddha images showing alternating mudras have been carved in the shrine - the use of Buddha images as a decorative pattern was prevalent in this period.
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