Cave -4 is one of the four rock-cut cave temples carved out of a red sandstone hill near Badami in Karnataka, India. As the name suggests, it is the fourth cave from the main entrance where the visitors enter the cave complex.
Check the following pages for a detailed explanation of the other three caves:
Cave | Dedication | Reliefs |
---|---|---|
Cave – 1 | Shiva | Nataraja, Dwarapala, Ardhanarishvara, Harihara |
Cave – 2 | Vishnu | Varahavatara, Vamanavatara |
Cave – 3 | Maha Vishnu | Maha Vishnu, Ashtabhuja Vishnu, Varahavatara, Vamanavatara, Narasimhavatara |
Cave – 4: A Jain cave temple dedicated to Mahavira
Cave – 4 is the
Unlike the other three caves, which are Hindu temples, Cave – 4 is a Jain temple and is a testament to the peaceful co-existence of different religions in ancient India.
Just like the other three caves, the garbhagriha is at the back of the cave. There are three halls in front of the garbhagriha, which are: 1. Antarala (ante-chamber) 2. Sabhamantapa (main hall) 3. Mukhamantapa (verandah).
The
The only access to this cave is through a flight of steps from Cave – 3. However, there was a path to this temple from the east side when it was built.
Garbhagriha – Mahavira
The image shows a sculptural relief of a Tirthankara, most-likely Mahavira, seated majestically on a lion throne carved on the back wall of the
Mahavira is sitting under a chaitya
Note: Tirtha means a ford or shallow crossing of a river or stream. Tirthankara means ford maker. Tirthankara is an extraordinary person who understood the true meaning of Samsara (continuous cycle of life, death, and rebirth) and obtained Kevala Jnana (Omniscience). He is a teacher who builds a ford for others (i.e., guides) to follow the path from Samsara to Moksha (liberation from S
Adinatha – The first Tirthankara
The image shows a life-size sculptural relief depicting Adinatha (also known as Rishabhanatha), the first of the 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism, carved on the left sidewall of the
Adinatha is a
Note: The Adinatha iconography has locks of hair on his shoulder and is one of the ways to identify his sculptures.
Parshvanatha
The image shows a life-size sculptural relief depicting Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara of Jainism, carved on the interior walls of Cave – 4.
Parshvanatha is the successor of Neminatha and the predecessor of Mahavira, the most well-known and final Tirthankara. Historians believe that both Mahavira and Parshvanatha were historical figures.
Born in the holy city of Varanasi, Parshvanatha lived around 877 BCE and attained Moksha on Mount Summeta in the present-day Madhuban in the state of Jharkhand, India.
In this relief, Parshvanatha is depicted as a
Bahubali
The image shows a life-size sculptural relief depicting Bahubali carved on the interior walls of Cave – 4.
Bahubali is one of the 100 sons of Adinatha (Rishabhanatha). Bharata was the eldest, but Bahubali challenged him for the throne.
Although Bahubali defeated his brother in three non-violent games, he relinquished everything in disgust and lived like an ascetic. He meditated by standing up naked for 12 years to attain Moksha. Because he was motionless, vines grew on him, which is the reason why the standard iconography of Bahubali shows him standing naked with his body encircled by vines.
Jakkave
The relief shown in the image depicts a pious Jain nun called Jakkave who attained Moksha through Sallekhana. As you can see, she is seated next to Mahavira. It is carved into the right sidewall near the entrance to the cave.
Note: Sallekhana is a religious practice in Jainism to reduce human passions by rigorously following certain vows
Related Pages
– Badami
– Badami Cave – 1, Badami Cave – 2, Badami Cave – 3
– Durga Temple at Aihole
– Somanathapura Keshava Temple
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Bracket Figures
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Navaranga
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Garbhagriha Outer Wall
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Kappe Chennigaraya Shrine
– Hampi Virupaksha Temple Murals
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