Cave VII. probably had an outer verandah which has disappeared. It has four square pillars with the usual capitals and, sculpture on the upper parts of the shafts. The hall is about 34 feet by 14 feet, and at each end is a chapel screened off by two square pillars. An inner hall is 38 feet by 30 feet; and the shrine which is 10 feet square on the inside, is boldly advanced into the centre, and has a pradakshina round it. The two cells at the ends of the verandah, and the two at the back of the cave are filled with sculpture; and there are six other cells for the abode of monks. The plan of the cave is a still further advance towards Brahmanical temples, and its date may be fixed about the middle of the seventh century. The sculptures are characteristic of the Mahayana mythology, and relate principally to Padmapani or Avalokitesvara. A gigantic figure of him is to the left of the entrance, holding a lotus in his loft hand, and a rosary in his right. He wears the head-dress of an ascetic; a vidyadhara with a garland, and a small Buddha seated on a lotus, are to the right of his nimbus; and similar figures are on the left. Four smaller sculptures form a pictorial litany on either side; and in each scene, two figures threatened by some sudden danger, are praying to the merciful lord Avalokitesvara, and are met by him flying to their deliverance. In the top sculpture on the right hand, the danger is fire; in the next it is the sword of the enemy; in the third chains; and in the fourth ship-wreck. On the left hand, the top sculpture represents the attack of a lion; the second of snakes; the third of an enraged elephant; and the fourth of death, as represented by the female demon Kali, about to carry off the child from the mother’s lap. This scene is painted in Cave XVII. at Ajanta, and is also represented at Elura. On the right side of the door is another colossal Bodhisattva, with a high and very rich head-dress. He seems to be Manjusri, the patron of the Mahayana sect. The female on his right is Saraswati, attended by a female dwarf carrying some object; and the male on his left has a high -cap. Two vidyadharas with offerings are in the clouds; and above them are gandharvas and apsarasas, also with garlands and offerings. The windows on both sides have minutely carved architraves; the inner member is divided into small panels, each containing a figure with the body of a man, and the head of a bull, elephant, lion, boar, &c; and over the lintel, the panels are filled with groups of human figures. In a carved frame above the window is Sri seated on lotus-buds, with two elephants pouring water upon her, and a worshipping attendant on each side. Female figures four feet high, with large flat ear-ornaments, a petticoat tied round the waist, and a scarf turned round the arm, stand on small projecting brackets in the corners at each end of the wall. The inner hall is mostly occupied by the shrine, which has a pradakshina with three cells on either side, and two small shrines at the back wall, each with a seated Buddha. The front of the principal shrine has six figures, almost life-size, consisting chiefly of females. Three are on either side of the door; and the centre figure of each stands on a lotus, and has a nimbus behind her head. She also holds a lotus in one hand, and like her companions, wears an elaborate head-dress of extraordinary dimensions. This probably represents Tara. The two attendants on the right side carry chauris, and one of them is accompanied by a dwarf. Those on the left bear flowers; a bandy-legged male dwarf attends on one of the females, and the other has a female dwarf by her side. The two larger figures may be Mamukhi and Lochana. Over each side aisle are two squatting Buddhas, and above are vidyadharas with garlands. Inside is a colossal Buddha on the lion throne, with gandharvas and apsarasas on clouds over his shoulders. Three rows of Buddhas are high up on the side walls; the figures in the lowest row have the legs crossed in front, and the rest have the feet down. The right wall has also standing male and female figures with attendant dwarfs; and the opposite side seems to show a nach, with six female musicians, and a seventh female dancing. The chapel in the left end of the front wall has eight figures; the first on the right is a standing Buddha, then there are six females in different styles of head-dress, and then comes a Bodhisattva. All have the nimbus behind their heads, and stand on lotus cushions. The corresponding chapels at the east end contain a fat pair of squatting royal personages; and the lady has a child on her knee. A female attendant is on each side, and vidyadharas with garlands are above. This may probably be Suddhodana and Maya with the infant Buddha.
