Cave-17

Slightly later in date than cave 16, this vihara still has many murals that have survived in a fair state of preservation. The plan is similar, with a square hall containing twenty columns, preceded by a verandah, which is 64 ft (19.50 m) long. This cave has a large antechamber measuring 18 ft 4 in. (5.60 m) across leading to the shrine, which is squarish but slightly irregular in plan (18 ft 4 in. x 19 ft 8 in.; 5.60 x 6.00 m). It contains a colossal Buddha figure in dharmachakra mudra. There are a total of seventeen cells distributed around three sides of the hall, and a cell at each end of the verandah.
The narrative murals and other decorative paintings in this cave are:

Visvantara jataka in the verandah on the back wall towards left

• God Indra and apsaras in the verandah on back wall to the left of doorway
• Rows of Manushi Buddha figures and pairs of lovers in verandah above the doorway






• Apsaras and gandharas in verandah to right of the doorway
• The calming of the maddened elephant Nalagiri by Buddha in verandah further o the right
  Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara in verandah on front wall;
  A yaksha with attendant at left end of verandah;
  A hunt scene at left end of verandah to the left of cell door;
  The wheel of Samsara on left wall of the verandah above door to the cell;
  A mother and child appearing before the Buddha in verandah on either side of second window to the right of main entrance;
  Buddha preaching on the right wall of the verandah above door to the cell;
  Ceiling decorations in the verandah featuring floral and other motifs.

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