Catopsbaatar
Catopsbaatar is a genus of multituberculate, an extinct order of rodent-like mammals. It lived in what is now Mongolia during the late Campanian age of the Late Cretaceous Period, about 72 million years ago. The first fossils were collected in the early 1970s, and the animal was named as a new species of the genus "Djadochtatherium " in 1974, "D. catopsaloides". The specific name refers to the animal's similarity to the genus "Catopsalis". The species was moved to the genus "Catopsalis" in 1979, and received its own genus ("Catopsbaatar", Greek and Mongolian for "visible hero") in 1994. Five skulls, one molar, and one skeleton with a skull are known; the latter is the genus' most complete specimen. "Catopsbaatar" was a member of the family Djadochtatheriidae.
Garoth
A Stone Wheel for Mortar making at Dharmrajeshwar
These caves were first noticed by James Tod who gave a number of caves to be 170 and indicated them to be belonging to Jain culture. He identified five statues as those of tirthankaras: Rishabhadeva, Neminath, Parshavanath, Shantinath and Mahavira. The local people consider these statues to be of the five Pandavas.[3]
Later these were visited by Alexander Cunningham, Ferguson and Henry Kajins who disagreed with Tod. Dr Ferguson counted number of caves to be 60-70.[4] Alexander Cunningham was also in agreement with Dr Ferguson.[5] Ferguson considers the period of construction of caves from 408-475 AD.[6]
The important caves at Dhamnar are as under:
Badi kachahari - Cave number 6 is known by the name of Badi kachahari. There is a grand mandapa on four pillars in the cave. chatya is in the back. Badi kachahari is a large chaitya hall with pillared portion in front enclosed by a stone railing.
Chhoti kachahari - Cave number 8 is known by the name of Chhoti kachahari.
Kamini mahal or Rajlok - Cave number 11 is known by the name of Kamini mahal or Rajlok.
Bhim Bazar - Cave number 1 is known by the name of Bhim Bazar. it is the largest of Dhanmar caves. It consists of an open porch or verandah with a couple of rooms in the rear. The rectangular court has a chaitya in the centre enclosed on three sides by rows of small cells each side having a smaller chapel in the central cell. The sculptures include seated Buddhas.
Hathi bandhi - Cave number 12 is known by the name of Hathi bandhi.
Chhota Bazar - Cave number 13 is known by the name of Chhota Bazar. This is considered best of all the caves. In a big hall in north of this cave is a small devalaya in which is housed an 8 feet high statue of Buddha.