 The main cave , also called the Shiva cave , Cave 1 , or the Great Cave , is 27 metres ( 89 ft ) square in plan with a hall ( mandapa ) . At the entrance are four doors , with three open porticoes and an aisle at the back . Pillars , six in each row , divide the hall into a series of smaller chambers . The roof of the hall has concealed beams supported by stone columns joined together by capitals . The cave entrance is aligned with the north – south axis , unusual for a Shiva shrine ( normally east – west ) . The northern entrance to the cave , which has 1 @,@ 000 steep steps , is flanked by two panels of Shiva dated to the Gupta period . The left panel depicts Yogishvara ( The Lord of Yoga ) and the right shows Nataraja ( Shiva as the Lord of Dance ) . The central Shiva shrine ( see 16 in plan below ) is a free @-@ standing square cell with four entrances , located in the right section of the main hall . Smaller shrines are located at the east and west ends of the caves . The eastern sanctuary serves as a ceremonial entrance . 
 The main cave , also called the Shiva cave , Cave 1 , or the Great Cave , <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a>27 metres ( 89 ft ) square in plan with a hall ( mandapa ) . At the entrance are four doors , with three open porticoes and an aisle at the back . Pillars , six in each row , divide the hall into a series of smaller chambers . The roof of the hall <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>has</mark></a> concealed beams supported by stone columns joined together by capitals . The cave entrance is aligned with the north – south axis , unusual for a Shiva shrine ( normally east – west ) . The northern entrance to the cave , which <a href='got' title='3'><mark>has</mark></a> 1 @,@ 000 steep steps , is flanked by two panels of Shiva dated to the Gupta period . The left panel <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>depicts</mark></a> Yogishvara ( The Lord of Yoga ) and the right <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>shows</mark></a> Nataraja ( Shiva as the Lord of Dance ) . The central Shiva shrine ( see 16 in plan below ) <a href='drop_aux' title='6'><mark>is</mark></a>a free @-@ standing square cell with four entrances , located in the right section of the main hall . Smaller shrines are located at the east and west ends of the caves . The eastern sanctuary <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>serves</mark></a> as a ceremonial entrance . 
The main cave , also called the Shiva cave , Cave 1 , or the Great Cave , 27 metres ( 89 ft ) square in plan witt a hall ( mandapa ) . At da entrance r four doors , with three open porticoes and an aisle at the bck . Pillars , six in each row , divide the hall into a series of smaller chambers . The roof of the hall done concealed beams supported by stone columns joined together by capitals . Tdacave entrance is aligned with the north – south axis , unusual for a Shiva shrine ( normally east – west ) . The northern entrance to the cave , which got 1 @,@ 000 steep steps , is flanked by 2 panels of Shiva dated to the Gupta period . Thdaeft panel depict Yogishvara ( Thedard of Yoga ) and the rite show Nataraja ( Shiva as the Lord of Dance ) . The central Shiva shrine ( see 16 in plan below ) a free @-@ standin square cell with 4 entrances , located in the daht section of the main hall . Smaller shrines arrocated at the east and west ends of the cdas . The eastern sanctuary serve as a ceremonial entrance .