Context: Carved into a horseshoe-shaped cliff along the Waghora River in Maharashtra, the 29 Ajanta caves hold a rich collection of rock-cut architecture and exquisite mural paintings. Benoy K Behl, a filmmaker, art historian, and photographer, illuminates these treasures in his ongoing exhibition, "Lost Ancient Art Revealed!" at the India International Centre (IIC).
About Ajanta Caves:
- Situated in the Sahyadri ranges along the Waghora river near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, Ajanta comprises a series of rock-cut caves.
- Of the total 29 caves, 25 served as Viharas or residential caves, while the remaining 4 functioned as Chaitya or prayer halls.
- These caves were developed during the period spanning from 200 B.C. to 650 A.D.
- Buddhist monks, supported by the Vakataka kings, particularly notable among them being Harishena, inscribed the Ajanta caves.
- The figures within these caves were created using fresco painting, showcasing a remarkable level of naturalism.
- The thematic focus of the paintings predominantly revolves around Buddhism, depicting scenes from the life of Buddha and Jataka stories.
- Among the 29 caves, five were developed during the Hinayana phase, while the remaining 24 were created during the Mahayana phase of Buddhism.
- References to the Ajanta caves can be found in the travel accounts of Chinese Buddhist travelers Fa Hien and Hieun Tsang.
- Notable sculptures from the Ajanta Caves include:
- Mahaparinirvana of Buddha in Cave No. 26.
- Depiction of a Naga king and his consort in Cave No. 19.
About Ajanta Cave Paintings:
- The Ajanta Cave Paintings, among the oldest murals in the Indian subcontinent, were intricately carved from volcanic rocks.
- Notably, murals in cave no. 9 and 10 belong to the Sunga period, while the remaining caves date back to the Gupta period.
- Common themes range from Jataka stories to the life of Buddha, incorporating elaborate decorative patterns of flora and fauna. The walls are adorned with graceful poses of both humans and animals.
- The medium of painting involved the use of vegetable and mineral dyes, with red ochre outlining the figures and contours in shades of brown, black, or deep red.
- Notable paintings at Ajanta include scenes from the Jataka stories depicting the Buddha's former lives as a bodhisattva and the life of Gautama Buddha.
- Cave 1 showcases paintings of various Bodhisattvas in a tribhanga pose, including Vajrapani, symbolizing Buddha's power, Manjusri as a manifestation of Buddha's wisdom, and Padmapani (Avalokitesvara) representing Buddha's compassion.
- Additionally, Cave 16 features the depiction of the Dying Princess, while scenes from the Shibi Jataka and Matri-Poshaka Jataka narratives unfold in other caves, illustrating profound moral tales from ancient Indian folklore.