THE CHARM OF AJANTA CAVES
(By Subbaram Danda)
 |
| A painting masterpiece : Bodhisattva Padmapani (An enlightened being holding a lotus flower, a symbol of peace) |
Ajanta caves, situated about 100 kilometres from the city of Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra, India, are rock-cut Buddhist prayer halls, monasteries or monuments displaying exquisite paintings and sculptures considered to be the “masterpieces of ancient Indian art.” They were built between the 2nd century BC and the 6th century AD by excavating on the side face of the cliffs of the Sahyadri range of hills overlooking a vast gorge.
Sometime after their creation, they were left abandoned and forgotten for strange reasons. They remained so for centuries under sand and rubble, covered by think vegetation. It was only in 1819 AD that they were re-discovered by a team of British soldiers on a hunting expedition. The caves, numbering thirty, are located next to each other in the form of a horse-shoe. Some are unfinished, while a few are very small. A running pathway links them all.
In several Ajanta caves, colourful paintings outnumber images in stone. The murals on walls, pillars and ceiling depict incidents in the life of Buddha and his teachings. They also capture the variegated life-styles of the people of those times representing a multi-layered society – their costumes, hair-styles, jewellery, musical instruments, culinary skills, beliefs and rituals. Unfortunately today, not many paintings are in fine shape, having been battered by the elements.
To prevent further damage, the authorities provide just enough light in these caves for people to move around. Torch lights carried by the visitors, though permitted, are of little help and flash photography is prohibited.
In contrast, the sculptures, wherever they are dominant, stand out magnificently. It is Buddha, Buddha all the way -- his images in different sizes and manifestations. In a cave far back, which should not be missed, there is a large brilliantly done statue of Buddha in Mahaparinirvana pose (transcending from the earthly state) with mourning disciples. Also, there is a Meditating Buddha refusing to fall a prey to temptations. Further noteworthy is a beautifully chiselled miniscule figure of Buddha of the length of one-and-a-half inches in the hair-do of a devotee.
Among other remarkable features of the caves are the semi-circular windows on top of some doorways that have been thoughtfully designed to allow sunlight to penetrate the interiors and reach the farthest end.
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which has accorded a “world heritage site” status to Ajanta caves, commended them for their “masterpieces of universal pictorial value.” It lauded the “refined decoration of the paintings, balance of their composition, particularly the marvellous beauty of the feminine figures.”
Here are some photographs:
 |
| Painting on the ceiling of a cave showing Buddha in various stages of contemplation |
 |
| Inside an astonishingly well-preserved cave |
 |
| Sculpture of Buddha in meditation unperturbed by temptations |
 |
| A mini statue of Buddha (height 1.5 inches) adorning the hairdo of a devotee |
 |
| An ornately chiselled exterior of a cave |
 |
| The exterior of a cave: a semi-circular window above the main entrance allows sun rays to illuminate the interiors |
 |
| Mini statues of Buddha neatly sculpted on the outer wall of a cave |
 |
| A reclining Buddha in "Mahaparinirvana" (transcending from earthly connections) state. The statue is 23 feet long. |
