AJANTA'S CAVES
The rock-cut Buddhist cave temple and monastery is located near Ajanta village in north-central Maharashtra, western India, which is noted for its mural painting. These temples are built by hollowing out layers of igneous rocks of a rock at the 20 meter deep left end of the Vagurna river valley 107 km northeast of Aurangabad.
This group of about thirty caves was excavated in the first century BC. And between the seventh century it was performed in two forms - Chaitya (temple) and Vihara (monastery). Although the sculpture of these temples, especially the ornamentation of the chaitya pillars, is amazing, the main attraction of Anjata's caves is mural painting. The Buddhist religious narratives and deities depicted in these paintings with as much abundance and vivacity are unique in the field of Indian art.
The caves of Ajanta are steeped in sculpture and painting inspired by Buddhism and filled with their compassionate emotions, reflecting the fine knowledge of art and precious times in human history. These caves, carved by Buddhist and Jainism, are ornamented with carvings. Yet there is a peace and spirituality in them and they are full of divine energy and power. Starting in the second century D.C. and the sixth century A.D. Continuing in D., these caves of Ajanta, about 107 km from Aurangabad city in Maharashtra, are built in the shape of huge horseshoes by cutting the mountain. A herd of 29 caves in Ajanta is one of the finest examples of Buddhist architecture, cave painting and sculpture painting. These caves have chaitya chambers or monasteries, dedicated to Lord Buddha and Vihara, which were used by Buddhist monks to meditate and study the teachings of Lord Buddha. These paintings on the walls and ceilings of the caves depict various incidents of the life of Lord Buddha and various Buddhist deities. The most important of these paintings are the Jataka tales, depicting a variety of stories related to the Buddha's previous birth as a Bodhisattva, a saint who was destined to become a Buddha. It presents sculptures and paintings in an effective manner while being free from the effects of time. These beautiful images and pictures depict Buddha in a calm and holy pose.
These 30 caves, located on the Sahyadri hills, have about 5 prayer halls and 25 Buddhist monasteries. These caves were discovered by Army officer John Smith and his team in 1819. When he came here to hunt, he saw a series of 29 caves lined and thus these caves became famous. Built in the shape of a horseshoe, these caves are of very ancient and historical importance. These depict Buddhism from 200 BCE to 650 BCE. Beautiful paintings with various postures of beautiful apsaras and princesses are also engraved on the walls in the caves of Ajanta, which are very beautiful specimens of excellent painting and sculpture. Ajanta caves can be divided into two parts. In one part there is a glimpse of the Hinayana of Buddhism and in the other part there is a glimpse of Mahayana sect. The Hinayana part has 2 chaityas and 4 viharas and the Mahayana part has 3 chaityas and 11 viharas. These are 19th-century caves, which have statues and paintings of Buddhist monks. Sculpted with the help of a hammer and chisel, these idols themselves contain unmatched beauty.
Of the total 29 caves built in Ajanta, only 6 are present, cave numbers 1, 2, 9, 10, 16, 17 remaining. Of these 6 caves, cave number 16 and 17 are Gupta. Ajanta's paintings technically rank first in the world. In these caves, various types of flower-leaves, trees and animal motifs and the work of depicting statues of Buddha and Bodhisattvas, stories from Jataka texts have been used as a descriptive scene. These pictures mostly depict Jataka tales. Somewhere in these paintings, human characters of non-Indian origin are also depicted. A feature of Ajanta's painting is that the scenes in these paintings are not divided into different configurations.
In Ajanta, pictures have been made using both 'Fresco' and 'Tempera' methods. Before making the painting, the wall was thoroughly rubbed and cleaned and then plastered on it. The picture of the 'dying princess' engraved in Ajanta's cave number 16 is admirable. Praising this painting, Griffith, Verges and Ferguson said, - "Compassion, sentiment and the vision to say your story clearly" is inextricable in the history of painting. Cave number 16 was donated to the Buddhist Sangha by Varaha Mantri, minister of Harishen (475-500 AD), ruler of Vasugupta branch of Vakataka dynasty.
The picture of cave number 17 is called 'Chitrashala'. It was built by a feudal named Harishen. In this Chitrasala, pictures related to Buddha's birth, life, Mahabhinakrishna and the events of Mahaparinirvana are carved. Of all the paintings engraved in cave number 17, the picture of mother and child is the best. Ajanta caves belonged to the Mahayana branch of Buddhism.
The glow of the paintings of Ajanta's famous caves is a matter of wonder for scholars since modern times, even after more than a thousand years. The events related to Lord Buddha are expressed in these paintings. These paintings were made with the colors invented by mixing rice starch, gum and some other leaves and things. They were buried in the ground for about a thousand years and were excavated again in 1819 and brought to light. Even after the passing of a thousand years, their color did not lighten, did not deteriorate, the brightness remained unchanged. If there was an attempt to improve something or apply modern colors, it failed. This technique of colors and lines still reminds us of the glorious past.
British modifier Mr. Griffith says, 'The images he painted in Ajanta were the pinnacle of creation. In Ajanta, the perpendicular (vertical) lines drawn on the walls are easily drawn from the brush. It is truly astonishing masterpiece. But when the ridges on the surface of the roof parallel the equilateral horizon, the corresponding curves, the uniformity in the appearance of the arches and the thousands of complexities of its creation are noticed, it really seems to be an astonishing wonder and a miracle. '
After being declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1983, the paintings and sculptures of Ajanta and Ellora are considered excellent specimens of Buddhist religious art and have a profound influence on the development of art in India. The human and animal forms depicted within the Ajanta in the paintings of these caves, using the creative use of colors and freedom of expression, can be considered a high level of artistic creativity. It has been devoted to Buddhist, Hindu and Jainism for centuries. They reflect the spirit of tolerance, which has been characteristic of ancient India.
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