Ajanta – Medieval Indian Art, Architecture and Culture

Ajanta

• The Ajanta caves are situated at a distance of about 100 km north of Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
• Totally 30 caves have been scooped out of volcanic rocks.
• Though chiefly famous for mural paintings, there are some sculptures too.
• The Hinayana sect of Buddhism started the excavation of caves in Ajanta.
• The patrons were the kings who ruled the Deccan plateau during the period c. 200 BCE to 200 CE.
• Inscriptions speak of the patrons who range from kings to merchants.
• First phase of the caves belong to the period from c. 200 BCE to 200 CE.
• The second phase started from c. 200 CE to 400 CE.

Paintings

• Ajanta caves are the repository of rich mural paintings.
• Paintings of the early phase are mostly in caves nine and ten, which belong to the period of the Satavahanas.
• The authors of Ajanta paintings followed ingenious techniques.
• First, they plastered the ridged surface of the volcanic rock.
• This plaster was made of vegetable fibres, paddy husk, rock-grit, and sand.
• This surface was overlaid with a thin layer of lime, ready to receive the pigment.
• Recently it was noticed that a stretch of cloth was reinforced on the surface for the application of pigment.
• The colours were extracted out of natural objects and minerals.
• The prominent colours used are black, red, white, yellow, blue and green.
• The aesthetic features of the paintings are garland, necklaces, headgear, ear-rings and the perfection of the movements of the human hands.
• The story panels are attractive and informative.
• Scenes from the Jataka stories and select episodes from the life history of Buddha are the central theme of the paintings.
• The celestial figures of Kinnaras, Vidyadharas and Gandharvas are depicted in paintings and sculptures.
• In the paintings of the later period Bodhisattva is shown in larger relief.
• Though a variety of human moods are presented, the dominant ones are of compassion and peace.
• Light and shadow are intelligently used.
• Human figures depicted in different colours have been interpreted to mean that they are from different ethnicities.

Architecture and Sculpture

• Architecturally, Ajanta caves are grouped into two:
  • chaityas and
  • viharas.
• The chaityas have vaulted ceilings with long halls.
• In the rear end of the halls the statue of Buddha is seen.
• The sculpture of Buddha in the garba-griha is in the classical model.
• His image is the embodiment of benevolence.
• Heaviness is the general character of the sculptures.
• Sculptures of Yakshis and Hariti with children are signifi cant.
• Bodhisattva carved out independently is another important feature.
• The popular Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara is depicted in painting and sculpture.