Picture: Me and the Forecourt of the Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra, Bharata, taken on July 21, 2023.
IND-001: Ajanta Caves
First revision: Jul.27, 2023
Last change: Jun.30, 2024
Searched, Gathered, Rearranged, Translated, and Compiled by Apirak Kanchanakongka.
The plan and location of various caves of Ajanta, Source: mdpi.com, Access date: Aug.03, 2023.
Cave No.1
This is one of its finest monasteries (35.7*27.6 m), and no other monastery at Ajanta has been so handsomely ornamented. The Mahayana monastery has an open courtyard, a verandah, a hypostyle hall, a sanctum with an antechamber, and cells. The sanctum houses Lord Buddha in preaching posture with Bodhisattvas on either side, five disciples, and a wheel flanked by deers at the pedestal's base, symbolically suggesting Buddha's first sermon at Sarnath.
Top Front of Cave No.1, taken on July 21, 2023.
The doorframe and pillars were beautifully carved. Every inch of this cave was painted initially, even the pillars and the sculptures being no exceptions. The ceiling, painted with geometrical, floral, and faunal depictions, creates an impression of a decorative shamiana held above. The walls are painted mainly with the Jātaka tales and scenes about Lord Buddha's life. The cave contains some of the masterpieces of the world of painting, namely Padmapani and Vajrapani.
On the inside right side of the cave is a painting written about the Mahājanaka Jātaka. It is a large mural showing activities. The expressions of various people in that era were taken on July 21, 2023.
The walls of the far left side of the cave have paintings of Bodhisattvas in the mountains, taken on July 21, 2023.
The walls of the far right side of the cave have paintings of Bodhisattvas in the mountains, taken on July 21, 2023.
One of four frescoes for the Mahājanaka Jātaka tale shows the king announcing his abdication to become an ascetic, taken on July 21, 2023.
At the end of Cave 1 is a carved image of Lord Buddha in the diamond-crossed posture, or Padmasana, with both hands showing the Dharmachakra Mudra pose. This image was taken on July 21, 2023.
When looking up at the ceiling, you will see a picture of a geometric pattern design. There is a picture of an animal with the head of a cow. The body transforms into swirling lines of flowers, vegetables, and fruits using colored powder (only blue) ground from a stone called lapis lazuli. This picture was taken on July 21, 2023.
Cave No.2
At the end of Cave 2 (Like Cave 1) is a carved image of Lord Buddha in the diamond-crossed posture, or Padmasana, with both hands showing the Dharmachakra Mudra pose. This image was taken on July 21, 2023.
Significant carvings are a Sculpture of Goddess Hārītī (हरति) on the left side of the picture, a Buddhist deity who was originally a smallpox and child-eating demon. The Buddha transformed her into the guardian goddess of fertility. Easy childbirth And is a protector of babies, taken on July 21, 2023.
Cave No.3
It is a cave that has not been completed yet. Only the porch side of the pillar was initially excavated. The date can be determined around 1020 B.E. or 477 A.D., before Emperor Harisena's sudden death.
Cave No.3, source: commons.wikimedia.org, access date: May 29, 2024.
Cave No.4
It is a Vihara cave that has yet to be fully excavated. In the innermost main chamber, there is a large stone carving of the Lord Buddha in a sermon pose with Bodhisattvas on both sides.
A large stone image is carved of Lord Buddha in a sermon pose, with Bodhisattvas on both sides. (The right side of the Buddha is covered by a stone pillar.) The image was taken on July 21, 2023.
Cave No.5
In front of cave No.5, source: www.travell.in, access date: June 30, 2024.
It is a temple cave that has not yet been completed. The plan shows a monastery measuring 10.32*16.8 meters, devoid of sculptures and architectural elements. except the door frame There are exquisite carvings on the frame depicting a woman and a legendary dragon creature found in ancient and medieval Bharatan art. The construction of this cave probably began around the 1st to the beginning of the 2nd century BE, or 465 AD, but was abandoned due to geological defects in the rock. Construction resumed in 475 AD after a group of sculptors resumed work on the Ajanta Caves. But it was abandoned again when artisans and promoters redesigned it and focused on an expanded cave six attached to cave 5.
References:
01. from. en.wikipedia.org, Access date: August 4, 2023.
02. from. Ajanta Paintings: A compilation of 84 abridged narratives, Rajesh K. Singh, ISBN 978-81-925107-6-7, 2019, Hari Sena Press Private Limited, Baroda, India.
03. from. Our Colourful World in Ajanta & Ellora, 2011, Mittal Publications, New Delhi, India.
04. from. A Colourful Guide Book of Ajanta Ellora Aurangabad Daulatabad Khultabad, World Famous Heritage, Mittal Publications, Year: NA., Publishing Place: NA.
05. from. Colourful World Heritage Ellora Ajanta, Latest Edition, Mittal Publications, Year: NA., Publishing Place: N.A.
