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The Ajanta Caves is a Buddhist rock-cut cave temple and monastery in Ajanta village in north-central Maharashtra state, western India. Ajanta’s main attraction is its fresco-style artwork. These paintings represent colorful Buddhist stories and divinities with unrivaled passion and energy in Indian art. Ajanta consisted of thirty caves, each dedicated to the life of the Buddha, and was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
See the fact file below for more information on the Ajanta Caves, or you can download our 29-page Ajanta Caves worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
- The Ajanta caves are a horseshoe-shaped group of rock-cut cave temples located in the Maharashtra district of Aurangabad.
- The Ajanta caves were discovered by chance in 1819 by a British officer and have since occupied the country’s archaeological and historical spotlight.
- The caves have been examined and researched by several specialists. Buddhist ideas and ideals are intertwined with unique sculptures, carefully arranged patterns, and paintings. The monks’ way of living, as well as the detailing of Buddha’s life and Buddhist legends, is an essential component of the Ajanta caves.
- There are 30 caves in all, each with a number. However, the numbering is not chronological, and several caves discovered later, such as 15A, have been omitted.
- The caves’ history is rather intriguing. The caves were created in two periods that were millennia apart. The first set of caves was built during the second and first centuries BCE, while the second set was built in the fifth century.
First Period Caves (Satavahana) – Caves 9, 10, 12, 13 & 15A
- The earliest caves created were 9, 10, 12, 13, and 15A. Most experts and researchers think the caves have a strong Hinayana or Theravada Buddhist influence.
- The actual timing of construction is the subject of debate. A group of experts, including Walter Spink, estimate the building era to be between 100 BCE and 100 CE. This group believes the caves were built with the help of the Satavahana Dynasty.
- Other studies, however, place the construction period during the reign of the Mauryan Empire.
Second Period Caves (Vakataka) – Caves 1-8, 11, 14-29
- There is substantial disagreement over the actual building date of the caves from the Vakataka period.
- For many years, it was assumed that the caves were constructed between the fourth and seventh centuries; however, Walter Spink’s research shows that the building eras were very brief, lasting from 460 to 480 CE.
- Spink’s ideas and research are widely acknowledged today.
- Emperor Harishena of the Vakataka dynasty is said to be the main sponsor of the second cave era.
- This era includes caves no. 1-8, 11, 14-29. These caves are part of the Mahayana phase of Buddhism and hence include unique sculptures and paintings.
- The paintings and sculptures became objects of veneration. This period also saw the acceptance of women as nuns, and unlike the Hinayana school, which forbade pleasure, the Mahayana school was receptive to the wants of a man and a woman. These inspirations are evident in paintings, sculptures, and artworks.
- Chaitya Grihas, or prayer halls, may be found in caves 19, 26, and 29. The remaining caves are viharas or monks’ abodes.
- Surprisingly, not all caves are finished. According to the study, they abandoned the unfinished caves following Harishena’s death. Evidence shows that the caves were used, most likely by the monks who lived there. Their population may have declined with time.
- According to Spink, they abandoned the first-period caves for more than three centuries before Harishena’s authority.
- The new caves were commissioned by the monarch, his Prime Minister Varahadeva, and sub-king Upendragupta.
- The excavation halted in about 468 due to threats from Asmaka rulers, and progress was limited to Cave 1 (commissioned by Harishena) and caves 17-20 (under Upendragupta).
- However, by 472, all labor had ceased when the Asmaka rulers seized the area. Though work resumed, it halted again when Harishena died in 477.
- Only Cave 26 remained under development since the Asmaka rulers commissioned it. No new caves were created between 478 and 480, but several improvements were made to the old ones.
- Minor modifications, like sculptures and tiny shrines, were mainly seen on the façade, walls of the interior caves, and the returning sides of the entrance.
- Spink’s chronology was based on the dating of surrounding caves, the style of the arts, the dynastic chronology, and the various unfinished aspects of the caves. You may find other historical allusions to the Ajanta caves in the accounts of the Chinese explorer Xuanzang and Abu Fazal’s 17th-century narrative Ain-i-Akbari.
Post-Discovery
- During a hunting journey in 1819, John Smith discovered the caves. He located cave number ten, although the locals knew of its existence. Within a few years after their discovery, the caves became famous for their location, rock-cut artworks, and exquisite architecture.
- During the British Empire, the Ajanta caves were under the sovereignty of the princely state of Hyderabad. Following independence, the Maharashtra government improved infrastructure to boost tourism and research. The Ajanta caves now feature a Visitor Center with contemporary facilities, and the ASI operates buses from the center to the caves’ location.
INSIDE THE AJANTA CAVES
Monasteries and Sanctuaries
- The Ajanta caves were cut into the slope in two independent eras between the second century BCE and 650 CE. The Ajanta caves, discovered by surprise in 1819 by British soldiers on a hunt, have become an emblem of ancient Indian art, influencing future artists and styles.
- The Ajanta caves are called vihara (monasteries with residential halls) or chaitya-grihas (sanctuaries/stupa monument halls). Nonetheless, each has its distinct traits, making writing about Ajanta as a whole problematic.
- The Ajanta caves are entirely dark. The lack of light is critical to the Ajanta experience, requiring the viewer’s attention while enhancing a feeling of mystery.
- Oil lamps may have provided soft artificial lighting in the past. Even today, the caves remain in their natural form, and the majority are nearly entirely black and without artificial illumination.
- Cave 1 is a brilliantly decorated Vihara (monastery) from the 5th century, replete with murals, sculptures, and ceiling paintings. Cave 1 used to have a porch linked to the main hall, but it has since fallen.
- Cave 1’s main hall is square, with aisles on all four sides. Doorways next to these hallways access fourteen tiny rooms.
- Twenty painted and carved pillars may be seen in Cave 1. Reliefs illustrating stories from Buddha’s life may be seen above the pillars (Jataka tales).
- A large Buddha shrine is located at the back of the hall. The walls were initially covered in paintings, but only nine remain today, the most famous of which is the Bodhisattva Padmapani.
Avalokiteśvara
- This painting is located in the main shrine to the left. It represents Avalokiteśvara, one of the most revered bodhisattvas.
- A “bodhisattva” is a person who the Buddhist spirit has awakened. According to Mahayana Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara delayed his ascension to Buddhahood until he helped every creature achieve Nirvana.
- Avalokiteśvara appears in the most different forms throughout Asia.
- Originally a male state, Avalokiteśvara is known in China as Guanyin and in Japan as Kuan Yin.
- His tanned figure is delicate and exquisite in the artwork, with just locks of curly hair darkening it. He is decked with pearls, amethyst, and other traditional Indian jewelry elements.
- On his head is a gorgeous crown, which was most likely colored in great detail at one time but faded with time.
- In a contemplative state, his eyes are lowered. His serene, spiritual expression sets the tone and mood of the place. He holds a lotus bloom in his right palm, which may symbolize his spiritual enlightenment.
Ceiling Painting
- Looking up from the lovely wall paintings, you can see the geometric designs and motifs grace the ceiling. There are also photos of peacocks gently painted with lapis lazuli blue paint.
- One of the panels has a beautiful vegetable design that resembles a modern-day green bell pepper. In addition, there is a monster with a bull’s head whose body morphs into swirling curvy lines that mix into the following panel’s flowery ornamentation.
- One of the ceiling murals, which portrays a rushing elephant surrounded by flowers, was chosen as the official logo of India’s Department of Tourism. The elephant is depicted rushing about, his trunk swirling close to his torso.
- The painting methods used at Ajanta are comparable to those used in European frescoes. The critical distinction is that the plaster layer was dry when painted.
- The rocky cave walls were plastered with a crude plaster of clay, cow dung, and rice husks.
- The area was then covered with lime paste to produce a smooth working surface. The figurines’ black outlines were then applied, followed by a palette of only six colors.
- The colors employed by the painters were derived from natural sources, such as red and yellow ocher, crushed green malachite, and blue lapis lazuli.
DECIPHERING, RESTORATION, AND PRESERVATION
- Many professionals have worked on repairing the paintings over the years, including Major Gill from 1844 to 1863, John Griffith and Lady Herringham from 1910 to 1911, and Nandalal Bose and Asit Kumar Haldar.
- Mukul Dey and Ghulam Yazdani are two more painters who assisted in the restoration of the paintings.
- Historians and archaeologists should be commended for their persistent attempts to examine and interpret the countless paintings, sculptures, and frescoes and their meanings.
- James Prinsep, Bhau Daji, Walter Spink, Dieter Schlingloff, and Manager Rajdeo Singh are some notable persons who have contributed to the study of the history, arts, and preservation of the Ajanta caves.
SIGNIFICANCE
While the caves’ primary goal was to commemorate Gautama Buddha’s life and achievements, they also give an essential insight into Buddhist life and belief systems and the expression of its ideals in art.
Ajanta Caves Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Ajanta Caves across 29 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets about Ajanta Caves, a Buddhist rock-cut cave temple and monastery in Ajanta village in north-central Maharashtra state.
Complete list of included worksheets:
- Ajanta Caves Facts
- A Dark Mystery
- Let’s Dig Deep
- The Caves
- Visiting Rules
- Know Me Well?
- Through Millenia
- Beauty from Within
- Tourism Promotion
- Let’s be Cavetive!
- A Piece of Puzzle
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Ajanta Caves?
The Ajanta Caves are a complex of ancient rock-cut Buddhist cave temples located in Maharashtra, India. They are renowned for their exquisite paintings, sculptures, and architectural significance. The caves were carved into a horseshoe-shaped cliff along the Waghora River and are known for their role in preserving and showcasing the evolution of Indian art and Buddhist religious practices.
When were the Ajanta Caves built?
The Ajanta Caves were carved over a span of several centuries, primarily between the 2nd century BCE and the 6th century CE. These caves were created in two phases: the earlier Hinayana phase and the later Mahayana phase. The caves served as monastic retreats, worship spaces, and educational centers for Buddhist monks and practitioners.
What makes the Ajanta Caves significant?
The Ajanta Caves are significant for various reasons. Their intricate frescoes and sculptures provide invaluable insights into ancient Indian art, depicting scenes from the life of Buddha, Jataka tales, and various deities. These artworks also reveal the evolution of Indian artistic styles over time. The caves showcase the influence of both Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhist traditions.
How were the Ajanta Caves rediscovered?
The Ajanta Caves were largely forgotten and abandoned for several centuries, and their existence was known mainly through local legends. They were rediscovered in the 19th century during the British colonial period. A British officer named John Smith stumbled upon the caves in 1819 while hunting tigers in the region. Their rediscovery sparked renewed interest in ancient Indian art and culture.
Are the Ajanta Caves open to the public?
Yes, the Ajanta Caves are open to the public and are a popular tourist destination. However, due to the delicate nature of the ancient artworks and ongoing preservation efforts, some restrictions are in place to protect the site. Visitors are generally not allowed to touch the paintings or sculptures, and photography with flash is prohibited inside the caves. The site is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to ensure its conservation and proper maintenance.
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