Ajanta and Ellora
23 September 2008The splendid rock cut caves of Ajanta and Ellora are located near Aurangabad, a city in Maharashtra, a state in western India. These temples represent the pinnacle of rock cut temple architecture in India achieved by the ancient craftsmen. The temples cover a vast range of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain religious themes, and were built over a period of several centuries between the 2nd century BC, to about 9th century AD. Both the cave complexes have been declared as world heritage sites by the UNESCO. Together they are among the best known tourist attractions in India.
Ajanta Caves:
The Ajanta caves comprise a set of 30 caves that are lined in a horse shoe shape besides the Waghora river gorge. These caves were discovered accidentally by a British officer during a hunt.
The caves fall into two groups, the earlier ones dating back to the 2nd to 1st century BC. During this period, Hinayana Buddhism was dominant and Buddha was represented by various symbols and not in his human form. The second group dating between 5th to 6th centuries AD belongs to the Mahayana period and contains sculptures of Buddha in his human form.
The caves can be classified structurally into chaityas (prayer halls) and viharas (monastery). The caves are famous all over the world for their exquisite murals, painted ceilings, carved pillars, and the occasional large figures of Buddha in various postures. Notable among these is the cave 26, which showcases two magnificent panels, including a 7 meters long image of reclining Buddha, depicting Parinirvana (death of Gautama Buddha).
The murals are among the finest and most ancient paintings to be seen in India. They were executed between the 2nd century BC and 5th century AD, but still look as fresh as if they were painted a few days ago. The themes range from the Jataka tales that recount the story of Buddha in his various incarnations, to the everyday courtroom themes, and scenes from everyday life of the period. The colors are still very vibrant and are remarkably well preserved despite lying unattended for several centuries.
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