Ajanta Caves, 400 kms travel from Mumbai
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At about 400 kms northeast of Mumbai near
to the city of Aurangabad, is located one
of the most beautiful Buddhist caves of Ajanta.
Carvings depicting the life of Buddha fill
these breathtaking caves, which originally,
date back to around 200 BC. It was only in
the 19th century, that the Ajanta group of
caves, lying deep within the Sahyadri hills,
cut into the curved mountain side, above the
Waghora river, were discovered. A group of
British officers on a tiger hunt, stumbled
on these ancient works of art.
The beauty of the caves Ajanta Caves, Mumbai
The 29 caves were built as secluded retreats
of the Buddhist monks, who taught and performed
rituals in the Chaityas and Viharas, the ancient
seats of learning, and nerve - centres of
the Buddhist cultural movement.
Using simple tools
like hammer and chisel, the monks carved out
the impressive figures adorning the walls
of these structures. Exquisite wall - paintings
and sculptures speak volumes of the India
of yore. Many of the caves house panels depicting
stories from the Jatakas, a rich mine of tales
of the several incarnations of the Buddha.
Images of nymphs and princesses amongst others
are also elaborately portrayed.
It was the foresight of Buddha himself that
the ink would perish but not the rocks. Cave
1 houses some of the best - preserved wall
paintings, which include two great Boddhisattvas,
Padmapani and Avalokiteshvara. Caves 2, 16
and 17 also contain amazing paintings, while
Caves 1, 4, 17, 19, 24 and 26 boast of some
of the most divine sculptures. The flying
apsara, of Cave 17, and the image of Buddha
preaching in Cave 17, are a couple of unforgettable
works of art. Ajanta, conjures before one's
vision, a dream of beauty- of caves, hidden
in the midst of a lonely glen with a streamlet
flowing down below, caves that were scooped
out into the heart of the rock so that the
pious Buddhist monk, out on mission to spread
the tenets of Buddhism could dwell and pray.
Of the thirty monuments at Ajanta, four caves
No 9,10,26 and 29 are sanctuaries or Chaitya
containing a stupa at the centre of their
apses. The rest are monastic residences or
Viharas. The monks in ancient times were required
to venture out to distant land to preach the
gospels of Lord Buddha. They were to keep
travelling without a transit except in the
rainy season when they were to stay at Vihara.
Later with the growth of cultural renaissance
with the rule of Guptas in India and earlier
during the reign of Maurayan king Ashoka,
began architectural and sculptural activities
in India. It was during the reign of Great
Mouryan king Ashoka, that the sculptural activities
began in the western India.
At Ajanta, the paintings on the walls, illustrate
the events in the life of prince Gautama Buddha,
the founder of Buddhism and in the more popular
Jataka stories pertaining to Buddha's previous
incarnation. According to the older conceptions,
the Buddha wrought many deeds of kindness
and mercy in a long series of transmigration
as a Bodhisattava, before achieving his final
birth as the sage of sakyas. Incidentally
they contain the scenes of semi-mythological
history, the royal court and popular life
of the ancient times, as told in romances
and plays. Some pictures recall the Greek
and Roman compositions and proportions, few
late resemble to Chinese manners to some extent.
However, majority belongs to a phase, which
is purely Indian, as they are found nowhere
else.
These monuments were constructed during two
different periods of time separated by a long
interval of four centuries. The older ones
were the product of last to centuries before
Christ and belongs to Hinayana period of Buddhism
in later part of 2nd century AD when Buddhism
was divided into two sections, after the conduct
of the fourth general council under another
great king, Kanishka. The new feature of Mahayana
Buddhism was the concept of future Buddhas.
The Buddha, himself probably thought that
he was the last of the long succession of
earlier Buddha's who lived before him. According
to the Buddhist traditions, these former Buddhas
were revered even in the historical Buddha's
lifetime. When the stupas were constructed
and beautified, the carvings were executed
in a symbolic way. An inspired sculptor began
to carve images of Buddha himself and within
the few generations, all the Buddhist sects
took to worshipping images.
The universe of Mahayana contains numerous
Bodhisattava, the chief of whom is Avalokitesvara
with attributes of compassion. He is also
called Padmapani or the lotus bearer. The
Manjushri with a naked sword in one hand stimulates
the understanding. The sterner Bodhisattava
who is a foe of the sin and evil and bearing
a thunderbolt in the hand is Vajrapani. The
future Buddha, Maitreya will take birth to
save the world. The Ajanta caves and the treasures
they house are a landmark in the overall development
of Buddhism as such.
Though the teachings of four noble truths
and eight-fold path were simple, yet it was
not easy to communicate it in a gripping manner.
Buddha himself once, had suggested to his
disciple Ananda to set up memorial monuments
such as stupas containing his relics and erect
it at a place of his birth enlightenment,
first sermon and final demises, for he had
seen people visiting these places during his
lifetime. To the motivated monks, it was a
mission to fulfill this desire of their master.
They began a search for a retreat from the
world. They came to Ajanta valley, an ideal
place for residence and meditation. It was
located on an important trade route that connected
the Pratisthana, an eastern capital of Satavahana
kings. It was here, he realized, he could
live, meditate and absorb the philosophy of
Buddhism.
Cave Timings
9.00 am to 5.30 PM (Caves closed on Monday
and National holidays.)
Information for tourists
Many more, all masters in their own trade,
painters, sculptors and carpenters joined
the monks. It was simply a meaningful lot,
each one telling the story of man's carvings.
They were masters of their kind yet devotees
to one, the Buddha. With only six pigments
in his hands, the Ajanta artist created the
vocabulary of the entire colour ranges, each
speaking its own language and giving meaning
to the other. Though painted for religious
purposes, the murals of Ajanta bear a secular
rather than a religious message. We see whole
of ancient India in panorama. Here are the
princess in their palaces, coolies with loads
slung over their shoulders, beggars, peasants
and ascetics, together with all the many beasts
and flowers of India. India witnessed all
round development of art and architecture
during the rule of Gupta Dynasty in 3rd AD.
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