> The hallowed caves of Ajanta , Maharashtra India houses probably the worlds oldest and most celebrated
specimens of frescos, widely known as Ajanta Murals. These murals intrigue art historians because they involve
the complex procedure of fresco.
> Painting murals has been a part of Indian painting traditions since times immemorial. In fact, murals are
considered to be the earliest remnants of Indian art. India has a rich tradition of paintings since ancient times
and murals stand testimony to that very fact.
> These caves are adorned with sculptures of animals, guards and deities, and paintings of courtly life and
Buddhist tales. Amidst these are several sculptures of Buddha.
> On the pillars were figures of orange- and yellow-robed monks with green haloes standing on blue lotuses,
while on the rock walls facing on to the side aisles were long panels of painting filled with elaborate crowd
scenes, rather as if a painted scroll had been rolled out along the wall of the apse.
> More exciting still, this earliest phase of work is not just very old, but very fine indeed and painted in a quite
different style, and using markedly different techniques to that used in the rest of Ajanta. The murals of
caves nine and 10 represent nothing less than the birth of Indian painting.
➢ The digging of the Ajanta caves was initiated in the 4th century AD.
Over the centuries, 29 such caves were dug by Buddhist monks, and
used as cells and monasteries.
➢ These caves are adorned with sculptures of animals, guards and
deities, and paintings of courtly life and Buddhist tales. Amidst these
are several sculptures of Buddha
➢ The main colours used were red ochre, yellow ochre, brown ochre,
lamp black, white and lapis lazuli which was imported from Northern
India, central Asia and Persia. The green was made by mixing this
lapis lazuli with Indian yellow ochre.
➢ In the pictorial cycles, all the characters are bright and multi-
coloured but are never repeated, a fundamental concept in Indian
art. Ceilings, walls and pilasters are all covered with overlapping
figures, brought to life by the artists with strong and contrasting
colours. The painting techniques at Ajanta are similar to European
fresco technique. The primary difference is that the layer of plaster
was dry when it was painted. First, a rough plaster of clay, cow dung,
and rice husks were pressed on to the rough cave walls. This was then
coated with lime juice in order to create a smooth working surface.
➢ This painting can be found to the left on the main shrine. It depicts
one of the most beloved bodhisattvas, Avalokitesvara. The term
“bodhisattva” refers to a person that has been awakened by the
Buddhist spirit.
➢ Cave 10 contains a supreme treasure that
has only recently been identified:
fragments of the oldest surviving painting
➢ The walls of the caves are covered with mural painting of the life of the Buddha and an image of
suggesting a fair state of preservation from decay. The scenes the first sermon at Sarnath. Next to the
depicted are mostly didactic, devotional, and ornamental. The latter lies a depiction of the legend of
themes are from the Jataka stories (the stories of the Udayana, a tale of two rival queens, one
Buddha's former existences as Boddhisattva), life of the virtuous and one evil. The most dramatic,
Gautam Buddha, and those of his veneration. and best preserved scenes however show
two Jataka stories: the "Shyama Jataka"
➢ Today the Ajanta caves are the greatest tourist attraction of is about a forest dweller who was fatally
the small Indian town of Aurangabad. However art specialists hit by the poisoned arrow of the
are concerned about the delicate condition of these fragile king of Varanasi. Next to it is
paintings. They believe that these paintings are so fragile that the "Chaddanta Jataka", which tells of a
they are endangered by even human breath. virtuous six-tusked elephant that is killed
at the instigation of a jealous
and vindictive queen.
➢ The subjects of the paintings are mostly ➢ A scene from the story of King Shibi, who offered
from the jataka-s, Buddhist mythological his own flesh to save a pigeon
stories of the previous lives of the
Master.
➢ Gautama was meditating under the
Bodhi tree to attain enlightenment.
Mara, the Evil Spirit, made many
attempts to dislodge Gautama from His
resolve. Mara sent his three most
beautiful daughters to distract Him.
This failed. Then Mara summoned his
demons to dislodge Gautama. But
Gautama was calm and unmoved.
➢ On the way to her parent's house
Mayadevi gave birth to Siddharta in
Lumbini grove of shaala trees. Brahma,
➢ Episodes from the life of the Indra and other gods descended to pay
Buddha form the next their respects to the new-born.
important theme.
➢ Maya Devi giving birth to Siddharta, Cave 2
