History And Area Of ​​Ajanta Caves In English

History And Area Of ​​Ajanta Caves In English

Ajanta Cave

• The Ajanta Caves are about 29 rock-cut Buddhist monument caves located in Maharashtra, India, dating back to the 2nd century BC.
• Excellent samples of depiction and craftsmanship related to Buddhism are found here. Along with these, live illustrations are also available.
• These caves are located near the village named Ajanta, which is in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. The Ajanta Caves have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
• According to “National Geographic”: The flow of faith was such that for centuries almost all Buddhist temples, including Ajanta, appear to have been built under the rule and patronage of the Buddhist faith of the time.

Area

• The caves are situated 3½ km from Ajanta village in a horse shoe shaped valley surrounded by a dense forest.
• This village is situated 106 km away from Aurangabad city of Maharashtra. Its nearest town is Jalgaon, which is 60 km away, Bhusaval is 70 km away.
• The hill stream Waghur flows in the foothills of this valley. There are a total of 29 caves here, which are situated to the south of a waterfall formed by the river. Their height from the river ranges from 35 to 110 feet.
• Ajanta is a monastery-like complex consisting of several viharas (monastic residences) and chaitya grihas (stupa memorial halls), built in two phases.
• The first phase has been mistakenly called the Hinayana phase, which is related to the Hinayana school of Buddhism. In fact, Hinayana is a term for Sthaviraism, in which there is no prohibition against the embodiment of the Buddha.
• The Ajanta Caves were discovered in this phase. In these excavations, Buddha is shown in the form of stupa or monastery.
• The excavations of the second phase were discovered after almost three centuries of stagnation. This phase is also misrepresented by Mahayana phase 9, the second major school of Buddhism, which is less dogmatic, and allows the Buddha to be depicted directly as a cow, etc., in paintings or sculptures.
• Many people call this stage as Vakataka stage. It is named after the Vakatakas, the ruling dynasty of the Vatsagulma branch.
• The construction date of this second phase is disputed among many academics. In recent years some majority indications have begun to place it in the fifth century.
• The viharas found in the excavation are of various sizes, the largest of which is 52 feet, almost all of them are square.

The Cave – A First Step

• This is a first step and has no meaning in the chronological order of the other caves. This is the first cave from the eastern side on a horseshoe shaped slope.
• According to Spink, this is one of the last caves built at the site and is towards the end of the Vakataka phase.
• However no epigraphic evidence exists; However, the Vakataka king Harisena is believed to have been the patron of this well-preserved cave.
• Very detailed carving work has been done in this cave, in which there are many highly embossed crafts.
• There was an open space in front of this cave, which had pillared corridors on either side. Its level was relatively high.
• There are chambers on both sides of its entrance hall. The absence of pillared cells at its end suggests that this mandapa was not built with the last phase of Ajanta, when pillared cells had become a regular part.
• Each wall of the Mahakaksha (hall) is about 40 feet long and 20 feet high. Twelve pillars form a square colonnade inside that supports the roof, as well as forming a corridor along the walls.
• A sanctum sanctorum image is carved on the back wall, in which Buddha is shown sitting in his Dharma-chakra-pravartana posture.
• There are four rooms each in the back, left and right wall. The walls are full of paintings, which are in excellent state of preservation.
• The scenes shown are mostly of sermons, religious and ornamentation. Their subjects are related to the Jataka tales, the life of Gautam Buddha, etc.

Cave Number 2

• Cave No. 2, adjacent to Cave No. 1, is famous for its paintings preserved on the walls, ceilings and pillars.
• It looks very beautiful and looks almost similar to cave number one, but is in a much better state of preservation.

Vane

• This cave has two door-pavilions, which is very different from number 1. In fact, the carving of the panels also looks different.
• There are two very thick pillars supporting this cave, which are decorated with heavy carvings. Yes, it definitely resembles the first cave in size, measurement and ground plan.

Portico

• The front porch is flanked by pillared cells on either side. Formerly rooms were built on the vacant places when necessary and later on when the space was needed, because later the need for housing increased.
• In all later Vakataka constructions, cells at the end of the porch became an essential part. The frescoes made on its ceilings and walls have been published in sufficient quantity.
• These contain stories of other births of the Bodhisattva form before the birth of the Buddha. There is a doorway in the middle of the back wall of the porch leading to the mahakaksha (hall).
• On either side of the doorway are square wide windows that provide abundant light; Which brings beauty and harmony.