Mr. G. Srirama Rao and family
A
TRIP TO AJANTA
5TH
January, 1980
AJANTA
These caves are about 70 km from
Aurangabad. We reached there in 3 hrs
time in a coach engaged specially for us and another French family with Rs. 30
per head.
View from the View Point:
This was the point from where the caves
were discovered first. A britisher, in
1819, came hunting a tiger and spotted the 10th cave and reported ti
the then Nawab Nizam shahi. This Nawab
took action and dug them out.
All the caves are in a valley, surrounded
by big mountains. They are in U-shape,
starting with the first cave to the last.
The water surrounds the caves, under the mountains. Sun is not shone there due to the low depth
of the caves.
History:
9-11; 13, 15, 16 are the caves first discovered. The other caves were discovered later. In these caves aintings as well as excavated
sculpture are found. All the paintings
and sculpture are of Buddhist culture.
The excavations were of both Mahayana and Hinayana cults. In Mahayana sculptures Buddha, the idol, was
installed. And in Hinayana they did not
believe in idol worship.
All the caves were divided as Viharas and
Chityas. A Vihara is a cave in which the
room is a rectangle or a square structure with a flat roof. A Chitya is a cave in which the room is of
dome shape, with stone excavations curved like the bamboo (doolam). The Buddha idol is installed in the middle of
a Stupa with a pedestrel, Basement and Shilpa in the form of unbrellas called
as Chatra. In Hinayana cult same stupa
without an idol in it.
Only Viharas have paintings in them. And Chityas contain all excavations. The paintings are of mainly red, blue and
green colours. Blue was the only colour
prepared from CaSO4 and the others from naturally occurring minerals. Their origin is not yet known. They are so ‘fast’ that they exist after so
many years too. The caves are expected
ti be if between 2nd – 10th centuries.
The excavation was always carried out from
the top of the mountain to the bottom.
All idols were also excavated from top to bottom. This can be easily conferred by observing
some of the incomplete idols on the walls of the cave, in and out also. The mountainitself was cut out from top to
bottom. The outer pillars of the caves
were excavated first to let enter the Sun light. This shows that the sculptor must have had
the idea of the future cave with full of idols in their fixed positions in his
mind like a map on the globe. All the
sculptures show a similar type of symmetry, showing the accuracy with which the
sculptor had produced his genius.
By seeing the accuracy we can say that
these caves might have been carved after Ellora caves. Because, in some of the Ellora caves, we
observe unsymmetry. On the mountain rock
two layers of plaster was pasted. On the
second layer of plaster the paintings are done.
This can be easily detected because most of the paintings have been
spoilt. Very few paintings can be noted
fully with full size images. The plaster
is in brown colour. Still the nature of
plaster and the colours is not known.
The route to the caves reminds of the trip
to Tirupati, the bus going in curves round the mountains. But instead, here, the bus goes you down the
hill leading to valley.
ALL THE CAVES:
CAVE I:
It is a Vihara. It is very dark. The paintings and excavations were shown with
the help of a fled-light.
The first painting was King Mana Janak
seated on the thrown. He ruled foor 7
years and became an aesthetic. In the
same sequence his wife, who became a dancer to divert his intension, was
painted. The Kind was seated near the
preiest with a serene expression on his face.
When he left the palace, near the gate hiswife is shown with a dejected
face.
The next painting showed Lord Buddha taking
bath in his palace. He had curly haits. His attendants holding pitchers were shown
pouring water on him. Three devotees who
were trying to touch the water bathed by Buddha.
The 3rd painting showed
Bodisatva Padmapani, i.e., emerging Buddha.
Padma is shown in his hand. Eye
brows have been painted in one stroke.
The excavation was Darma Chakra Parivartana
Mudra of Buddha. In this sculpture 3
moods were shown. From front in the face
the mood of meditation would be observed.
From left it would seem that the Buddha s smiling at you from right it is evident that Buddha is sad
due to the poverty of humanity.
The painting of (last) Bodisattava Vagra
Pani. He is supposted to save humanity
from evil passions. Vagra is shown in
one of his hands.
On the ceiling many types of vegetation was
shown. Painting of a bull, who looks at
you from any corner. The painting was
white and black.
The pillars were rounded on the top. On each pillars is a head of a deer with four
bodies. But from corners we can observe
4 deers.
CAVE II
This is also a Vihara. The first painting showed birth of
Buddha. In Tushita Heaven – a savour was
needed to the humanity. Buddha seated
with his followers. All selected Kind
Suddhodana as hs future father. King
Suddhodana has a dream about having a son.
Queen Mahamaya gave birth to a son with 16 marks on his body. He was born in Lumbini garden situated
between India and Nepal.
The 2nd painting showed a lady
bending on the legs of the King. She was
naked. It looked as if she was asking
for forgiveness. There is a story as
follows: a King went into a forest with
a dancer and was enjoying her company.
But without his knowledge, the dancer went and heard the preaching’s of
Lord Buddha. When she went back the King
was angry. Due to his fury the dancer
bends on his feet and asks for mercy.
The excavations of devatas Hariti and
Jambala. She was supposed to be the
goddess of fertility. She had 500
children. But she used to snatch away
others children. So Buddha wanted to
teach her a lesson. He took away one of
her sons. She was angry and came to
Buddha with fury. But explained her how
the others would have felt with their children taken away. She understood and stopped snatching away
children.
Multiple paintings of Buddha on a side
wall. King Pashanjit questioned him
about his super humanity. To tell him
about his superiority Buddha showed himself in different ways to the King. All the paintings show different moods of
Buddha.
An excavation of Buddha with Dharma Chakra
Parivartana Mudra.
The next excavations was of Gods of
Wealth-Shankalidi and Padmalidi. They
were shown with big tummys, which was the sign of wealth. On the roof the painting of swams shows a
beautiful symmetry.
CAVE IX
It is a Chaitya. It was a place of worship for
HInayana’s. Smaller room.
CAVE X
Bigger room. A Chaitya.
The Stupa was without an idol.
CAVE XVI
A painting of Buddha’s brother Nanda
(cousin). Buddha asked Nanda to leave
Luxurious life but was refused. Then he
shaved away Nanda’s head and sent his crown to his wife. Another painting shows the crown was brought
to the princess and she on the verge of dying with all the sorrow on her face.
A sculpture of Buddha excavated in
preaching posture.
A painting of preaching Buddha with all his
attendants surrounding him.
In between two pillars a love-making couple
was excavated. On the pillas on all the
sides four ganas or devotees were shown carrying, as if, the caves on their
bodies.
CAVE XIX
It is a Chaitya. Mahayana stupa with Buddha installed in
it. The pillars had been sculptured with
flying couple on them.
CAVE XXIV
Incomplete cave. Rocks were left unfinished. The ddor was sculptured with love-making
couple. It looks, as if, they wanted to
excavate many postures of devotees kneeling before Lord Buddha.
CAVE XXVI
Buddha sleeping (excavation). He left the workd. Underneath are excavated the sculptures of
mounging people. Deities on the top
rejoicing for Buddha’s entry into their world.
Buddha was meditating. Mara’s 7
daughters were excavated around him, who were trying to divert away his
attention.
In the middle was Buddha in his preaching
posture. Many apsarasas were excavated
around the basement. The smallest
excavation of Buddha was on the turban of the devata. Devata’s were also excavated alternating with
apsarasas.
In between many caves were left due to
research and damage work. Hence, were
closed. But on some walls of the outer
caves many half and unfinished excavations were present.
After having lunch in the garden we all
returned back to Aurangabad. Thus ending
the trip happily. But on all it was a
wonderful trip.
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