My Travel to Ajanta Caves

David Paul (Scotland)
Visited: 9. 10. 2003

The great sculptures and caves of Ajanta often impressed me, just going through a slew of magazines of the splendid images of the Ajanta caves could never quench my lust for these marvel of creation. What required was a real life vision that I was yearning for. After sojourning some of the pilgrimage sites in northern India, I traveled to Aurangabad located in the state of Maharashtra, that is the celestial home to these world prestigious caves. These magnificent caves are just 100 km. away from there Aurangabad.

Ingenuously the sight of these unique caves was just awe-inspiring. My Guide Mohammad who was a native of that place and was well conversing in English informed me that these magnificent creations were carved out the volcanic lava in the forest ravines of the Sahyadri Hills. I was absolutely awestruck at the unique amalgamation of architecture, sculpture and paintings. Mohammad told me that basically 2 types of monastic Buddhist architecture are conserved in Ajanta Caves- the Chaitya or prayer hall that includes 9,10,19,26, 29 majestic caves and Vihara or monastery are composed of remaining 25 Caves.

To my ecstasy, these caves indicate an illustrative framework of architecture that ubiquitously resolves into 2 facets with a time gap of about 4 centuries from each other. The guide told me directing the caves that the Hinayana Phase included 2 Chaitya Halls- 9 and 10 caves where as 4 Viharas included 8, 12, 13 and 15A caves. In the Mahayana Phase there are 3 Chaityas/prayer rooms including 19, 26 and 29 caves and 11 ethereal Viharas included 1,2,4,6,7,11,15,17 and 20 to 24 caves. I was totally captivated by the sight of these marvelous creations that I could hardly noticed how the time flew away.

Still lot was there for my weary eyes to capture, I was told that the Mahayana Phase instituted a conventional religious speculum. The Hinayana caves are implicitly lacking in images and sculptures. Cave l impressed me the most as it depicted one of the foremost monasteries with excellent paintings of by gone era. I also passed through the majestic anteroom doorways of Bodhisatvas namely Padmapani and Vajrapani that still have the charm of their own. I could notice that most of the caves were brimming with paintings and images portraying the episodes from the life of Lord Buddha as well as stories from the Jataka. I was wonder struck at the delicate carvings and exquisite paintings of Ajanta Caves and was awe that how cum human hands are so much ingenious of such proficiency.

After visiting these erotic caves I could really say that my trip to Ajanta was more than a lifetime experience. In Ajanta the aesthetic subtlety of the Buddhist monks perceived its awash blossoming making these paintings the epitome of Buddhist art in India.