Located near the city of Aurangabad
in Maharashtra, the famous Ajanta and Ellora are cave shrines
cut out of rock, by hand, and rank amongst some of the most
outstanding specimens of ancient Indian architectural heritage.
The 34 caves at Ellora and the 29 caves at Ajanta, were remained
shrouded in obscurity for over a millennium, till John Smith, a
British Army Officer, accidentally stumbled upon them while on a
hunting expedition in 1819. Ajanta has been designated as a
World Heritage Site, to be preserved as an artistic legacy that
will come to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to
come.
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Ajanta Caves
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. They depict the
story of Buddhism, spanning a period from 200 BC to 650 AD.
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 - centers 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. 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.
Ellora Caves
The Ellora caves, 34 in number, are carved into the sides of a
basaltic hill, 30 kms from Aurangabad. The finest specimens of
cave - temple architecture, they house elaborate facades and
exquisitely adorned interiors. These structures representing the
three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, were carved during
the 350 AD to 700 AD period. The 12 caves to the south are
Buddhist, the 17 in the centre dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5
caves to the north are Jain.
The sculpture in the Buddhist caves accurately convey the
nobility, grace and serenity inherent in the Buddha. Caves 6 and
10 house images from the Buddhist and Hindu faith, under the same
roof, the latter dedicated to Vishwakarma, the patron saint of
Indian craftsmen. The Vishvakarma cave is both a Chaitya and a
Vihara, with a seated Buddha placed in the stupa. Its two -
storied structure sports a colourful pageant of dwarfs, dancing
and making music.
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