Artist: unknown
Title: Ajanta, Cave 1, exterior view
Material: rock-cut
Site: Ajanta, Maharastra, India
Current Location: Ajanta, Maharastra, India
Period/Date: 5th century C.E.
Iconography/Iconology: The richness of the decoration of the caves is
expressly stated in an inscription in
cave 17 at Ajanta, comparing the Buddhist viharas to the palaces in Indra's
paradise. This implies that the
attained monks belonging to this vihara (and by extension any vihara) will
be a resident in one of the other-world paradises.
Stylistic Comments: The geometrically transformed pillars with flutings
in multiples of eight, surrmounted by
cushion capitals and brackets with richly carved scenes in them, were probably
close copies of wooden prototypes.
At the left of the photograph is a small antechamber to a residence
cave. The antechamber with its
pillared hall is a distinctive feature of a temple as opposed to a residence
hall, therefore indicating
the possibility of a senior monk, preceptor or highly attained person having
resided in it.
