Page 24 - Atheetha E-Magazine

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Sangarama (monasteries). These caves are classified rear wall on a giant Buddha statue from the living rock.

as Hinayana and Mahayana. The caves represent-
ing the Hinayana approach cave numbers are 8, 9,
10, 12, 13 and 30, while the caves related to the Ma-
hayana sect are numbered as 1-7, 11, 14-29. Among

the Hinayana caves, 9, 10, 30 Chaitya halls and oth-
ers are Monasteries. 19, 26 and 29 are Mahayana
Chaitya halls. Each cave has sculptures, murals, and
ceiling paintings from Buddha's life and Jataka tales.

inner view of Cave 6
Paintings

These paintings are not the product of a single
undertaking. Instead, it resolves itself into several
distinct groups, representing various styles and
periods. The Ajanta cave paintings belong from

2nd BCE to the 6th century out of 30 Ajanta caves.
Mahayana Caves 19 Among the paintings of Ajantha, the oldest paintings
The excavation of the cave temple at Ajantha begins can be seen in caves 9 and 10. Those paintings belong
with the Chaitya Halls. The Chaitya Hall was used by to the 2nd century. However, some of the caves

the monks who lived in Ajanta as a Dharmashala or have the paintings of Gupta period and later. Ajanta
a meeting hall. Chaitya Hall is usually a rectangular frescos are classical paintings made on the dry plaster
hall with a sloping roof and an apical shape at the end. surface. These paintings depict mostly Buddhist

The chaitya hall is divided into two parts by a row of subjects and mainly illustrate the Jataka incidents
pillars. The section between the pillars and the wall is from the previous lives of Buddha. The paintings were
called Aisle. A Stupa is designed for the far end of the elaborately made with distinguishing features. The
hall. The middle part with the stupa is called the Nave. ceilings of the caves were also elaborately decorated.
Some of the caves have elaborately carved entrances,

some with large windows over the door to admit
light. In addition, there is often a porch or verandah.

The monasteries are designed in a very similar
format, which is typically square shape hall. Its design
included the porch, the central hall or the main hall,

a shrine room, and monk residence cells. In addition,
some plans include outside rooms on either side of Plan of Chaitya-hall, Cave 10
the living room. The main hall is a square hall with an

entrance on one side and cells cut into the rock on other Over the cracked wall's surface has been applied
three sides. Also carved a shrine room at the center of the a mixture of clay, cow dung, and straw to the wall.