AJANTA

MAHAYANA CAVES: 1, 2, 16, 17

Cave no. 1
Portico collapsed before 1819
EXCAVATION
Started : late 463 CE
End of activity : 477 CE
Reign : Maharaja Harishena of
the Western Vakataka dynasty
Patron : Anonymous

NO INSCRIPTION
Little before Cave 2
Painter achieved highest standard of beauty in both line and colour
Ajanta Cave 1 facade.
This is the only temple at Ajanta whose facade has
relief sculptures, in several bands above the pillars,
depicting inter alia the themes from the Buddha’s life
as well as contemporary life.
Front wall inside the cave no. 1
Pillared hall and ceilling inside the cave no. 1
Notice the pillars of the cave no. 1
Looking into the antechamber and shrine inside the cave no. 1
THE SHRINE ANTECHAMBER
Ajanta Cave 1 shrine antechamber. The elaborate, spacious, and well-decorated shrine
antechamber is most unique at Ajanta, and was historically unprecedented.
Ajanta Cave 1 shrine. Some details of the shrine Buddha figure and his attendants.
Ajanta Cave 1 The list of subjects painted
1. Sankhapala Jataka
2. Mahajanaka Jataka
3. Sibi Jataka
4. Nagaraja and Rani
5. Yajudhan pair of Bulls
6. Six handed Dwarf
7. Avishek of Mahajanak Jataka
8. Avalokiteswara Padmapani and his consort
9. Vajrapani
10. Maravijaya
11. Sculpture of Ganga
12. Sculpture of Yamuna
13. Sculpture of Buddha at Sarnath Deerpark
14. Thousands Buddha, Miracle at Sravasti
15. The Dark Princess
16. Sculpture of Elephants
17. Sculpture four deers joined into one
18. Foreigners Persian King and Queen
19. Chalukya King Pulakeshin II
20. Unidentified
21. Mahabhikshu at the door of a woman (Conversion of Nanda)
22. Mahajanaka Jataka
23. Champeya Jataka
Cave no. 2
Ajanta Cave 2
Early 6th century
Similar to cave 1 but smaller
Veranda 46 ft 3 in (14.10m)
Hall 48 ft 4 in x 47 ft 7 in (14.73 x 14.5
m)
12 massive pillars elaborately carved
Shrine with antechamber
Imposing Buddha statue in teacher
posture (dhramachakra)

The painted decorations on the

ceillings of the hall and the verandah
includes lotuses, geese, graceful flying
celestial beings, fierce mythical
creatues and floral and geometric
designs.
Pillars of Porch
 Ajanta Cave 2 The list of subjects
painted
1. Hamsa Jataka
2. Scenes from Budhha’s life
A. Buddha’s visit to Tushita
Heaven
B. Mayadevi’s dream
C. Court of King Shuddhodana
D. Mayadevi beside a pillar
E. Birth of Budhha
F. Seven Steps of baby Budhha
3. Rows of Budhhas
4. Ladies (devotees) with offerings
5. 23 Geese or Hamsas
6. Samkhanidhi Padmanidhi
7. Miracle of Sravasti (only on the right)
8. Buddha in Dharmachakra posture
9. Painted Budhha image
10. Jambala and Hariti
11. Sad Messanger
12. Khantivadi Jataka
14. Vidurapandita Jataka
13. Purna Avadana Jataka
A. Punyak in Indrapastha C. Departure of Vidhurapandit
A. Buddha preaching Purna
B. Scene of Aksyakrida D. Vidhurapandita among the
B. Bhavili merchant navy
Cave no. 16
There is no direct
evidence that the
Vakatakas were
involved with the
Ajanta excavations.
But Harishena’s
minister,
Varahadeva, was
the donor of Ajanta
Cave 16 and the
Ghatotkacha cave.
His inscriptions
mention the rule of
Harishena.
Cave 16
Date of excavation : Late 462-69, 477-78, 478-79
CE
Reign : Maharaja Harishena of the Western
Vakataka dynasty

Main patron : Varahadeva, the prime minister of

Maharaja Harishena and a devout Buddhist
He dedicate this cave dwelling to the Buddhist
Samgha in remembrance of his parents.

It was to be ‘adorned with windows, doors, rows of

beautiful pictures, ledges, statues of celestial
nymphs and the like, and supported by beautiful
pillars, and with a temple of Buddha inside’.
(translated by Dr V V Mirashi)
Cave 16
Steps from the river climb (original intact) till the
entrance flanked by elephants
Large vihara with 65ft (19.8 m) long veranda with a
width of 10ft 8 in (3.25).
The pillared hall has 20 columns and with a dimension
of 65ft (19.8 m) x 74ft (22.25 m).
The height of ceiling is 15 ft (4.6 m).
No antechamber.
High quality painting but mostly damaged
The subjects of the murals and sculpture of Cave 16 are as fo
1. Dwarfs as bracket figures
2. The first phase of Buddha’s life
A. Rishi Asita seeing the newborn
B. Budhha’s education
C. Problem of Shuddhodona
D. Leaving palace
E. ---------
F. Sujata
G. Tripushya and Vallika
H. Letting down Bimbisara’s invitation
3. Conversion of Nanda
A. Kalodayi’s declaration
B. Buddha in Nyagrodharama
C. Buddha in Kapilavasthu
D. Nanda shaving head
E. Dying princess
4. Hasti Jataka
5. Unidentified scene
6. Manushi Budhhas
7. A. Mriganayana B. Minanayana
8. Budhha preaching
9. King Ajatsatru paying visit to Budhha
10. Buddha image
Views of the hall
Cave no. 17
Cave No. 17 The Façade
For R K Singh (2012) the facade of the Ajanta Cave 17 was uniformly similar to
nearly 17 other upashrayas (monastic residences) planned in circa 461 CE.
Cave 17,
EXCAVATION Date : Early 463-471/ 479-480 CE
Reign : Maharaja Harishena of the Western Vakataka
dynasty
Patron : Upendra[gupta II, the local king of Rishika and a
vassal of Maharaja Harishena

There is no direct evidence that the Vakatakas were

involved with the Ajanta excavations.

The inscription of Caves 17 and 20, read with other

inscriptions, suggest that these were donated by
Upendra[gupta II] (or Dharadipa?), the local king of
Rishika jana-pada (province), where Ajanta
was located. His inscription also mentions the rule of
Harishena.

These donative inscriptions do not suggest the

involvement of multiple generations of donors in the
excavation of an edifice. They unequivocally ascribe
authorship to an individual.
THE PORCH
Ajanta Cave 17 porch has relatively better preserved
murals. The porch had connected developments with
many other caves, viz. Ajanta caves 16, 11, 2, and 6.
Cave 17
1. Samsara Chakra
3. Vessantara Jataka
5 a. Manushi Buddha
5 b. Couples
6. Krishna Apsara
7. Taming of Nalagiri