It's such an extraordinary story....a British Cavalry Officer, by the name of John Smith, out hunting tigers in 1819, happened to find, while cutting a path through the jungle, a number of ancient and overgrown cave temples, dating from the 2nd century BCE. These temples, cut into the rock, in the wilds of Maharashtra, became known as the Ajanta Caves! Referred to now as the 'Louvre of India', it provides endless opportunity for academic research. Decorated with wall paintings and sculptures, the huge scale of the structures and the intricate details, are awe-inspiring ! Though the wall paintings are fading fast, despite the efforts of Japanese and Indian conservationists to allay the process, they are still vibrant with descriptive energy.
Similarly, the Ellora Caves, a bus ride away, en route to Aurangabad, are equally impressive. The collection of 34 caves: 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain, alongside each other, dating from 5th - 10th century, show an enviable level of religious tolerance.
Entering Cave No. 10, a Buddhist caitya - a prayer hall, containing a 15' statue of Lord Buddha, teaching under a Bodhi Tree, in front of a stupa, it was the architecture itself which amazed - pillared colonnades, with huge capitals, divided the space into a main hall and aisles. But the most astonishing part of the interior was the roof - the rock had been deeply cut, to create the effect of arched wooden beams, in the manner of a roof made out of wood, instead of stone !
Similarly, the Ellora Caves, a bus ride away, en route to Aurangabad, are equally impressive. The collection of 34 caves: 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain, alongside each other, dating from 5th - 10th century, show an enviable level of religious tolerance.
Entering Cave No. 10, a Buddhist caitya - a prayer hall, containing a 15' statue of Lord Buddha, teaching under a Bodhi Tree, in front of a stupa, it was the architecture itself which amazed - pillared colonnades, with huge capitals, divided the space into a main hall and aisles. But the most astonishing part of the interior was the roof - the rock had been deeply cut, to create the effect of arched wooden beams, in the manner of a roof made out of wood, instead of stone !
No comments:
Post a Comment