Art and Architecture of Ajanta and Ellora
Essential Points for prepare project work
➢ Index
➢ Introduction
➢ Location (Place)
➢ Features
➢ Theme
➢ Conclusion
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Rock-cut cave architecture occupies a very important place in the Indian Art tradition. From the humble beginnings at the Barabar Caves, they evolve into spectacular caves at Ajanta and Ellora. Both these caves have been accorded the UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Table summing up the contrasting features are as follows
Ajanta CavesEllora/ Elura/Verul Lena CavesLocationNear Aurangabad district of MaharashtraNorth West of Aurangabad district of MaharashtraTimelineConstructed between 2nd Century BC to 6th Century ADConstructed between 6th Century AD to 10th Century ADNumber of caves30 caves with one incomplete so sometimes considered 29.
4 chaityas and rest viharas.
100 caves with 34 open for public. Caves dedicated to Hinduism are more followed by Buddhist caves.
Cave 10 is the only Chaitya while rest are viharas.
ReligionsEntirely BuddhismHinduism, Buddhism and JainismPatronageSatavahanas, Vakatakas and ChalukyasRashtrakutas, Kalachuris, Chalukyas and the YadavasChronology of Construction2nd-1st Century BC – Hinayana Phase
5th – 6th Century AD – Mahayana Phase
550 – 600 AD – Hindu Phase
600 – 730 AD – Buddhist Phase
730 – 950 AD – Hindu and Jain Phase
Major attractionPaintings, architecture and sculpturesArchitecture and sculptures.
Especially the Kailashnath temple.
Ajanta Caves
Ajanta caves are a series of 30 Buddhist caves located in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra. This site is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It encompasses both Theravada (Hinayana) and Mahayana Buddhist traditions. The Ajanta caves preserve some of the best masterpieces of Buddhist art in India.
CAVE PLAN – AJANTA
History of Ajanta Caves
The earliest Ajanta caves were carved in the 2nd Century BC out of horse-shoe shaped cliff along the Waghora River. They were used by Buddhist monks as prayer halls (chaitya grihas) and monasteries (viharas) for about nine centuries.
Out of the 30 excavated caves, five (cave no. 9, 10, 19, 26, and 29) are chaitya grihas (prayer halls) and the rest are viharas (monasteries).
In date and style, these caves can be divided into two broad phases.
Phase I (2nd Century to 1st Century BCE) – The earliest excavations were done by the Satavahanas and belong to the Hinayana (Theravada) phase of Buddhism. The object of worship is a stupa here. Caves 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15A belong to this era.
Phase II (5th Century AD to 6th Century AD) – These excavations are a major contribution of the Vakatakas and Chalukyas and belong to Mahayana phase of Buddhism.
Phase 2 / Vakataka Phase – The second phase was of greater artistic activity at Ajanta during the rule of the Vakataka dynasty. King Harishena is credited to have been at the forefront of the development cycle.
Major difference from Phase I is the depiction of Buddha as a result of the spread of Mahayana Buddhism which believes in revering the Master through images and idols.
Caves – Caves 19, 26, and 29 are chaitya-grihas, the rest viharas.
CAVE 19 :
This chaitya griha is datable to fifth century A.D. The stupa is carved with a standing image of Buddha. This cave is known for its sculptural grandeur of the facade. The hall has painted depictions of Buddha in various postures. Cave 19 is first example of a chaitya wholly in stone.
The stunning variety of panel and bracket decoration in this cave includes images of Buddha, mounted riders, flying celestials, lion heads in the panels at intervals and vegetation.
Ellora Caves
It one of the largest rock-hewn monastic-temple complexes in the entire world. There are 34 caves, structures are excavated out of the vertical face of the hills.
CAVE PLAN – ELLORA
Cave Architecture –
Out of these, there are 12 Mahayana Buddhist caves (caves 1-12), 17 Hindu caves (caves 13-29) and 5 caves of the Jain faith (caves 30-34). The Ellora Caves are not only a unique artistic creation but also with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.
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Answer:
Explanation:
Rock-cut cave architecture occupies a very important place in the Indian Art tradition. From the humble beginnings at the Barabar Caves, they evolve into spectacular caves at Ajanta and Ellora. Both these caves have been accorded the UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Table summing up the contrasting features are as follows
Ajanta CavesEllora/ Elura/Verul Lena
CavesLocationNear Aurangabad district of MaharashtraNorth West of Aurangabad district of MaharashtraTimelineConstructed between 2nd Century BC to 6th Century ADConstructed between 6th Century AD to 10th Century ADNumber of caves30 caves with one incomplete so sometimes considered 29.
4 chaityas and rest viharas.
100 caves with 34 open for public. Caves dedicated to Hinduism are more followed by Buddhist caves.
Cave 10 is the only Chaitya while rest are viharas.
ReligionsEntirely BuddhismHinduism, Buddhism and JainismPatronageSatavahanas, Vakatakas and ChalukyasRashtrakutas, Kalachuris, Chalukyas and the YadavasChronology of Construction2nd-1st Century BC – Hinayana Phase
5th – 6th Century AD – Mahayana Phase
550 – 600 AD – Hindu Phase
600 – 730 AD – Buddhist Phase
730 – 950 AD – Hindu and Jain Phase
Major attraction - Paintings, architecture and sculpturesArchitecture and sculptures.
Especially the Kailashnath temple.
Ajanta Caves
Ajanta caves are a series of 30 Buddhist caves located in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra. This site is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It encompasses both Theravada (Hinayana) and Mahayana Buddhist traditions. The Ajanta caves preserve some of the best masterpieces of Buddhist art in India.
CAVE PLAN – AJANTA
History of Ajanta Caves
The earliest Ajanta caves were carved in the 2nd Century BC out of horse-shoe shaped cliff along the Waghora River. They were used by Buddhist monks as prayer halls (chaitya grihas) and monasteries (viharas) for about nine centuries.
Out of the 30 excavated caves, five (cave no. 9, 10, 19, 26, and 29) are chaitya grihas (prayer halls) and the rest are viharas (monasteries).
In date and style, these caves can be divided into two broad phases.
Phase I (2nd Century to 1st Century BCE) – The earliest excavations were done by the Satavahanas and belong to the Hinayana (Theravada) phase of Buddhism. The object of worship is a stupa here. Caves 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15A belong to this era.
Phase II (5th Century AD to 6th Century AD) – These excavations are a major contribution of the Vakatakas and Chalukyas and belong to Mahayana phase of Buddhism.
AJANTA CAVE ARCHITECTURE
Study under the two phases
Phase I/ Satavahana Phase Throughout his life Buddha was against the idea of sculpting and painting images of him. Hence, this phase depicts the Lord via symbols.
Of these, caves 9 and 10 are stupa containing worship halls of chaitya-griha form, and caves 12, 13, and 15A are viharas.
Cave 9 : This apsidal chaitya griha is datable to second century B.C. and belongs to the Hinayana phase of Buddhism. It is a large liturgical hall, with monolithic stone stupa carved from a living rock.
CAVE 9 – Worship Hall with a stupa but no idols
Cave 10 –
The cave consists of a central hall and a rock stupa around which a circumambulatory path is provided.
CAVE 10 – Worship Hall with a stupa and circumambulatory path
Phase 2 / Vakataka Phase – The second phase was of greater artistic activity at Ajanta during the rule of the Vakataka dynasty. King Harishena is credited to have been at the forefront of the development cycle.
Major difference from Phase I is the depiction of Buddha as a result of the spread of Mahayana Buddhism which believes in revering the Master through images and idols.
Caves – Caves 19, 26, and 29 are chaitya-grihas, the rest viharas.
CAVE 19 :
This chaitya griha is datable to fifth century A.D. The stupa is carved with a standing image of Buddha. This cave is known for its sculptural grandeur of the facade. The hall has painted depictions of Buddha in various postures. Cave 19 is first example of a chaitya wholly in stone.
The stunning variety of panel and bracket decoration in this cave includes images of Buddha, mounted riders, flying celestials, lion heads in the panels at intervals and vegetation.
Ellora Caves
It one of the largest rock-hewn monastic-temple complexes in the entire world. There are 34 caves, structures are excavated out of the vertical face of the hills.
CAVE PLAN – ELLORA
Cave Architecture –
Out of these, there are 12 Mahayana Buddhist caves (caves 1-12), 17 Hindu caves (caves 13-29) and 5 caves of the Jain faith (caves 30-34). The Ellora Caves are not only a unique artistic creation but also with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.