Assistant Professor

Amity School of Fine Arts

Amity University

 Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India  

Abstract

As the paper title is concerned “Sistine Chapel” of the Vatican is a living melodious gallery of wonderful fresco paintings which was painted by many Florentine Renaissance masters. In the same way, the world UNESCO heritage site Ajanta Cave had also numerous fresco paintings by a number of unknown masters of the Gupta dynasty. Like the “Sistine Chapel” here also the subject matter is inspired by mythology but the only difference is that “Sistine Chapel” had work based on the “Old Testament” which is basically a story about Jesus but the Ajanta artisans illustrated the story of Jataka Tales that simply speaks about the incarnations and sacrifices stories of Lord Buddha been reborn as an animal or human.

In terms of the application both artisans, use the same kind of technique but slight differences the Western artist applied color on wet surfaces that technique is called “Fresco Buono” but the Ajanta artisans are applied color on drywall is called “Fresco Secco”. The preparation process for the wall is different and the pigmentation color is different.

My modest attempt to write this research paper is not to archive the record but also to glorify the marvelous work of our ancestors in front of the world. Also, this paper highlights the fair sketch of Ajanta’s paintings’ subject matters as well as speaks about the unique characteristic features of the same.          

Keywords: Ancestors, Artisans, Fresco Buono, Fresco Secco, Glorify, Jataka Tales, Melodious, Old Testament, Pigmentation, Renaissance, Sistine Chapel.

Introduction

The finding story of this Buddhist cave was also very interesting while wondering a group of British soldiers randomly discover Ajanta caves in the year 1819. A horseshoe-shaped monolithic rock-cut Buddhist cave situated at the bank of the Waghura River in Maharashtra is a world-famous UNESCO heritage site called Ajanta. The name Ajanta is basically derived from near village Ajinta. It has approximately well-constructed 30 rock-cut caves earlier it predicted 29 but later on 15A cave was discovered. The work progression in Ajanta caves was conducted in two phases, the first phase started around the second century BCE and the second and final phases continued from 400 to 650 CE, as per the literature review available. As the title of the paper “Sistine Chapel of India,” Ajanta comprises world-class masterly works including murals and sculptures as they have been falling as some of the best examples of ancient Indian art still extant, particularly expressive paintings that convey emotions through gesture, position, and shapes of the day-to-day life of Buddha. It is not only one of the best local tourist places in Maharashtra but also it is one of the major tourist attractions of India. The Ajanta caves are known for their stunning and melodious color pallet of classic mural paintings with its world-famous “Fresco Secco” technique of applications. These stunning visuals are not only the subject matter of visual study but at the same time they will be treated as a well-drafted record of sociocultural practices of that time and it also gives an elaborate idea of storytelling of “Jataka Tales”. So, this work is important from the perspective of social science, history, art, culture, and Buddhist philosophy, and also some of the color palette speaks about Hinduism and Jainism.

Over the year due to many circumstances, such as the overgrazing of tourists and maintenance problems the works of Ajanta caves decayed continuously. However, Ajanta cave is one of the ideal places to relive history thanks to the old artworks which were created using various materials such as cow dung and clay and painted in various colors including brown, yellow, black, and white using many different techniques. The Ajanta cave paintings were created via the Tempera method. The majority of the paintings depict Jataka tales about Buddha's life and the various phases of becoming a Buddha.  

Subject Matter of Ajanta Painting

The Ajanta is the only place where we can find the specimen of a painting from between the second and fifth centuries CE. With the exception of the decorative patterns on the ceilings and pillars, the subjects of these paintings are virtually entirely Buddhist. Mostly the subject matter is largely connected to the Jataka tales, it is basically a collection of tales that describes the Lord Buddha's earlier lives.

Besides this also the artisans of Ajanta caves illustrated various aspects of life that is not only masterly work of artists but also advocate the current statement sociocultural activity of at that time. The magical hand of Ajanta artisans beautifully depicted the lonely life of villages, the luxurious life of cities, beggars, fishermen, fighting soldiers, hunters, bullfights, birds, and animals are the specialties of Ajanta painting.

After studying the many literature reviews available on this particular topic, I also agree with the thought process of Shri Vachaspati Gairola, and the logic behind the categorization of Ajanta painting. According to him the Ajanta painting can be divided into three major categories as per the subject matter they are.

1. Ornamental

2. Emotional or Expressive

3. Descriptive.

Under the first category animals, birds, flowers, creepers, giant’s divine people, snakes, Garuda, Yaksha, Gandharva, and Apsara are painted. In the second category Buddha Boddhisatva, king and different poses and Buddha’s birth and death event are illustrated in this category but the third and final part consists of Jataka tales which are maximum in numbers.

The Characteristic Features of Ajanta Painting

There are so many characteristic features of Ajanta painting because which this style became world famous. These are as follows:

Linear Beauty

Line drawing of Ajanta is most important. Expression of emotions through line is the specialty. Nowhere in the world such has a beautiful expression of emotions through line been done. The paintings have been given some additional beauty by a slight brush movement. The expression of ideas through fingers only could have been possible simply through the power and flexibility of lines. Lines have been used to demonstrate light convexity and roundness. The lines reveal a special creative dimension changing in its meaning according to the atmosphere and main object. The lines are thick and thin according to the pressure of the brush but it creates the desired effect. The shades of the lines are also different varying from Indian red to dark brown and black.

Right Expression of Sentiments

The expression of hearty emotions and mental ideals is the specialty of Ajanta paintings; Composition, repose, gaiety friendship, worship, request, restlessness, etc. have been beautifully depicted. The expression of emotions is the soul of Ajanta Art. The Ahimsa, Compassion, friendship, etc. The affectionate partnership of elephants in the Gaja Jataka represents how animals can express their feelings. Love, shyness, fear, grief, courage, hate, tension, and renunciation, among other human emotions, have been very skillfully portrayed, giving this art form international renown.

Melodious Color Scheme

The use of limited colors in creating different color schemes is the originality of Ajanta’s painting. The whole painting has been done in Geru (ruddle) Ramraj Hironji, Neel, Kajal chalk, and lime but the artist was successful in creating a variety of color schemes through these limited available colors only and more over the retention of brightness in colors for about thousand yours compels us to congratulate the artists of that age.

Variety of Life

In Ajanta, the divine and physical lives of both have been exquisitely portrayed. On the one hand, there is a lovely description of urban life, and on the other, lovely country sceneries have been drawn, from the regal to the harsh existence of all standards. Numerous aspects of life, including drinking and wearing makeup, have all been drawn. "Flying Gandharvas" is a fantastic illustration of superhuman existence.

Expression of Emotions through Hand Postures

The artist of Ajanta had achieved a special style of expressing emotions and ideas through the postures of hands or mudra only of course they have expressed their ideas through the face and eyes etc. However, in other paintings, the positions of the hands have very effectively conveyed various emotions such as hope, despair, devastation, supplication, pardon, renunciation, and compassion. The placement of the figures itself narrates the story of the whole composition. This is the contribution of all those devoted artists who have immortalized the art of Ajanta in the history of the art of painting.

Novelty along with Tradition

No doubt there has been a repletion in the subject matter of Ajanta cave paintings but every time we feel some novelty in those traditional subjects. Every artist has tried to create something new in his paintings. Though the colors were limited even that the artist by his sheer dexterity has created a novel color scheme that reflects his independent thinking and devotion to the art of painting. We can very easily distinguish at least twenty different styles simply based on the color scheme, which proves the novelty of traditional style.

Women in Ideal Form

Women are supposed to be a symbol of beauty. But the artist of Ajanta has taken women as the worshipped Goddess of Art. The women of Ajanta are the embodiment of divinity, affection, compassion, inspiration, and power rather than the center of attention or attractiveness in a worldly or physically appealing way. Most of the women in Ajanta are depicted as half-naked, but there isn't a hint of obscenity in there, and she also looks graceful, courteous, and lovely. It is a matter of great controversy in the world as to what mystery is there that in spite of being half nude, there is no obscenity in Ajanta women. Some art critics believed that this is the only rhythmic and graceful line that covers the whole sex appeal and obscenity in the figures there.

Decorative Ceiling

The roofs of Ajanta Cave are also very beautifully decorated. In Jogimara cave also we find this sort of decoration but the Ajanta style is far superior to that Animals, birds, lotuses, God, and Goddesses have been used in that lively decoration. The specialty in this decoration is that in spite of the limited means at their disposal, the Ajanta artist worked in the dark caves in the dim light in such a way that until now we cannot point out a single mistake in the rhythm and balance of that ornamentation.

Ornamentation

The art of Ajanta is full of ornamentation though the whole subject matter is Lord Buddha’s preaching and his life. The ornamentation of Mukuts (headgear of princess), garments, and ornaments is praiseworthy. We see beautiful flowers, fish, elephants, parrots, lotuses, deer, and bullocks in these ornamentations. The artist has successfully drawn geometrical designs also. In these ornamentations, we can see rhythm, balance, harmony, unity imagination, force, and life.

Beautiful Composition

Composition was one of the main specialties of Ajanta artists in every composition the main idea catches the eye at once. They have painted the main figure in a bigger size in comparison to other figures in order to give dominance to the former one. In the painting of mother and son, the same style is visible as Buddha has been painted about three times greater than the mother and child. In the same way, human figures have been painted in sizes according to different stories.

Numerous Hair Style

The Hair Styles that were conceived by the artist of Ajanta about 2000 years back and were painted with minute details are still a source of inspiration and knowledge to modern women and the artist too. Different types of Judas hair hanging down on the back like snakes as well as the bobbed hairstyle have got beauty of their own and have been painted in various styles and types. Out of hundreds no. two women have been shown similar hairstyles and which is the climax of their concepts regarding the same.

Depiction of Battle Scenes

Whereas on the one side Ajanta artist have depicted repose, preaching, compassion, pity, and other delicate sentiments, they have on the other hand depicted battle scenes also with the same success. There is a battle scene in cave no. 17 in which 300 faces can be counted with different war moods also a bullfighting scene is very lively painted in Mar Vijay’s painting also terrible faces have been painted.

Symbolism

Elephants, lotuses, creepers, and wild apples have been painted in a symbolic way as these things are taken to be the symbols to the well-being of humanity. In some festivals also these symbols are used. Elephant has got a special mention here in Ajanta cave. It is believed that Lord Buddha was an elephant in one of his past lives as described in Jataka stories.

Paintings according to Six-Limbs of Indian Painting (Shadangas)

The Shadangas of Vatsvayan’s Kamasutra seems to have been followed in the Ajanta cave painting. But at places, the artists have tried to prove their originality and creativity also in expressing different moods and emotions. Henceforth in Ajanta Fresco’s paintings, one can see the sublime beauty and strong depiction of inner feelings of different emotions along the implementation of Six Limbs or “Chitra Sadang”.  is clearly visible. This is one of the key elements of Indian paintings

Emotional Depiction of Birds and Animals

Nowhere in the world of that is time such as the beautiful emotional depiction of the birds and animals found as has been done in Ajanta cave paintings. The elephant has been especially beautifully painted. The reason for this can be that it is believed that Lord Buddha was an elephant in one of his past lives beside horses, bulls, deer, etc. have also been lively and beautifully painted dogs have also been painted. The monkey has been depicted differently playing possess. In the jungle, the lion has been shown. Peacocks, ducks, geese, etc. are among the birds painted there. The artisan of Ajanta mostly shows the animals in different emotional moods which is unique in Gaja Jataka when the white elephants meet his blind parents the emotion of affection that has been shown is unparalleled.

Illustration of Nature

The artisan of Ajanta has depicted nature in a most beautiful way different types of trees like banana, papal, Ashok, mango, banian, palm, etc. have been painted in the most realistic form. In Gaja Jataka, the depiction of plants and trees in the jungle is praiseworthy when they had a limited number of colors only. The way they painted trees, creepers, and groves shows their dexterity. The depiction of nature in landscapes makes them real and full of life.

Unique Apparel Designing

One can feel the fashion of that age while going through the garments painted there. But the imagination of those artists in creating novel designs of ornaments and garments is praiseworthy. Every figure has illustrated with the unique design of ornamentation which is never repeated. The ornaments like Crowns, garlands, armlets, earrings, belts bangles, and pajebs (ornaments for feet), etc. are a challenge to the goldsmiths of today. Mostly the figures are wearing clothes up to the belt and are topless but there is a variety in them. In places, these clothes have been decorated with lines and stripes or by one color only at a place.

Conclusion

One of the pinnacles of ancient Buddhist rock-cut architecture as well as the Indian classical fresco paintings are found at Ajanta Caves. Ajanta's artistic traditions offer a significant and uncommon example of art, architecture, painting, and the sociocultural, religious, and political history of India's modern culture. The unique way that Buddhism has evolved as shown in the architecture, sculptures, and paintings is evidence of the significance of Ajanta as a key center for such activities. Additionally, the epigraphic records discovered at Ajanta offer useful knowledge about modern society.

Through this research paper, I reflected on Ajanta’s unique artistic creation of Jataka Tales and its significant impact on both India and other countries, particularly Java. Ajanta is the right place to find exceptional evidence of the simultaneous development of the two dynasties such as Satavahana and Vakataka. The Buddhist philosophy plays a vital role to developed Indian art as well as it is treated as an intellectual and religious hub that is directly associated with the Buddhist philosophy of Integrity and positiveness.

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