According to archeologists, construction of the Ajanta caves in Maharashtra, India, began about 2,200 years ago. Over hundreds of years of work and more than 30 monuments were laboriously cut into the rock face of the mountains. According to speculation, the use of the caves stopped around 1000 AD for unknown reasons, letting a thick jungle canopy grow around them, hiding them away for many generations.
No human eye saw the caves again until centuries later, in 1819 when an Englishman by the name of John Smith was hunting a tiger and he discovered a hidden doorway to one of the temples. We know this because he unfortunately left his name on the wall of the temple - and a date, which can still be seen today.
But although that first English discoverer did not go immediately public with his discovery, the existence of the caves became known, and soon after Indian and European tourists started pouring into the ancient site - after much digging and cleaning that is (the caves were home to many species of animals for centuries).
Experts have dated the caves from the second century BC - 200 years before the birth of Christ. Their function seems to be ritualistic, used as prayer halls. Much use of Roman design is evident in the columns and arches of the caves. The hard rock face of the caves was apparently chiseled with rough tools and even bare hands.
It seems that the first hallowed caves were dug during the time of The Sātavāhana Empire, which dates back to about 230BC.
Almost every surface but the floor is covered in paintings - literally. They have lost much of their former glory, of course, but efforts are being made to restore them. Poems are also painted on the walls - 547 of them - which tell stories of Buddha's previous lives. These artistic treasures are significant for their detailed depiction of the life of the Buddha, various Jataka tales, and glimpses of everyday life in ancient India. The murals are particularly notable for their vivid colors and expressive emotion, showcasing a fusion of religious and secular themes, and are considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art.
To create them, a chisel was used to make room for plaster on the walls which was spread on the surface. Before it dried, the painter would paint on it, soaking it into the plaster so it became part of the surface. This method has been proven to survive for over 2000 years.
No one knows why the caves were deserted, and we may never know the answer to this mystery. But they continue to draw many visitors who marvel at the art of the ancients that came before them.
The architecture of the Ajanta Caves is also noteworthy. The caves include chaitya-grihas (sanctuary halls) and viharas (monastic quarters). These structures, carved out of solid rock with intricate detail, reflect the engineering prowess of their creators. The Buddhist monks used these caves for prayer and meditation, and the serenity of the location still offers a spiritual experience for visitors.
The Ajanta Caves are not only a testament to the artistic and religious fervor of their era but also offer invaluable insights into the socio-cultural aspects of ancient Indian civilization. They have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing their outstanding universal value and the remarkable preservation of Indian art history. The caves continue to attract scholars, art historians, and tourists from around the world, eager to witness this unique blend of art, history, and spirituality.
