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Ajanta Caves - Wikipedia
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aria-controls="toc-History-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle History subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-History-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Caves_of_the_first_period_(satavahana)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Caves_of_the_first_period_(satavahana)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>Caves of the first period (satavahana)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Caves_of_the_first_period_(satavahana)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Caves_of_the_later_or_Vakataka_period" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Caves_of_the_later_or_Vakataka_period"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>Caves of the later or Vakataka period</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Caves_of_the_later_or_Vakataka_period-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Colonial_era/Rediscovery" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Colonial_era/Rediscovery"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Colonial era/Rediscovery</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Colonial_era/Rediscovery-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Sites_and_monasteries" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Sites_and_monasteries"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Sites and monasteries</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Sites_and_monasteries-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Sites and monasteries subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Sites_and_monasteries-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Sites" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Sites"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Sites</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Sites-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Monasteries" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Monasteries"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Monasteries</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Monasteries-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Worship_halls" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Worship_halls"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>Worship halls</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Worship_halls-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Paintings" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Paintings"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Paintings</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Paintings-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Spink's_chronology_and_cave_history" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Spink's_chronology_and_cave_history"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Spink's chronology and cave history</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Spink's_chronology_and_cave_history-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Spink's chronology and cave history subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Spink's_chronology_and_cave_history-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Hindu_and_Buddhist_sponsorship" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Hindu_and_Buddhist_sponsorship"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.1</span> <span>Hindu and Buddhist sponsorship</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Hindu_and_Buddhist_sponsorship-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_1" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_1"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Cave 1</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_1-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_2" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_2"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Cave 2</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_2-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_3" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_3"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Cave 3</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_3-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_4" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_4"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>Cave 4</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_4-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_5" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_5"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>Cave 5</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_5-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_6" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_6"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>Cave 6</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_6-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_7" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_7"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12</span> <span>Cave 7</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_7-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_8" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_8"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">13</span> <span>Cave 8</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_8-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_9" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_9"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">14</span> <span>Cave 9</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_9-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_10" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_10"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">15</span> <span>Cave 10</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_10-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_11" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_11"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">16</span> <span>Cave 11</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_11-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_12" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_12"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">17</span> <span>Cave 12</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_12-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_13" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_13"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">18</span> <span>Cave 13</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_13-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_14" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_14"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">19</span> <span>Cave 14</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_14-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_15" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_15"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">20</span> <span>Cave 15</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_15-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_15A" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_15A"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">21</span> <span>Cave 15A</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_15A-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_16" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_16"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">22</span> <span>Cave 16</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_16-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_17" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_17"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">23</span> <span>Cave 17</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_17-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_18" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_18"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">24</span> <span>Cave 18</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_18-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_19_(5th_century_CE)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_19_(5th_century_CE)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">25</span> <span>Cave 19 (5th century CE)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_19_(5th_century_CE)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_20" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_20"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">26</span> <span>Cave 20</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_20-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_21" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_21"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">27</span> <span>Cave 21</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_21-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_22" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_22"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">28</span> <span>Cave 22</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_22-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_23" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_23"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">29</span> <span>Cave 23</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_23-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_24" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_24"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">30</span> <span>Cave 24</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_24-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_25" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_25"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">31</span> <span>Cave 25</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_25-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_26_(5th_century_CE)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_26_(5th_century_CE)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">32</span> <span>Cave 26 (5th century CE)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_26_(5th_century_CE)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_27" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_27"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">33</span> <span>Cave 27</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_27-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_28" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_28"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">34</span> <span>Cave 28</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_28-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_29" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_29"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">35</span> <span>Cave 29</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_29-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cave_30" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cave_30"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">36</span> <span>Cave 30</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cave_30-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Other_infrastructure" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Other_infrastructure"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">37</span> <span>Other infrastructure</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Other_infrastructure-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Recent_excavations" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Recent_excavations"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">38</span> <span>Recent excavations</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Recent_excavations-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Copies_of_the_paintings" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Copies_of_the_paintings"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">39</span> <span>Copies of the paintings</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Copies_of_the_paintings-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Reception_history" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Reception_history"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">40</span> <span>Reception history</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Reception_history-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Reception history subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Reception_history-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Foreigners_in_the_paintings_of_Ajanta" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Foreigners_in_the_paintings_of_Ajanta"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">40.1</span> <span>Foreigners in the paintings of Ajanta</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Foreigners_in_the_paintings_of_Ajanta-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Impact_on_later_painting_and_other_arts" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Impact_on_later_painting_and_other_arts"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">41</span> <span>Impact on later painting and other arts</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Impact_on_later_painting_and_other_arts-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">42</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">43</span> <span>Notes</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Notes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">44</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-References-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle References subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Bibliography" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Bibliography"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">44.1</span> <span>Bibliography</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Bibliography-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">45</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Ajanta Caves</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 77 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-77" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">77 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A3%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7" title="أجانتا – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="أجانتا" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-as mw-list-item"><a href="https://as.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%B9" title="অজন্তা গুহাসমূহ – Assamese" lang="as" hreflang="as" data-title="অজন্তা গুহাসমূহ" data-language-autonym="অসমীয়া" data-language-local-name="Assamese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>অসমীয়া</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bn mw-list-item"><a href="https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%B9" title="অজন্তা গুহাসমূহ – Bangla" lang="bn" hreflang="bn" data-title="অজন্তা গুহাসমূহ" data-language-autonym="বাংলা" data-language-local-name="Bangla" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>বাংলা</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be mw-list-item"><a href="https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0" title="Аджанта – Belarusian" lang="be" hreflang="be" data-title="Аджанта" data-language-autonym="Беларуская" data-language-local-name="Belarusian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Беларуская</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0" title="Аджанта – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Аджанта" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coves_d%27Ajanta" title="Coves d'Ajanta – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Coves d'Ajanta" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ceb mw-list-item"><a href="https://ceb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves – Cebuano" lang="ceb" hreflang="ceb" data-title="Ajanta Caves" data-language-autonym="Cebuano" data-language-local-name="Cebuano" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Cebuano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad%C5%BEanta" title="Adžanta – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Adžanta" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Ajanta Caves" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajanta-H%C3%B6hlen" title="Ajanta-Höhlen – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Ajanta-Höhlen" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%A3%CF%80%CE%AE%CE%BB%CE%B1%CE%B9%CE%B1_%CE%91%CF%84%CE%B6%CE%AC%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B1" title="Σπήλαια Ατζάντα – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Σπήλαια Ατζάντα" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajant%C4%81" title="Ajantā – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Ajantā" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo mw-list-item"><a href="https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C4%9Danto" title="Aĝanto – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo" data-title="Aĝanto" data-language-autonym="Esperanto" data-language-local-name="Esperanto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Esperanto</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajant%C4%81" title="Ajantā – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Ajantā" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C_%D8%A2%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7" title="غارهای آجانتا – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="غارهای آجانتا" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajant%C3%A2" title="Ajantâ – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Ajantâ" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gu mw-list-item"><a href="https://gu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AA%85%E0%AA%9C%E0%AA%82%E0%AA%A4%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%A8%E0%AB%80_%E0%AA%97%E0%AB%81%E0%AA%AB%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%93" title="અજંતાની ગુફાઓ – Gujarati" lang="gu" hreflang="gu" data-title="અજંતાની ગુફાઓ" data-language-autonym="ગુજરાતી" data-language-local-name="Gujarati" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ગુજરાતી</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gom mw-list-item"><a href="https://gom.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajanta" title="Ajanta – Goan Konkani" lang="gom" hreflang="gom" data-title="Ajanta" data-language-autonym="गोंयची कोंकणी / Gõychi Konknni" data-language-local-name="Goan Konkani" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>गोंयची कोंकणी / Gõychi Konknni</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%95%84%EC%9E%94%ED%83%80_%EC%84%9D%EA%B5%B4" title="아잔타 석굴 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="아잔타 석굴" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hy mw-list-item"><a href="https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D4%B1%D5%BB%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%BF%D5%A1" title="Աջանտա – Armenian" lang="hy" hreflang="hy" data-title="Աջանտա" data-language-autonym="Հայերեն" data-language-local-name="Armenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Հայերեն</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi mw-list-item"><a href="https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AB%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%81" title="अजंता गुफाएँ – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi" data-title="अजंता गुफाएँ" data-language-autonym="हिन्दी" data-language-local-name="Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>हिन्दी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0piljski_hramovi_u_Ajanti" title="Špiljski hramovi u Ajanti – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="Špiljski hramovi u Ajanti" data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ig mw-list-item"><a href="https://ig.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%BB%8Cgba_Ajanta" title="Ọgba Ajanta – Igbo" lang="ig" hreflang="ig" data-title="Ọgba Ajanta" data-language-autonym="Igbo" data-language-local-name="Igbo" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Igbo</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gua_Ajanta" title="Gua Ajanta – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Gua Ajanta" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grotte_di_Ajanta" title="Grotte di Ajanta – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Grotte di Ajanta" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%90%D7%92%27%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%98%D7%94" title="מערות אג'אנטה – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="מערות אג'אנטה" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kn mw-list-item"><a href="https://kn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B2%85%E0%B2%9C%E0%B2%82%E0%B2%A4%E0%B2%BE" title="ಅಜಂತಾ – Kannada" lang="kn" hreflang="kn" data-title="ಅಜಂತಾ" data-language-autonym="ಕನ್ನಡ" data-language-local-name="Kannada" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ಕನ್ನಡ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ka mw-list-item"><a href="https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%90%E1%83%AF%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%A2%E1%83%90" title="აჯანტა – Georgian" lang="ka" hreflang="ka" data-title="აჯანტა" data-language-autonym="ქართული" data-language-local-name="Georgian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ქართული</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kk mw-list-item"><a href="https://kk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0" title="Аджанта – Kazakh" lang="kk" hreflang="kk" data-title="Аджанта" data-language-autonym="Қазақша" data-language-local-name="Kazakh" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Қазақша</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ky mw-list-item"><a href="https://ky.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0" title="Аджанта – Kyrgyz" lang="ky" hreflang="ky" data-title="Аджанта" data-language-autonym="Кыргызча" data-language-local-name="Kyrgyz" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Кыргызча</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lv mw-list-item"><a href="https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad%C5%BEantas_alas" title="Adžantas alas – Latvian" lang="lv" hreflang="lv" data-title="Adžantas alas" data-language-autonym="Latviešu" data-language-local-name="Latvian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Latviešu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lt mw-list-item"><a href="https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad%C5%BEantos_olos" title="Adžantos olos – Lithuanian" lang="lt" hreflang="lt" data-title="Adžantos olos" data-language-autonym="Lietuvių" data-language-local-name="Lithuanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lietuvių</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adzsantai_barlangtemplomok" title="Adzsantai barlangtemplomok – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Adzsantai barlangtemplomok" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mai mw-list-item"><a href="https://mai.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AB%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AD" title="अजन्ता गुफासभ – Maithili" lang="mai" hreflang="mai" data-title="अजन्ता गुफासभ" data-language-autonym="मैथिली" data-language-local-name="Maithili" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>मैथिली</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ml mw-list-item"><a href="https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%85%E0%B4%9C%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4_%E0%B4%97%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%B9%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%BE" title="അജന്ത ഗുഹകൾ – Malayalam" lang="ml" hreflang="ml" data-title="അജന്ത ഗുഹകൾ" data-language-autonym="മലയാളം" data-language-local-name="Malayalam" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>മലയാളം</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mt mw-list-item"><a href="https://mt.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C4%A7erien_ta%27_Ajanta" title="Għerien ta' Ajanta – Maltese" lang="mt" hreflang="mt" data-title="Għerien ta' Ajanta" data-language-autonym="Malti" data-language-local-name="Maltese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Malti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mr mw-list-item"><a href="https://mr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%80" title="अजिंठा लेणी – Marathi" lang="mr" hreflang="mr" data-title="अजिंठा लेणी" data-language-autonym="मराठी" data-language-local-name="Marathi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>मराठी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-arz mw-list-item"><a href="https://arz.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%83%D9%87%D9%88%D9%81_%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7" title="كهوف اجانتا – Egyptian Arabic" lang="arz" hreflang="arz" data-title="كهوف اجانتا" data-language-autonym="مصرى" data-language-local-name="Egyptian Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>مصرى</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mnw mw-list-item"><a href="https://mnw.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%80%91%E1%80%AE%E1%80%AF%E1%80%82%E1%80%99%E1%81%A0%E1%80%AD%E1%80%AF%E1%80%84%E1%80%BA_%E1%80%A1%E1%80%87%E1%80%94%E1%80%B9%E1%80%90" title="ထီုဂမၠိုင် အဇန္တ – Mon" lang="mnw" hreflang="mnw" data-title="ထီုဂမၠိုင် အဇန္တ" data-language-autonym="ဘာသာမန်" data-language-local-name="Mon" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ဘာသာမန်</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gua_Ajanta" title="Gua Ajanta – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Gua Ajanta" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-my mw-list-item"><a href="https://my.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%80%A1%E1%80%87%E1%80%94%E1%80%B9%E1%80%90%E1%80%9C%E1%80%AD%E1%80%AF%E1%80%8F%E1%80%BA%E1%80%82%E1%80%B0" title="အဇန္တလိုဏ်ဂူ – Burmese" lang="my" hreflang="my" data-title="အဇန္တလိုဏ်ဂူ" data-language-autonym="မြန်မာဘာသာ" data-language-local-name="Burmese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>မြန်မာဘာသာ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajanta" title="Ajanta – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Ajanta" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ne mw-list-item"><a href="https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AB%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%82" title="अजन्ता गुफाहरू – Nepali" lang="ne" hreflang="ne" data-title="अजन्ता गुफाहरू" data-language-autonym="नेपाली" data-language-local-name="Nepali" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>नेपाली</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A2%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%B3%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E7%9F%B3%E7%AA%9F%E7%BE%A4" title="アジャンター石窟群 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="アジャンター石窟群" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ce mw-list-item"><a href="https://ce.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0" title="Аджанта – Chechen" lang="ce" hreflang="ce" data-title="Аджанта" data-language-autonym="Нохчийн" data-language-local-name="Chechen" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Нохчийн</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajantahulene" title="Ajantahulene – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Ajantahulene" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-or mw-list-item"><a href="https://or.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AC%85%E0%AC%9C%E0%AC%A8%E0%AD%8D%E0%AC%A4%E0%AC%BE_%E0%AC%97%E0%AD%81%E0%AC%AE%E0%AD%8D%E0%AC%AB%E0%AC%BE" title="ଅଜନ୍ତା ଗୁମ୍ଫା – Odia" lang="or" hreflang="or" data-title="ଅଜନ୍ତା ଗୁମ୍ଫା" data-language-autonym="ଓଡ଼ିଆ" data-language-local-name="Odia" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ଓଡ଼ିଆ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uz mw-list-item"><a href="https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajanta" title="Ajanta – Uzbek" lang="uz" hreflang="uz" data-title="Ajanta" data-language-autonym="Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча" data-language-local-name="Uzbek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pa mw-list-item"><a href="https://pa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A8%85%E0%A8%9C%E0%A9%B0%E0%A8%A4%E0%A8%BE_%E0%A8%97%E0%A9%81%E0%A8%AB%E0%A8%BE%E0%A8%B5%E0%A8%BE%E0%A8%82" title="ਅਜੰਤਾ ਗੁਫਾਵਾਂ – Punjabi" lang="pa" hreflang="pa" data-title="ਅਜੰਤਾ ਗੁਫਾਵਾਂ" data-language-autonym="ਪੰਜਾਬੀ" data-language-local-name="Punjabi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ਪੰਜਾਬੀ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pnb mw-list-item"><a href="https://pnb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7_%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B1" title="اجنتا غار – Western Punjabi" lang="pnb" hreflang="pnb" data-title="اجنتا غار" data-language-autonym="پنجابی" data-language-local-name="Western Punjabi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>پنجابی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad%C5%BAanta" title="Adźanta – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Adźanta" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grutas_de_Ajanta" title="Grutas de Ajanta – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Grutas de Ajanta" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ro mw-list-item"><a href="https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grotele_Ajanta" title="Grotele Ajanta – Romanian" lang="ro" hreflang="ro" data-title="Grotele Ajanta" data-language-autonym="Română" data-language-local-name="Romanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Română</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0" title="Аджанта – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Аджанта" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sa mw-list-item"><a href="https://sa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%83" title="अजन्तागुहाः – Sanskrit" lang="sa" hreflang="sa" data-title="अजन्तागुहाः" data-language-autonym="संस्कृतम्" data-language-local-name="Sanskrit" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>संस्कृतम्</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sco mw-list-item"><a href="https://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves – Scots" lang="sco" hreflang="sco" data-title="Ajanta Caves" data-language-autonym="Scots" data-language-local-name="Scots" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Scots</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sq mw-list-item"><a href="https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shpellat_Axhanta" title="Shpellat Axhanta – Albanian" lang="sq" hreflang="sq" data-title="Shpellat Axhanta" data-language-autonym="Shqip" data-language-local-name="Albanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Shqip</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-si mw-list-item"><a href="https://si.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B6%85%E0%B6%A2%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%8F_%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%99%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A" title="අජන්තා ලෙන් – Sinhala" lang="si" hreflang="si" data-title="අජන්තා ලෙන්" data-language-autonym="සිංහල" data-language-local-name="Sinhala" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>සිංහල</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple mw-list-item"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves – Simple English" lang="en-simple" hreflang="en-simple" data-title="Ajanta Caves" data-language-autonym="Simple English" data-language-local-name="Simple English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Simple English</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sd mw-list-item"><a href="https://sd.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7_%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%86_%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86" title="اجنتا جون غارون – Sindhi" lang="sd" hreflang="sd" data-title="اجنتا جون غارون" data-language-autonym="سنڌي" data-language-local-name="Sindhi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>سنڌي</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk mw-list-item"><a href="https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad%C5%BEanta_(s%C3%ADdlo)" title="Adžanta (sídlo) – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk" data-title="Adžanta (sídlo)" data-language-autonym="Slovenčina" data-language-local-name="Slovak" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenčina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sl mw-list-item"><a href="https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jame_Ad%C5%BEanta" title="Jame Adžanta – Slovenian" lang="sl" hreflang="sl" data-title="Jame Adžanta" data-language-autonym="Slovenščina" data-language-local-name="Slovenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenščina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B5%D1%9B%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%90%D1%9F%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B5" title="Пећине Аџанте – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="Пећине Аџанте" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sh mw-list-item"><a href="https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0piljski_hramovi_u_Ajanti" title="Špiljski hramovi u Ajanti – Serbo-Croatian" lang="sh" hreflang="sh" data-title="Špiljski hramovi u Ajanti" data-language-autonym="Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски" data-language-local-name="Serbo-Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajanta" title="Ajanta – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Ajanta" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajantagrottorna" title="Ajantagrottorna – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Ajantagrottorna" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ta mw-list-item"><a href="https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%85%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BE_%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D" title="அஜந்தா குகைகள் – Tamil" lang="ta" hreflang="ta" data-title="அஜந்தா குகைகள்" data-language-autonym="தமிழ்" data-language-local-name="Tamil" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>தமிழ்</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-shn mw-list-item"><a href="https://shn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%80%91%E1%80%99%E1%80%BA%E1%82%88%E1%80%A2%E1%82%83%E1%82%87%E1%81%B5%E1%80%BB%E1%81%A2%E1%81%BC%E1%80%BA%E1%82%87%E1%80%90%E1%82%83%E1%82%87" title="ထမ်ႈဢႃႇၵျၢၼ်ႇတႃႇ – Shan" lang="shn" hreflang="shn" data-title="ထမ်ႈဢႃႇၵျၢၼ်ႇတႃႇ" data-language-autonym="ၽႃႇသႃႇတႆး " data-language-local-name="Shan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ၽႃႇသႃႇတႆး </span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-te mw-list-item"><a href="https://te.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B0%85%E0%B0%9C%E0%B0%82%E0%B0%A4%E0%B0%BE_%E0%B0%97%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%B9%E0%B0%B2%E0%B1%81" title="అజంతా గుహలు – Telugu" lang="te" hreflang="te" data-title="అజంతా గుహలు" data-language-autonym="తెలుగు" data-language-local-name="Telugu" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>తెలుగు</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-th mw-list-item"><a href="https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%96%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B2" title="ถ้ำอชันตา – Thai" lang="th" hreflang="th" data-title="ถ้ำอชันตา" data-language-autonym="ไทย" data-language-local-name="Thai" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ไทย</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tr mw-list-item"><a href="https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajanta_Ma%C4%9Faralar%C4%B1" title="Ajanta Mağaraları – Turkish" lang="tr" hreflang="tr" data-title="Ajanta Mağaraları" data-language-autonym="Türkçe" data-language-local-name="Turkish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Türkçe</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0" title="Аджанта – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Аджанта" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ur mw-list-item"><a href="https://ur.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7" title="اجنتا – Urdu" lang="ur" hreflang="ur" data-title="اجنتا" data-language-autonym="اردو" data-language-local-name="Urdu" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>اردو</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi mw-list-item"><a href="https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hang_%C4%91%E1%BB%99ng_Ajanta" title="Hang động Ajanta – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" data-title="Hang động Ajanta" data-language-autonym="Tiếng Việt" data-language-local-name="Vietnamese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tiếng Việt</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-wuu mw-list-item"><a href="https://wuu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%BF%E6%97%83%E9%99%80%E7%9F%B3%E7%AA%9F" title="阿旃陀石窟 – Wu" lang="wuu" hreflang="wuu" data-title="阿旃陀石窟" data-language-autonym="吴语" data-language-local-name="Wu" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>吴语</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-yue mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%BF%E6%97%83%E9%99%80%E7%9F%B3%E7%AA%9F" title="阿旃陀石窟 – Cantonese" lang="yue" hreflang="yue" data-title="阿旃陀石窟" data-language-autonym="粵語" data-language-local-name="Cantonese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>粵語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%BF%E6%97%83%E9%99%80%E7%9F%B3%E7%AA%9F" title="阿旃陀石窟 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="阿旃陀石窟" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q184427#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div 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.geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}</style><span class="plainlinks nourlexpansion"><a class="external text" href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Ajanta_Caves&params=20_33_12_N_75_42_01_E_region:IN_type:landmark"><span class="geo-default"><span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location"><span class="latitude">20°33′12″N</span> <span class="longitude">75°42′01″E</span></span></span><span class="geo-multi-punct"> / </span><span class="geo-nondefault"><span class="geo-dec" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location">20.55333°N 75.70028°E</span><span style="display:none"> / <span class="geo">20.55333; 75.70028</span></span></span></a></span></span></div></div> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Buddhist cave monuments in Maharashtra, India</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox vcard"><caption class="infobox-title category" style="font-size:125%;">Ajanta Caves</caption><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above fn org" style="padding:0.2em;background:#0177d3;font-size:100%;"><a href="/wiki/UNESCO_World_Heritage_Site" class="mw-redirect" title="UNESCO World Heritage Site"><span class="tmpl-colored-link" style="color: #ffffff; text-decoration: inherit;">UNESCO World Heritage Site</span></a></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image" style="border-top:1px #aaa solid;padding-top:0.4em;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_(63).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Ajanta_%2863%29.jpg/300px-Ajanta_%2863%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="300" height="225" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Ajanta_%2863%29.jpg/450px-Ajanta_%2863%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Ajanta_%2863%29.jpg/600px-Ajanta_%2863%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1280" data-file-height="960" /></a></span><div class="infobox-caption">The Ajanta Caves</div></td></tr><tr class="mergedrow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.3em;"><a href="/wiki/World_Heritage_Sites_by_country" title="World Heritage Sites by country">Location</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Ajanta,_Maharashtra" title="Ajanta, Maharashtra">Ajanta</a>, <a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_district,_Maharashtra" title="Aurangabad district, Maharashtra">Aurangabad district, Maharashtra</a>, India</td></tr><tr class="mergedrow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.3em;"><a href="/wiki/World_Heritage_Site#Selection_criteria" title="World Heritage Site">Criteria</a></th><td class="infobox-data category">Cultural: i, ii, iii, vi</td></tr><tr class="mergedrow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.3em;">Reference</th><td class="infobox-data"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242">242</a></td></tr><tr class="mergedrow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.3em;">Inscription</th><td class="infobox-data">1983 (7th <a href="/wiki/World_Heritage_Committee" title="World Heritage Committee">Session</a>)</td></tr><tr class="mergedrow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.3em;">Area</th><td class="infobox-data category">8,242 ha</td></tr><tr class="mergedrow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.3em;">Buffer zone</th><td class="infobox-data category">78,676 ha</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.3em;"><a href="/wiki/Geographic_coordinate_system" title="Geographic coordinate system">Coordinates</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="geo-inline"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1156832818">.mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}</style><span class="plainlinks nourlexpansion"><a class="external text" href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Ajanta_Caves&params=20_33_12_N_75_42_01_E_region:IN_type:landmark"><span class="geo-default"><span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location"><span class="latitude">20°33′12″N</span> <span class="longitude">75°42′01″E</span></span></span><span class="geo-multi-punct"> / </span><span class="geo-nondefault"><span class="geo-dec" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location">20.55333°N 75.70028°E</span><span style="display:none"> / <span class="geo">20.55333; 75.70028</span></span></span></a></span></span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><div class="switcher-container"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238443738">.mw-parser-output .locmap .od{position:absolute}.mw-parser-output .locmap .id{position:absolute;line-height:0}.mw-parser-output .locmap .l0{font-size:0;position:absolute}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pv{line-height:110%;position:absolute;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pl{line-height:110%;position:absolute;top:-0.75em;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pr{line-height:110%;position:absolute;top:-0.75em;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pv>div{display:inline;padding:1px}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pl>div{display:inline;padding:1px;float:right}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pr>div{display:inline;padding:1px;float:left}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od .pv>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od .pl>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od .pr>div{background:#fff!important;color:#000!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .locmap{filter:grayscale(0.6)}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data .locmap div{background:transparent!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .locmap{filter:grayscale(0.6)}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od .pv>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od .pl>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od .pr>div{background:white!important;color:#000!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data .locmap div{background:transparent!important}}</style><div class="center"><div class="locmap" style="width:250px;float:none;clear:both;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"><div style="width:250px;padding:0"><div style="position:relative;width:250px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:India_relief_location_map.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Ajanta Caves is located in India"><img alt="Ajanta Caves is located in India" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/India_relief_location_map.jpg/250px-India_relief_location_map.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="269" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/India_relief_location_map.jpg/375px-India_relief_location_map.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/India_relief_location_map.jpg/500px-India_relief_location_map.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1500" data-file-height="1615" /></a></span><div class="od notheme" style="top:52.144%;left:27.188%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Ajanta Caves"><img alt="Ajanta Caves" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/12px-Red_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/16px-Red_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div></div></div><div style="padding-top:0.2em"><div style="line-height:1.2em;">Location of Ajanta Caves in India</div></div><span class="switcher-label" style="display:none">Show map of India</span></div></div></div><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238443738"><div class="center"><div class="locmap" style="width:250px;float:none;clear:both;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"><div style="width:250px;padding:0"><div style="position:relative;width:250px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:India_Maharashtra_relief_map.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Ajanta Caves is located in Maharashtra"><img alt="Ajanta Caves is located in Maharashtra" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/India_Maharashtra_relief_map.svg/250px-India_Maharashtra_relief_map.svg.png" decoding="async" width="250" height="183" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/India_Maharashtra_relief_map.svg/375px-India_Maharashtra_relief_map.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/India_Maharashtra_relief_map.svg/500px-India_Maharashtra_relief_map.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1233" data-file-height="901" /></a></span><div class="od notheme" style="top:23.808%;left:37.295%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Ajanta Caves"><img alt="Ajanta Caves" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/12px-Red_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/16px-Red_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div></div></div><div style="padding-top:0.2em">Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra)</div><span class="switcher-label" style="display:none">Show map of Maharashtra</span></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_(2).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg/300px-AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="300" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg/450px-AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg/600px-AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></a><figcaption>Cave 19, Ajanta 5th-century <a href="/wiki/Chaitya" title="Chaitya">chaitya</a> hall.</figcaption></figure> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist 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.sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:none!important}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239334494">@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output div:not(.notheme)>.tmp-color,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output p>.tmp-color,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output table:not(.notheme) .tmp-color{color:inherit!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output div:not(.notheme)>.tmp-color,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output p>.tmp-color,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output table:not(.notheme) .tmp-color{color:inherit!important}}</style><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239334494"><table class="sidebar sidebar-collapse nomobile nowraplinks" style="background:#FFFEE9; border:3px solid #af4730"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebar-pretitle" style="background:#af4630; color:white"><a href="/wiki/Buddhist_Pilgrimage" class="mw-redirect" title="Buddhist Pilgrimage"><span class="tmp-color" style="color:white">Pilgrimage to</span></a></td></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-title-with-pretitle" style="background:#af4630; color:white"><a href="/wiki/Buddhist_Pilgrimage" class="mw-redirect" title="Buddhist Pilgrimage"><span class="tmp-color" style="color:white">Buddha's Holy Sites</span></a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Dharma_Wheel.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Dharma_Wheel.svg/80px-Dharma_Wheel.svg.png" decoding="async" width="80" height="80" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Dharma_Wheel.svg/120px-Dharma_Wheel.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Dharma_Wheel.svg/160px-Dharma_Wheel.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="600" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content hlist"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:#af4630; color:white;color: var(--color-base)">The Four Main Sites</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bodh_Gaya" title="Bodh Gaya">Bodh Gaya</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kushinagar" title="Kushinagar">Kushinagar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lumbini" title="Lumbini">Lumbini</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sarnath" title="Sarnath">Sarnath</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content hlist"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:#af4630; color:white;color: var(--color-base)">Four Additional Sites</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Rajgir" title="Rajgir">Rajgir</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sankissa" title="Sankissa">Sankissa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shravasti" title="Shravasti">Shravasti</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vaishali_(ancient_city)" title="Vaishali (ancient city)">Vaishali</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content hlist"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:#af4630; color:white;color: var(--color-base)">Other Sites</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Ajanta</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Amaravati_Stupa" title="Amaravati Stupa">Amaravati</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Barabar_Caves" title="Barabar Caves">Barabar Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bharhut" title="Bharhut">Bharhut</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chandavaram_Buddhist_site" title="Chandavaram Buddhist site">Chandavaram</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Devdaha" title="Devdaha">Devdaha</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ellora_Caves" title="Ellora Caves">Ellora Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kapilavastu_(ancient_city)" title="Kapilavastu (ancient city)">Kapilavastu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kesaria_Stupa" title="Kesaria Stupa">Kesaria Stupa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kosambi" title="Kosambi">Kosambi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lalitgiri" title="Lalitgiri">Lalitgiri</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mathura" title="Mathura">Mathura</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nalanda" class="mw-redirect" title="Nalanda">Nalanda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nasik_Caves" title="Nasik Caves">Nasik</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pataliputra" title="Pataliputra">Pataliputra</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/P%C4%81v%C4%81" title="Pāvā">Pāvā</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Piprahwa" title="Piprahwa">Piprahwa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pushpagiri_Vihara" title="Pushpagiri Vihara">Pushpagiri</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ramagrama_stupa" title="Ramagrama stupa">Ramagrama stupa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ratnagiri,_Odisha" title="Ratnagiri, Odisha">Ratnagiri</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sanchi" title="Sanchi">Sanchi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Udayagiri,_Odisha" title="Udayagiri, Odisha">Udayagiri</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tilaurakot" title="Tilaurakot">Tilaurakot</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Varanasi" title="Varanasi">Varanasi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vikramashila" title="Vikramashila">Vikramashila</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:BuddhasHolySites" title="Template:BuddhasHolySites"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:BuddhasHolySites" title="Template talk:BuddhasHolySites"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:BuddhasHolySites" title="Special:EditPage/Template:BuddhasHolySites"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The <b>Ajanta Caves</b> are 30 <a href="/wiki/Rock-cut_architecture" title="Rock-cut architecture">rock-cut</a> <a href="/wiki/Buddhist_caves_in_India" title="Buddhist caves in India">Buddhist cave monuments</a> dating from the second century <a href="/wiki/Common_Era" title="Common Era">BCE</a> to about 480 CE in <a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_district,_Maharashtra" title="Aurangabad district, Maharashtra">Aurangabad district</a> of <a href="/wiki/Maharashtra" title="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</a> state in <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-:0_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Madan_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Madan-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Ajanta Caves are a <a href="/wiki/UNESCO" title="UNESCO">UNESCO</a> <a href="/wiki/World_Heritage_Site" title="World Heritage Site">World Heritage Site</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Universally regarded as masterpieces of <a href="/wiki/Buddhist_art" title="Buddhist art">Buddhist religious art</a>, the caves include paintings and rock-cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of <a href="/wiki/Ancient_Indian_architecture" title="Ancient Indian architecture">ancient Indian art</a>, particularly expressive paintings that present emotions through gesture, pose and form.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009336_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMichell2009336-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The caves were built in two phases, the first starting around the second century BCE and the second occurring from 400 to 650 CE, according to older accounts, or in a brief period of 460–480 CE according to later scholarship.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Ajanta Caves constitute ancient monasteries (<i><a href="/wiki/Vih%C4%81ra" title="Vihāra">Viharas</a></i>) and worship-halls (<i><a href="/wiki/Chaitya" title="Chaitya">Chaityas</a></i>) of different Buddhist traditions carved into a 75-metre (246 ft) wall of rock.<sup id="cite_ref-Johnston2013p18_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Johnston2013p18-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The caves also present paintings depicting the past lives <sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and <a href="/wiki/Reincarnation" title="Reincarnation">rebirths</a> of the Buddha, pictorial tales from <i>Aryasura's Jatakamala</i>, and rock-cut sculptures of Buddhist deities.<sup id="cite_ref-Johnston2013p18_8-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Johnston2013p18-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Textual records suggest that these caves served as a monsoon retreat for monks, as well as a resting site for merchants and pilgrims in ancient India.<sup id="cite_ref-Johnston2013p18_8-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Johnston2013p18-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> While vivid colours and mural wall paintings were abundant in Indian history as evidenced by historical records, Caves 1, 2, 16 and 17 of Ajanta form the largest corpus of surviving ancient Indian wall-paintings.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355–361,_460_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355–361,_460-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_viewpoint.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Ajanta_viewpoint.jpg/220px-Ajanta_viewpoint.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Ajanta_viewpoint.jpg/330px-Ajanta_viewpoint.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Ajanta_viewpoint.jpg/440px-Ajanta_viewpoint.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2576" data-file-height="1932" /></a><figcaption>Panoramic view of Ajanta Caves from the nearby hill</figcaption></figure> <p>The Ajanta Caves are mentioned in the memoirs of several medieval-era Chinese Buddhist travellers.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a32,_82_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a32,_82-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> They were covered by jungle until accidentally "discovered" and brought to Western attention in 1819 by a colonial British officer Captain John Smith on a tiger-hunting party.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20073,_139_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20073,_139-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The caves are in the rocky northern wall of the U-shaped gorge of the <a href="/wiki/River_Waghur" class="mw-redirect" title="River Waghur">River Waghur</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> in the <a href="/wiki/Deccan_plateau" class="mw-redirect" title="Deccan plateau">Deccan plateau</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Within the gorge are a number of waterfalls, audible from outside the caves when the river is high.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20072_19-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20072-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Transport">Transport</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Transport"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>With the <a href="/wiki/Ellora_Caves" title="Ellora Caves">Ellora Caves</a>, Ajanta is one of the <a href="/wiki/Tourism_in_Marathwada" title="Tourism in Marathwada">major tourist attractions</a> of <a href="/wiki/Maharashtra" title="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</a>. It is about 59 kilometres (37 miles) from the city of <a href="/wiki/Jalgaon" title="Jalgaon">Jalgaon</a>, Maharashtra, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>, 104 kilometres (65 miles) from the city of <a href="/wiki/Auragabad" class="mw-redirect" title="Auragabad">Auragabad</a>, and 350 kilometres (220 miles) east-northeast of <a href="/wiki/Mumbai" title="Mumbai">Mumbai</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Johnston2013p18_8-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Johnston2013p18-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Ajanta is 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the Ellora Caves, which contain <a href="/wiki/Hindu" class="mw-redirect" title="Hindu">Hindu</a>, <a href="/wiki/Jain" class="mw-redirect" title="Jain">Jain</a> and Buddhist caves, the last dating from a period similar to Ajanta. The Ajanta style is also found in the Ellora Caves and other sites such as the <a href="/wiki/Elephanta_Caves" title="Elephanta Caves">Elephanta Caves</a>, <a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_Caves" title="Aurangabad Caves">Aurangabad Caves</a>, <a href="/wiki/Shivleni_Caves" title="Shivleni Caves">Shivleni Caves</a> and the cave temples of <a href="/wiki/Karnataka" title="Karnataka">Karnataka</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994118–122_21-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994118–122-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Nearest airports are <a href="/wiki/Jalgaon" title="Jalgaon">Jalgaon</a> and <a href="/wiki/Sambhaji_Nagar" class="mw-redirect" title="Sambhaji Nagar">Sambhaji Nagar</a> followed by <a href="/wiki/Mumbai" title="Mumbai">Mumbai</a>. Nearest railway stations are <a href="/wiki/Jalgaon" title="Jalgaon">Jalgaon</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bhusawal" title="Bhusawal">Bhusawal</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Map_of_Ajanta_Caves.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Map_of_Ajanta_Caves.svg/220px-Map_of_Ajanta_Caves.svg.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="239" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Map_of_Ajanta_Caves.svg/330px-Map_of_Ajanta_Caves.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Map_of_Ajanta_Caves.svg/440px-Map_of_Ajanta_Caves.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1081" data-file-height="1172" /></a><figcaption>Map of Ajanta Caves</figcaption></figure> <p>The Ajanta Caves are generally agreed to have been made in two distinct phases; first during the 2nd century BCE to 1st century CE, and second several centuries later.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20091–2_23-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20091–2-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The caves consist of 36 identifiable foundations,<sup id="cite_ref-Johnston2013p18_8-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Johnston2013p18-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> some of them discovered after the original numbering of the caves from 1 through 29. The later-identified caves have been suffixed with the letters of the alphabet, such as 15A, identified between originally numbered caves 15 and 16.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The cave numbering is a convention of convenience and does not reflect the chronological order of their construction.<sup id="cite_ref-ringsalkin14_26-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ringsalkin14-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Caves_of_the_first_period_(satavahana)"><span id="Caves_of_the_first_period_.28satavahana.29"></span>Caves of the first period (satavahana)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Caves of the first period (satavahana)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta,_cave_9,_chaitya-griha,_with_stupa_(9842167554).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Ajanta%2C_cave_9%2C_chaitya-griha%2C_with_stupa_%289842167554%29.jpg/170px-Ajanta%2C_cave_9%2C_chaitya-griha%2C_with_stupa_%289842167554%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="255" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Ajanta%2C_cave_9%2C_chaitya-griha%2C_with_stupa_%289842167554%29.jpg/255px-Ajanta%2C_cave_9%2C_chaitya-griha%2C_with_stupa_%289842167554%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Ajanta%2C_cave_9%2C_chaitya-griha%2C_with_stupa_%289842167554%29.jpg/340px-Ajanta%2C_cave_9%2C_chaitya-griha%2C_with_stupa_%289842167554%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3456" data-file-height="5184" /></a><figcaption>Cave 9, a first-period <b>Hinayana-style</b> <a href="/wiki/Chaitya" title="Chaitya"><u>chaitya</u></a> worship hall with <a href="/wiki/Stupa" title="Stupa">stupa</a> but no idols</figcaption></figure> <p>The earliest group consists of caves 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15 A. The murals in these caves depict stories from the <a href="/wiki/Jatakas" class="mw-redirect" title="Jatakas">Jatakas</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-ringsalkin14_26-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ringsalkin14-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Later caves reflect the artistic influence of the <a href="/wiki/Gupta_Empire" title="Gupta Empire">Gupta period</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-ringsalkin14_26-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ringsalkin14-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> but there are differing opinions on which century in which the early caves were built.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009335–336_27-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMichell2009335–336-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9,_163–170_28-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9,_163–170-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to <a href="/wiki/Walter_Spink" title="Walter Spink">Walter Spink</a>, they were made during the period 100 BCE to 100 CE, probably under the patronage of the Hindu <a href="/wiki/Satavahana_dynasty" title="Satavahana dynasty">Satavahana dynasty</a> (230 BCE – 220 CE) who ruled the region.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20074–6_29-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20074–6-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Other datings prefer the period of the <a href="/wiki/Maurya_Empire" title="Maurya Empire">Maurya Empire</a> (300 BCE to 100 BCE).<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Of these, caves 9 and 10 are <a href="/wiki/Stupa" title="Stupa">stupa</a> containing worship halls of <i><a href="/wiki/Chaitya" title="Chaitya">chaitya-griha</a></i> form, and caves 12, 13, and 15A are <i><a href="/wiki/Vih%C4%81ra" title="Vihāra">vihāras</a></i> (see the architecture section below for descriptions of these types).<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9_25-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The first Satavahana period caves lacked figurative sculpture, emphasizing the stupa instead. </p><p>According to Spink, once the Satavahana period caves were made, the site was not further developed for a considerable period until the mid-5th century.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20092_32-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20092-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, the early caves were in use during this dormant period, and Buddhist pilgrims visited the site, according to the records left by Chinese pilgrim <a href="/wiki/Faxian" title="Faxian">Faxian</a> around 400 CE.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9_25-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Caves_of_the_later_or_Vakataka_period">Caves of the later or Vakataka period</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Caves of the later or Vakataka period"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The second phase of construction at the Ajanta Caves site began in the 5th century. For a long time it was thought that the later caves were made over an extended period from the 4th to the 7th centuries CE,<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> but in recent decades a series of studies by the leading expert on the caves, Walter M. Spink, have argued that most of the work took place over the very brief period from 460 to 480 CE,<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20092_32-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20092-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> during the reign of Hindu Emperor <a href="/wiki/Harishena" title="Harishena">Harishena</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Vakataka" class="mw-redirect" title="Vakataka">Vākāṭaka dynasty</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-cohen83_34-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cohen83-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This view has been criticised by some scholars,<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> but is now broadly accepted by most authors of general books on Indian art, for example, Huntington and Harle. </p> <div class="noresize thumb tright" style=";"> <div class="thumbinner" style="overflow:hidden;width:292px;"> <div class="thumbimage" style="overflow:hidden; position:relative; background-color:white;"> <div style=";left:0px; top:0px; width:290px; position:absolute;"> <span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png" class="mw-file-description" title="Approximate extent of Vakataka territory and location of neighbouring polities circa 480 CE, during the reign of king Harishena, when most of the caves of Ajanta () were built.[38]"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png/290px-Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png" decoding="async" width="290" height="268" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png/435px-Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png/580px-Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png 2x" data-file-width="2324" data-file-height="2151" /></a></span></div> <div style="text-align:left; background-color:transparent; line-height:110%;"> <div id="annotation_70x110" style="position:absolute; left:70px; top:110px; font-size:7px; font-weight:bold; font-size:7; line-height:9px; text-align:center;"><span style="background-color:transparent; color:#000000;"><b><a href="/wiki/Maitraka_dynasty" title="Maitraka dynasty"><span style="color:#4F311CFF">MAITRAKAS</span></a></b></span></div> <div id="annotation_230x5" style="position:absolute; left:230px; top:5px; font-size:10px; font-weight:bold; font-size:10; line-height:12px; text-align:center;"><span style="background-color:transparent; color:#000000;">South-Asia<br />480 CE</span></div> <div id="annotation_175x84" style="position:absolute; left:175px; top:84px; font-size:7px; font-weight:bold; font-size:7; line-height:9px; text-align:center;"><span style="background-color:transparent; color:#000000;"><a href="/wiki/Licchavi_(kingdom)" class="mw-redirect" title="Licchavi (kingdom)"><span style="color:#4F311CFF">LICCHAVIS</span></a></span></div> <div id="annotation_215x113" style="position:absolute; left:215px; top:113px; font-size:7px; 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top:139px; line-height:110%; text-align:center;"><span style="background-color:transparent; color:inherit;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Basic_red_dot.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Basic_red_dot.png/5px-Basic_red_dot.png" decoding="async" width="5" height="5" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Basic_red_dot.png/8px-Basic_red_dot.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Basic_red_dot.png/10px-Basic_red_dot.png 2x" data-file-width="550" data-file-height="550" /></a></span></span></div> <div id="annotation_1x55" style="position:absolute; left:1px; top:55px; font-size:9px; font-weight:bold; font-size:9; line-height:11px; text-align:center;"><span style="background-color:transparent; color:#000000;"><a href="/wiki/Sasanian_Empire" title="Sasanian Empire"><span style="color:#006400FF">SASANIAN<br />EMPIRE</span></a></span></div> <div id="annotation_262x250" style="position:absolute; left:262px; top:250px; font-size:12px; font-weight:bold; font-size:12; line-height:14px; text-align:center;"><span style="background-color:transparent; color:#000000;"><a href="/wiki/Template:South_Asia_in_350_CE" title="Template:South Asia in 350 CE"><span style="color:#4F311CFF"> ◁ </span></a> <a href="/wiki/Template:South_Asia_in_600_CE" title="Template:South Asia in 600 CE"><span style="color:#4F311CFF"> ▷ </span></a></span></div> </div> <div style="visibility:hidden"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png/290px-Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png" decoding="async" width="290" height="268" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png/435px-Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png/580px-Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png 2x" data-file-width="2324" data-file-height="2151" /></a></span></div> </div> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Map_of_the_Vakatakas.png" title="File:Map of the Vakatakas.png"> </a></div><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">Approximate extent of <a href="/wiki/Vakataka_dynasty" title="Vakataka dynasty">Vakataka</a> territory and location of neighbouring polities circa 480 CE, during the reign of king <a href="/wiki/Harishena" title="Harishena">Harishena</a>, when most of the caves of Ajanta (<span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Basic_red_dot.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Basic_red_dot.png/5px-Basic_red_dot.png" decoding="async" width="5" height="5" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Basic_red_dot.png/8px-Basic_red_dot.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Basic_red_dot.png/10px-Basic_red_dot.png 2x" data-file-width="550" data-file-height="550" /></a></span>) were built.<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div></div> </div></div> <p>The second phase is attributed to the theistic <a href="/wiki/Mah%C4%81y%C4%81na" class="mw-redirect" title="Mahāyāna">Mahāyāna</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-ringsalkin14_26-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ringsalkin14-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> or Greater Vehicle tradition of Buddhism.<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2006127_40-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2006127-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Caves of the second period are 1–8, 11, 14–29, some possibly extensions of earlier caves. Caves 19, 26, and 29 are <i><a href="/wiki/Chaitya" title="Chaitya">chaitya-grihas</a></i>, the rest <i><a href="/wiki/Vih%C4%81ra" title="Vihāra">viharas</a></i>. The most elaborate caves were produced in this period, which included some refurbishing and repainting of the early caves. <sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20092–3_41-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20092–3-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ringsalkin14_26-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ringsalkin14-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a81–82_42-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a81–82-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Spink states that it is possible to establish dating for this period with a very high level of precision; a fuller account of his chronology is given below.<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Although debate continues, Spink's ideas are increasingly widely accepted, at least in their broad conclusions. The Archaeological Survey of India website still presents the traditional dating: "The second phase of paintings started around 5th–6th centuries A.D. and continued for the next two centuries". </p><p>According to Spink, the construction activity at the incomplete Ajanta Caves was abandoned by wealthy patrons in about 480 CE, a few years after the death of Harishena. However, states Spink, the caves appear to have been in use for a period of time as evidenced by the wear of the pivot holes in caves constructed close to 480 CE.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20075–6,_160–161_44-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20075–6,_160–161-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The second phase of constructions and decorations at Ajanta corresponds to the very apogee of <a href="/wiki/Classical_India" class="mw-redirect" title="Classical India">Classical India</a>, or <a href="/wiki/India%27s_golden_age" class="mw-redirect" title="India's golden age">India's golden age</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2005a7_45-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2005a7-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, at that time, the <a href="/wiki/Gupta_Empire" title="Gupta Empire">Gupta Empire</a> was already weakening from internal political issues and from the assaults of the <a href="/wiki/Hunas" class="mw-redirect" title="Hunas">Hūṇas</a>, so that the Vakatakas were actually one of the most powerful empires in India.<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Some of the Hūṇas, the <a href="/wiki/Alchon_Huns" title="Alchon Huns">Alchon Huns</a> of <a href="/wiki/Toramana" title="Toramana">Toramana</a>, were precisely ruling the neighbouring area of <a href="/wiki/Malwa" title="Malwa">Malwa</a>, at the doorstep of the Western Deccan, at the time the Ajanta caves were made.<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Through their control of vast areas of northwestern India, the Huns may actually have acted as a cultural bridge between the area of <a href="/wiki/Gandhara" title="Gandhara">Gandhara</a> and the Western <a href="/wiki/Deccan" class="mw-redirect" title="Deccan">Deccan</a>, at the time when the Ajanta or <a href="/wiki/Pitalkhora" title="Pitalkhora">Pitalkhora caves</a> were being decorated with some designs of Gandharan inspiration, such as <a href="/wiki/File:089_Cave_10,_Buddha_Drawing_on_Column_(33896473480).jpg" title="File:089 Cave 10, Buddha Drawing on Column (33896473480).jpg">Buddhas dressed in robes with abundant folds</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>According to Richard Cohen, a description of the caves by 7th-century Chinese Traveller <a href="/wiki/Xuanzang" title="Xuanzang">Xuanzang</a> and scattered medieval graffiti suggest that the Ajanta Caves were known and probably in use subsequently, but without a stable or steady Buddhist community presence.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a32,_82_14-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a32,_82-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Ajanta caves are mentioned in the 17th-century text <i><a href="/wiki/Ain-i-Akbari" title="Ain-i-Akbari">Ain-i-Akbari</a></i> by Abu al-Fazl, as twenty four rock-cut cave temples each with remarkable idols.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a32,_82_14-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a32,_82-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Colonial_era/Rediscovery"><span id="Colonial_era.2FRediscovery"></span>Colonial era/Rediscovery</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Colonial era/Rediscovery"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On 28 April 1819 a British officer named John Smith, of the 28th Cavalry, while hunting tigers was shown the entrance to Cave No. 10 when a local shepherd boy guided him to the location and the door. The caves were well known by locals already.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a77–78_49-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a77–78-49"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>49<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Captain Smith went to a nearby village and asked the villagers to come to the site with axes, spears, torches, and drums, to cut down the tangled jungle growth that made entering the cave difficult.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a77–78_49-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a77–78-49"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>49<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He first saw ceilings with beautiful and artistically drawn faces on them, then he noticed monastic halls which helped him identify their Buddhist origin. He then deliberately damaged an image on the wall by scratching his name and the date over the painting of a <a href="/wiki/Bodhisattva" title="Bodhisattva">bodhisattva</a>. Since he stood on a five-foot high pile of rubble collected over the years, the inscription is well above the eye-level gaze of an adult today.<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>50<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A paper on the caves by <a href="/wiki/William_Erskine_(historian)" title="William Erskine (historian)">William Erskine</a> was read to the <a href="/wiki/The_Asiatic_Society_of_Mumbai" title="The Asiatic Society of Mumbai">Bombay Literary Society</a> in 1822.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19943_51-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19943-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>51<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Name_inscribed_by_john_smith_on_the_pillar_in_cave_no_10_on_28_April_1819.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Name_inscribed_by_john_smith_on_the_pillar_in_cave_no_10_on_28_April_1819.jpg/220px-Name_inscribed_by_john_smith_on_the_pillar_in_cave_no_10_on_28_April_1819.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Name_inscribed_by_john_smith_on_the_pillar_in_cave_no_10_on_28_April_1819.jpg/330px-Name_inscribed_by_john_smith_on_the_pillar_in_cave_no_10_on_28_April_1819.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Name_inscribed_by_john_smith_on_the_pillar_in_cave_no_10_on_28_April_1819.jpg/440px-Name_inscribed_by_john_smith_on_the_pillar_in_cave_no_10_on_28_April_1819.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="1536" /></a><figcaption>Name and date inscribed by John Smith after he found Cave 10 in 1819</figcaption></figure> <p>Within a few decades, the caves became famous for their exotic setting, impressive architecture, and above all their exceptional and unique paintings. A number of large projects to copy the paintings were made in the century after rediscovery. In 1848, the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Asiatic_Society" class="mw-redirect" title="Royal Asiatic Society">Royal Asiatic Society</a> established the "Bombay Cave Temple Commission" to clear, tidy and record the most important rock-cut sites in the <a href="/wiki/Bombay_Presidency" title="Bombay Presidency">Bombay Presidency</a>, with <a href="/wiki/John_Wilson_(missionary)" class="mw-redirect" title="John Wilson (missionary)">John Wilson</a> as president. In 1861 this became the nucleus of the new Archaeological Survey of India.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGordon2011231–234_52-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGordon2011231–234-52"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>52<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>During the colonial era, the Ajanta site was in the territory of the <a href="/wiki/Princely_state" title="Princely state">princely state</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Hyderabad_State" title="Hyderabad State">Hyderabad</a> and not <a href="/wiki/British_India" class="mw-redirect" title="British India">British India</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51–58_53-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51–58-53"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>53<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the early 1920s, <a href="/wiki/Mir_Osman_Ali_Khan" title="Mir Osman Ali Khan">Mir Osman Ali Khan</a>, the last <a href="/wiki/Nizam_of_Hyderabad" title="Nizam of Hyderabad">Nizam of Hyderabad</a>, appointed people to restore the artwork, converted the site into a museum and built a road to bring tourists to the site for a fee. These efforts resulted in early mismanagement, states Richard Cohen, and hastened the deterioration of the site. Post-independence, the state government of Maharashtra built arrival, transport, facilities, and better site management. The modern Visitor Center has good parking facilities and public conveniences and ASI operated buses run at regular intervals from Visitor Center to the caves.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51–58_53-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51–58-53"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>53<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Nizam's Director of Archaeology obtained the services of two experts from Italy, Professor Lorenzo Cecconi, assisted by Count Orsini, to restore the paintings in the caves.<sup id="cite_ref-Nizam_54-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Nizam-54"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>54<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Director of Archaeology for the <a href="/wiki/Mir_Osman_Ali_Khan" title="Mir Osman Ali Khan">last Nizam of Hyderabad</a> said of the work of Cecconi and Orsini: </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>The repairs to the caves and the cleaning and conservation of the frescoes have been carried out on such sound principles and in such a scientific manner that these matchless monuments have found a fresh lease of life for at least a couple of centuries.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51_55-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51-55"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>55<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote> <p>Despite these efforts, later neglect led to the paintings degrading in quality once again.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51_55-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51-55"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>55<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Since 1983, Ajanta caves have been listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of India. The Ajanta Caves, along with the Ellora Caves, have become the most popular tourist destination in Maharashtra, and are often crowded at holiday times, increasing the threat to the caves, especially the paintings.<sup id="cite_ref-56" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-56"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 2012, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation announced plans to add to the ASI visitor centre at the entrance complete replicas of caves 1, 2, 16 & 17 to reduce crowding in the originals, and enable visitors to receive a better visual idea of the paintings, which are dimly-lit and hard to read in the caves.<sup id="cite_ref-57" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Sites_and_monasteries">Sites and monasteries</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Sites and monasteries"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Sites">Sites</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Sites"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Caves_130.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Ajanta_Caves_130.jpg/220px-Ajanta_Caves_130.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Ajanta_Caves_130.jpg/330px-Ajanta_Caves_130.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Ajanta_Caves_130.jpg/440px-Ajanta_Caves_130.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a><figcaption>Cave 24; the Ajanta Caves were carved into a massive rock on the Deccan plateau.</figcaption></figure> <p>The caves are carved out of flood basalt and granite rock of a cliff, part of the <a href="/wiki/Deccan_Traps" title="Deccan Traps">Deccan Traps</a> formed by successive volcanic eruptions at the end of the <a href="/wiki/Cretaceous" title="Cretaceous">Cretaceous</a> geological period. The rock is layered horizontally, and somewhat variable in quality.<sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This variation within the rock layers required the artists to amend their carving methods and plans in places. The inhomogeneity in the rock has also led to cracks and collapses in the centuries that followed, as with the lost portico to cave 1. Excavation began by cutting a narrow tunnel at roof level, which was expanded downwards and outwards; as evidenced by some of the incomplete caves such as the partially-built <i>vihara</i> caves 21 through 24 and the abandoned incomplete cave 28.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200713–14_59-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200713–14-59"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>59<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The sculpture artists likely worked at both excavating the rocks and making the intricate carvings of pillars, roof, and idols; further, the sculpture and painting work inside a cave were integrated parallel tasks.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200728_60-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200728-60"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>60<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A grand gateway to the site was carved, at the apex of the gorge's horseshoe between caves 15 and 16, as approached from the river, and it is decorated with elephants on either side and a <a href="/wiki/N%C4%81ga" title="Nāga">nāga</a>, or protective Naga (snake) deity.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200910_61-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200910-61"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>61<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009340_62-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMichell2009340-62"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>62<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Similar methods and application of artist talent is observed in other cave temples of India, such as those from Hinduism and Jainism. These include the Ellora Caves, Ghototkacha Caves, <a href="/wiki/Elephanta_Caves" title="Elephanta Caves">Elephanta Caves</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bagh_Caves" title="Bagh Caves">Bagh Caves</a>, <a href="/wiki/Badami_Caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Badami Caves">Badami Caves</a>, <a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_Caves" title="Aurangabad Caves">Aurangabad Caves</a><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200721–24,_38,_74–76,_115,_151–153,_280_63-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200721–24,_38,_74–76,_115,_151–153,_280-63"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>63<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and <a href="/wiki/Shivleni_Caves" title="Shivleni Caves">Shivleni Caves</a>. </p><p>The caves from the first period seem to have been paid for by a number of different patrons to gain <a href="/wiki/Merit_(Buddhism)" title="Merit (Buddhism)">merit</a>, with several inscriptions recording the donation of particular portions of a single cave. The later caves were each commissioned as a complete unit by a single patron from the local rulers or their court elites, again for merit in Buddhist <a href="/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra_(Buddhism)" title="Saṃsāra (Buddhism)">afterlife beliefs</a> as evidenced by inscriptions such as those in Cave 17.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20075,_15,_32–33,_80,_249_64-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20075,_15,_32–33,_80,_249-64"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>64<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> After the death of Harisena, smaller donors motivated by getting merit added small "shrinelets" between the caves or add statues to existing caves, and some two hundred of these "intrusive" additions were made in sculpture, with a further number of intrusive paintings, up to three hundred in cave 10 alone.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20075,_15,_32–33,_80,_126–130,_249–259_65-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20075,_15,_32–33,_80,_126–130,_249–259-65"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>65<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Monasteries">Monasteries</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Monasteries"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:061_Cave_4,_Side_View_(34280359075).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/061_Cave_4%2C_Side_View_%2834280359075%29.jpg/220px-061_Cave_4%2C_Side_View_%2834280359075%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/061_Cave_4%2C_Side_View_%2834280359075%29.jpg/330px-061_Cave_4%2C_Side_View_%2834280359075%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/061_Cave_4%2C_Side_View_%2834280359075%29.jpg/440px-061_Cave_4%2C_Side_View_%2834280359075%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a><figcaption>Cave 4: a monastery, or <a href="/wiki/Vihara" class="mw-redirect" title="Vihara">vihara</a>, with its square hall surrounded by monks' cells</figcaption></figure> <p>The majority of the caves are <i><a href="/wiki/Vihara" class="mw-redirect" title="Vihara">vihara</a></i> halls with symmetrical square plans. To each vihara hall are attached smaller square dormitory cells cut into the walls.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200773–85,_100–104,_182_66-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200773–85,_100–104,_182-66"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>66<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A vast majority of the caves were carved in the second period, wherein a shrine or sanctuary is appended at the rear of the cave, centred on a large statue of the Buddha, along with exuberantly detailed reliefs and deities near him as well as on the pillars and walls, all carved out of the natural rock.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200718,_37,_45–46_67-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200718,_37,_45–46-67"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>67<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This change reflects the shift from Hinayana to Mahāyāna Buddhism. These caves are often called monasteries. </p><p>The central square space of the interior of the viharas is defined by square columns forming a more-or-less square open area. Outside this are long rectangular aisles on each side, forming a kind of <a href="/wiki/Cloister" title="Cloister">cloister</a>. Along the side and rear walls are a number of small cells entered by a narrow doorway; these are roughly square, and have small niches on their back walls. Originally they had wooden doors.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007148_68-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007148-68"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>68<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The centre of the rear wall has a larger shrine-room behind, containing a large Buddha statue. </p><p>The viharas of the earlier period are much simpler, and lack shrines.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994118–122_21-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994118–122-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009335–343_69-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMichell2009335–343-69"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>69<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Spink places the change to a design with a shrine to the middle of the second period, with many caves being adapted to add a shrine in mid-excavation, or after the original phase.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007142_70-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007142-70"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>70<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The plan of Cave 1 shows one of the largest viharas, but is fairly typical of the later group. Many others, such as Cave 16, lack the vestibule to the shrine, which leads straight off the main hall. Cave 6 is two viharas, one above the other, connected by internal stairs, with sanctuaries on both levels.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009338_71-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMichell2009338-71"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>71<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_12_plan_to_scale.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 12 plan: an early type of vihara (1st century BCE) without internal shrine"><img alt="Cave 12 plan: an early type of vihara (1st century BCE) without internal shrine" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Ajanta_Cave_12_plan_to_scale.jpg/96px-Ajanta_Cave_12_plan_to_scale.jpg" decoding="async" width="96" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Ajanta_Cave_12_plan_to_scale.jpg/145px-Ajanta_Cave_12_plan_to_scale.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Ajanta_Cave_12_plan_to_scale.jpg/193px-Ajanta_Cave_12_plan_to_scale.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="1038" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 12 plan: an early type of vihara (1st century BCE) without internal shrine</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:GrundrissAjantaHoehle1.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 1 plan, a monastery known for its paintings[72]"><img alt="Cave 1 plan, a monastery known for its paintings[72]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/GrundrissAjantaHoehle1.jpg/108px-GrundrissAjantaHoehle1.jpg" decoding="async" width="108" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/GrundrissAjantaHoehle1.jpg/163px-GrundrissAjantaHoehle1.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/GrundrissAjantaHoehle1.jpg/217px-GrundrissAjantaHoehle1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1720" data-file-height="1981" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 1 plan, a monastery known for its paintings<sup id="cite_ref-72" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-72"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>72<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_6_plan.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 6: a two-storey monastery with "Miracle of Sravasti" and "Temptation of Mara" painted[73]"><img alt="Cave 6: a two-storey monastery with "Miracle of Sravasti" and "Temptation of Mara" painted[73]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Ajanta_Cave_6_plan.jpg/125px-Ajanta_Cave_6_plan.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="72" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Ajanta_Cave_6_plan.jpg/188px-Ajanta_Cave_6_plan.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Ajanta_Cave_6_plan.jpg/250px-Ajanta_Cave_6_plan.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1906" data-file-height="1091" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 6: a two-storey monastery with "Miracle of Sravasti" and "Temptation of Mara" painted<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19947–8,_10_73-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19947–8,_10-73"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>73<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_16_plan.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 16: a monastery featuring two side aisles[73]"><img alt="Cave 16: a monastery featuring two side aisles[73]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Ajanta_Cave_16_plan.jpg/96px-Ajanta_Cave_16_plan.jpg" decoding="async" width="96" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Ajanta_Cave_16_plan.jpg/145px-Ajanta_Cave_16_plan.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Ajanta_Cave_16_plan.jpg/193px-Ajanta_Cave_16_plan.jpg 2x" data-file-width="845" data-file-height="1096" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 16: a monastery featuring two side aisles<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19947–8,_10_73-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19947–8,_10-73"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>73<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Worship_halls">Worship halls</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Worship halls"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti">.mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner{display:flex;flex-direction:column}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{display:flex;flex-direction:row;clear:left;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{margin:1px;float:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .theader{clear:both;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;align-self:center;background-color:transparent;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbcaption{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-left{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-right{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-center{text-align:center}@media all and (max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbinner{width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;max-width:none!important;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{justify-content:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{float:none!important;max-width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle .thumbcaption{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow>.thumbcaption{text-align:center}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner img{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner img{background-color:white}}</style><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:204px;max-width:204px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:202px;max-width:202px"><div class="thumbimage"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Interior_of_Buddhist_chaitya_hall,_Cave_XXVI,_Ajanta,_c.1868.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Interior_of_Buddhist_chaitya_hall%2C_Cave_XXVI%2C_Ajanta%2C_c.1868.jpg/200px-Interior_of_Buddhist_chaitya_hall%2C_Cave_XXVI%2C_Ajanta%2C_c.1868.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="163" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Interior_of_Buddhist_chaitya_hall%2C_Cave_XXVI%2C_Ajanta%2C_c.1868.jpg/300px-Interior_of_Buddhist_chaitya_hall%2C_Cave_XXVI%2C_Ajanta%2C_c.1868.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Interior_of_Buddhist_chaitya_hall%2C_Cave_XXVI%2C_Ajanta%2C_c.1868.jpg/400px-Interior_of_Buddhist_chaitya_hall%2C_Cave_XXVI%2C_Ajanta%2C_c.1868.jpg 2x" data-file-width="876" data-file-height="712" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:202px;max-width:202px"><div class="thumbimage"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_by_Fergusson,_cave_19.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Ajanta_by_Fergusson%2C_cave_19.jpg/200px-Ajanta_by_Fergusson%2C_cave_19.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="144" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Ajanta_by_Fergusson%2C_cave_19.jpg/300px-Ajanta_by_Fergusson%2C_cave_19.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Ajanta_by_Fergusson%2C_cave_19.jpg/400px-Ajanta_by_Fergusson%2C_cave_19.jpg 2x" data-file-width="616" data-file-height="444" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Top: Interior of Ajanta chaitya hall, Cave 26, photo by Robert Gill (c. 1868); Bottom: James Fergusson painting of Cave 19 worship hall.</div></div></div></div> <p>The other type of main hall architecture is the narrower rectangular plan with high arched ceiling type <i><a href="/wiki/Chaitya" title="Chaitya">chaitya</a>-griha</i> – literally, "the house of stupa". This hall is longitudinally divided into a nave and two narrower side aisles separated by a symmetrical row of pillars, with a <a href="/wiki/Stupa" title="Stupa">stupa</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Apse" title="Apse">apse</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-74" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-74"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>74<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-75" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-75"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The stupa is surrounded by pillars and concentric walking space for circumambulation. Some of the caves have elaborate carved entrances, some with large windows over the door to admit light. There is often a colonnaded porch or <a href="/wiki/Verandah" class="mw-redirect" title="Verandah">verandah</a>, with another space inside the doors running the width of the cave. The oldest worship halls at Ajanta were built in the 2nd to 1st century BCE, the newest ones in the late 5th century CE, and the architecture of both resembles the <a href="/wiki/Architecture_of_cathedrals_and_great_churches#Architecture" title="Architecture of cathedrals and great churches">architecture of a Christian church</a>, but without the crossing or chapel chevette.<sup id="cite_ref-76" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>76<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Ajanta Caves follow the Cathedral-style architecture found in still older rock-cut cave carvings of ancient India, such as the <a href="/wiki/Lomas_Rishi_Cave" title="Lomas Rishi Cave">Lomas Rishi Cave</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Ajivika" class="mw-redirect" title="Ajivika">Ajivikas</a> near Gaya in <a href="/wiki/Bihar" title="Bihar">Bihar</a> dated to the 3rd century BCE.<sup id="cite_ref-77" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-77"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>77<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These chaitya-griha are called worship or prayer halls.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200712,_94,_161–162,_228_78-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200712,_94,_161–162,_228-78"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>78<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-79" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-79"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>79<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The four completed <i>chaitya</i> halls are caves 9 and 10 from the early period, and caves 19 and 26 from the later period of construction. All follow the typical form found elsewhere, with high ceilings and a central "nave" leading to the stupa, which is near the back, but allows walking behind it, as walking around stupas was (and remains) a common element of Buddhist worship (<i><a href="/wiki/Pradakshina" class="mw-redirect" title="Pradakshina">pradakshina</a></i>). The later two have high ribbed roofs carved into the rock, which reflect timber forms,<sup id="cite_ref-80" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-80"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>80<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and the earlier two are thought to have used actual timber ribs and are now smooth, the original wood presumed to have perished.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009339_81-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMichell2009339-81"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>81<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The two later halls have a rather unusual arrangement (also found in Cave 10 at Ellora) where the stupa is fronted by a large relief sculpture of the Buddha, standing in Cave 19 and seated in Cave 26.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994118–122_21-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994118–122-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009335–343_69-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMichell2009335–343-69"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>69<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cave 29 is a late and very incomplete <i>chaitya</i> hall.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200712–13_82-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200712–13-82"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>82<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The form of columns in the work of the first period is very plain and un-embellished, with both <i>chaitya</i> halls using simple octagonal columns, which were later painted with images of the Buddha, people and monks in robes. In the second period columns were far more varied and inventive, often changing profile over their height, and with elaborate carved capitals, often spreading wide. Many columns are carved over all their surface with floral motifs and Mahayana deities, some fluted and others carved with decoration all over, as in cave 1.<sup id="cite_ref-83" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-83"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>83<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-84" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-84"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>84<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Chaitya_10_plan.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 10: a worship hall with Jataka tales-related art (1st century BCE)[85]"><img alt="Cave 10: a worship hall with Jataka tales-related art (1st century BCE)[85]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Ajanta_Chaitya_10_plan.jpg/107px-Ajanta_Chaitya_10_plan.jpg" decoding="async" width="107" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Ajanta_Chaitya_10_plan.jpg/160px-Ajanta_Chaitya_10_plan.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Ajanta_Chaitya_10_plan.jpg/213px-Ajanta_Chaitya_10_plan.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1871" data-file-height="2192" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 10: a worship hall with Jataka tales-related art (1st century BCE)<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–11,_14–15_85-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–11,_14–15-85"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>85<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Chaitya_9_plan.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 9: a worship hall with early paintings and animal friezes (1st century CE)[85]"><img alt="Cave 9: a worship hall with early paintings and animal friezes (1st century CE)[85]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Ajanta_Chaitya_9_plan.jpg/99px-Ajanta_Chaitya_9_plan.jpg" decoding="async" width="99" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Ajanta_Chaitya_9_plan.jpg/149px-Ajanta_Chaitya_9_plan.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Ajanta_Chaitya_9_plan.jpg/198px-Ajanta_Chaitya_9_plan.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1182" data-file-height="1494" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 9: a worship hall with early paintings and animal friezes (1st century CE)<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–11,_14–15_85-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–11,_14–15-85"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>85<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 19: known for its figures of the Buddha, Kubera and other arts (5th century CE)[85]"><img alt="Cave 19: known for its figures of the Buddha, Kubera and other arts (5th century CE)[85]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg/125px-Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="95" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg/188px-Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg/250px-Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg 2x" data-file-width="933" data-file-height="708" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 19: known for its figures of the Buddha, Kubera and other arts (5th century CE)<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–11,_14–15_85-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–11,_14–15-85"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>85<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_19_longitudinal_section.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 19: another view (5th century CE)"><img alt="Cave 19: another view (5th century CE)" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Ajanta_Cave_19_longitudinal_section.jpg/125px-Ajanta_Cave_19_longitudinal_section.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="76" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Ajanta_Cave_19_longitudinal_section.jpg/188px-Ajanta_Cave_19_longitudinal_section.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Ajanta_Cave_19_longitudinal_section.jpg/250px-Ajanta_Cave_19_longitudinal_section.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3066" data-file-height="1852" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 19: another view (5th century CE)</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Paintings">Paintings</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Paintings"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Life_circle_of_Lord_Buddha_-_A_marvel_of_painting_inside_Ajanta_Cave.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Life_circle_of_Lord_Buddha_-_A_marvel_of_painting_inside_Ajanta_Cave.jpg/150px-Life_circle_of_Lord_Buddha_-_A_marvel_of_painting_inside_Ajanta_Cave.jpg" decoding="async" width="150" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Life_circle_of_Lord_Buddha_-_A_marvel_of_painting_inside_Ajanta_Cave.jpg/225px-Life_circle_of_Lord_Buddha_-_A_marvel_of_painting_inside_Ajanta_Cave.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Life_circle_of_Lord_Buddha_-_A_marvel_of_painting_inside_Ajanta_Cave.jpg/300px-Life_circle_of_Lord_Buddha_-_A_marvel_of_painting_inside_Ajanta_Cave.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2736" data-file-height="3648" /></a><figcaption>Painted ceiling depicting <i>Life circle of Lord Buddha</i></figcaption></figure> <p>Most of the Ajanta caves, and almost all the murals paintings date from nearly 600 years later, during a second phase of construction.<sup id="cite_ref-86" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-86"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>86<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The paintings in the Ajanta caves predominantly narrate the <a href="/wiki/Jataka_tales" title="Jataka tales">Jataka tales</a>. These are Buddhist legends describing the previous births of the Buddha. These fables embed ancient morals and cultural lores that are also found in the fables and legends of Hindu and Jain texts. The Jataka tales are exemplified through the life example and sacrifices that the Buddha made in hundreds of his past incarnations, where he is depicted as having been reborn as an animal or human.<sup id="cite_ref-RingWatson2012p17_87-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-RingWatson2012p17-87"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>87<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009147–148_88-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009147–148-88"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>88<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84_89-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84-89"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>89<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Mural paintings survive from both the earlier and later groups of caves. Several fragments of murals preserved from the earlier caves (Caves 10 and 11) are effectively unique survivals of ancient painting in India from this period, and "show that by <a href="/wiki/S%C4%81tav%C4%81hana" class="mw-redirect" title="Sātavāhana">Sātavāhana</a> times, if not earlier, the Indian painters had mastered an easy and fluent naturalistic style, dealing with large groups of people in a manner comparable to the reliefs of the <a href="/wiki/Sanchi" title="Sanchi">Sāñcī</a> toraņa crossbars".<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355_90-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Some connections with the <a href="/wiki/Gandhara_art" class="mw-redirect" title="Gandhara art">art of Gandhara</a> can also be noted, and there is evidence of a shared artistic idiom.<sup id="cite_ref-91" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-91"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>91<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Four of the later caves have large and relatively well-preserved mural paintings which, states James Harle, "have come to represent Indian mural painting to the non-specialist",<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355_90-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and represent "the great glories not only of Gupta but of all Indian art".<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994356_92-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994356-92"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>92<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> They fall into two stylistic groups, with the most famous in Caves 16 and 17, and apparently later paintings in Caves 1 and 2. The latter group were thought to be a century or later than the others, but the revised chronology proposed by Spink would place them in the 5th century as well, perhaps contemporary with it in a more progressive style, or one reflecting a team from a different region.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355–361_93-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355–361-93"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>93<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Ajanta frescos are classical paintings and the work of confident artists, without cliches, rich and full. They are luxurious, sensuous and celebrate physical beauty, aspects that early Western observers felt were shockingly out of place in these caves presumed to be meant for religious worship and ascetic monastic life.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994359_94-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994359-94"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>94<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The paintings are in "dry <a href="/wiki/Fresco" title="Fresco">fresco</a>", painted on top of a dry plaster surface rather than into wet plaster.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994361_95-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994361-95"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>95<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> All the paintings appear to be the work of painters supported by discriminating connoisseurship and sophisticated patrons from an urban atmosphere. We know from literary sources that painting was widely practised and appreciated in the Gupta period. Unlike much Indian mural painting, compositions are not laid out in horizontal bands like a frieze, but show large scenes spreading in all directions from a single figure or group at the centre.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994359_94-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994359-94"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>94<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The ceilings are also painted with sophisticated and elaborate decorative motifs, many derived from sculpture.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355–361_93-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355–361-93"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>93<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The paintings in cave 1, which according to Spink was commissioned by <a href="/wiki/Harishena" title="Harishena">Harisena</a> himself, concentrate on those Jataka tales which show previous lives of the Buddha as a king, rather than as deer or elephant or another Jataka animal. The scenes depict the Buddha as about to renounce the royal life.<sup id="cite_ref-Spink_2008_96-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Spink_2008-96"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>96<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In general the later caves seem to have been painted on finished areas as excavating work continued elsewhere in the cave, as shown in caves 2 and 16 in particular.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200728–29_97-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200728–29-97"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>97<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to Spink's account of the chronology of the caves, the abandonment of work in 478 after a brief busy period accounts for the absence of painting in places including cave 4 and the shrine of cave 17, the later being plastered in preparation for paintings that were never done.<sup id="cite_ref-Spink_2008_96-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Spink_2008-96"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>96<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 215px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 210px; height: 210px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_(55).JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 2, showing the extensive paint loss of many areas. It was never finished by its artists, and shows Vidhura Jataka.[98]"><img alt="Cave 2, showing the extensive paint loss of many areas. It was never finished by its artists, and shows Vidhura Jataka.[98]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2855%29.JPG/180px-Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2855%29.JPG" decoding="async" width="180" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2855%29.JPG/270px-Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2855%29.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2855%29.JPG/360px-Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2855%29.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="1536" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 2, showing the extensive paint loss of many areas. It was never finished by its artists, and shows Vidhura Jataka.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009148,_Figure_46_98-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009148,_Figure_46-98"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>98<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 215px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 210px; height: 210px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_cave_17,_frescoes_above_a_lintel.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 17 verandah doorway; eight Buddhas above eight couples[99][100]"><img alt="Cave 17 verandah doorway; eight Buddhas above eight couples[99][100]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Ajanta_cave_17%2C_frescoes_above_a_lintel.JPG/180px-Ajanta_cave_17%2C_frescoes_above_a_lintel.JPG" decoding="async" width="180" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Ajanta_cave_17%2C_frescoes_above_a_lintel.JPG/270px-Ajanta_cave_17%2C_frescoes_above_a_lintel.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Ajanta_cave_17%2C_frescoes_above_a_lintel.JPG/360px-Ajanta_cave_17%2C_frescoes_above_a_lintel.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3072" data-file-height="2304" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 17 verandah doorway; eight Buddhas above eight couples<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009201–202_99-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009201–202-99"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>99<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-100" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-100"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>100<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 215px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 210px; height: 210px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Coming_Of_Sinhala_(Mural_At_Ajanta_In_Cave_No_17).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Section of the mural in Cave 17, the 'coming of Sinhala'. The prince (Prince Vijaya) is seen in both groups of elephants and riders."><img alt="Section of the mural in Cave 17, the 'coming of Sinhala'. The prince (Prince Vijaya) is seen in both groups of elephants and riders." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Coming_Of_Sinhala_%28Mural_At_Ajanta_In_Cave_No_17%29.jpg/133px-Coming_Of_Sinhala_%28Mural_At_Ajanta_In_Cave_No_17%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="133" height="180" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Coming_Of_Sinhala_%28Mural_At_Ajanta_In_Cave_No_17%29.jpg/200px-Coming_Of_Sinhala_%28Mural_At_Ajanta_In_Cave_No_17%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Coming_Of_Sinhala_%28Mural_At_Ajanta_In_Cave_No_17%29.jpg/267px-Coming_Of_Sinhala_%28Mural_At_Ajanta_In_Cave_No_17%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2419" data-file-height="3264" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Section of the mural in Cave 17, the 'coming of <a href="/wiki/Sinhalese_people" title="Sinhalese people">Sinhala</a>'. The prince (<a href="/wiki/Prince_Vijaya" title="Prince Vijaya">Prince Vijaya</a>) is seen in both groups of elephants and riders.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 215px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 210px; height: 210px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Hamsa_j%C3%A2taka,_Ajanta,_India.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Hamsa jâtaka, cave 17: the Buddha as the golden goose in his previous life[101]"><img alt="Hamsa jâtaka, cave 17: the Buddha as the golden goose in his previous life[101]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Hamsa_j%C3%A2taka%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg/145px-Hamsa_j%C3%A2taka%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg" decoding="async" width="145" height="180" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Hamsa_j%C3%A2taka%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg/218px-Hamsa_j%C3%A2taka%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Hamsa_j%C3%A2taka%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg/290px-Hamsa_j%C3%A2taka%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1936" data-file-height="2400" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Hamsa jâtaka, cave 17: the Buddha as the golden goose in his previous life<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196291_101-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196291-101"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>101<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 215px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 210px; height: 210px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_(13).JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 13"><img alt="Cave 13" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2813%29.JPG/180px-Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2813%29.JPG" decoding="async" width="180" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2813%29.JPG/270px-Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2813%29.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2813%29.JPG/360px-Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2813%29.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="1536" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 13</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Spink's_chronology_and_cave_history"><span id="Spink.27s_chronology_and_cave_history"></span>Spink's chronology and cave history</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Spink's chronology and cave history"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Walter_Spink" title="Walter Spink">Walter Spink</a> has over recent decades developed a very precise and circumstantial chronology for the second period of work on the site, which unlike earlier scholars, he places entirely in the 5th century. This is based on evidence such as the inscriptions and artistic style, dating of nearby cave temple sites, comparative chronology of the dynasties, combined with the many uncompleted elements of the caves.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20071–16_102-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20071–16-102"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>102<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He believes the earlier group of caves, which like other scholars he dates only approximately, to the period "between 100 BCE – 100 CE", were at some later point completely abandoned and remained so "for over three centuries". This changed during the Hindu emperor <a href="/wiki/Harishena" title="Harishena">Harishena</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Vakataka_Dynasty" class="mw-redirect" title="Vakataka Dynasty">Vakataka Dynasty</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-cohen83_34-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cohen83-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> who reigned from 460 to his death in 477, who sponsored numerous new caves during his reign. Harisena's rule extended the Central Indian Vakataka Empire to include a stretch of the east coast of India; the <a href="/wiki/Gupta_Empire" title="Gupta Empire">Gupta Empire</a> ruled northern India at the same period, and the <a href="/wiki/Pallava_dynasty" title="Pallava dynasty">Pallava dynasty</a> much of the south.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20092_32-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20092-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_26_Dagoba_with_praying_monks.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Ajanta_Cave_26_Dagoba_with_praying_monks.jpg/170px-Ajanta_Cave_26_Dagoba_with_praying_monks.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="255" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Ajanta_Cave_26_Dagoba_with_praying_monks.jpg/255px-Ajanta_Cave_26_Dagoba_with_praying_monks.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Ajanta_Cave_26_Dagoba_with_praying_monks.jpg/340px-Ajanta_Cave_26_Dagoba_with_praying_monks.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="1200" /></a><figcaption>Buddhist monks praying in front of the Dagoba of Chaitya Cave 26</figcaption></figure> <p>According to Spink, Harisena encouraged a group of associates, including his prime minister Varahadeva and Upendragupta, the sub-king in whose territory Ajanta was, to dig out new caves, which were individually commissioned, some containing inscriptions recording the donation. This activity began in many caves simultaneously about 462. This activity was mostly suspended in 468 because of threats from the neighbouring Asmaka kings. Thereafter work continued on only Caves 1, Harisena's own commission, and 17–20, commissioned by Upendragupta. In 472 the situation was such that work was suspended completely, in a period that Spink calls "the Hiatus", which lasted until about 475, by which time the Asmakas had replaced Upendragupta as the local rulers.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20074–5_103-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20074–5-103"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>103<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Work was then resumed, but again disrupted by Harisena's death in 477, soon after which major excavation ceased, except at cave 26, which the Asmakas were sponsoring themselves. The Asmakas launched a revolt against Harisena's son, which brought about the end of the Vakataka Dynasty. In the years 478–480 CE major excavation by important patrons was replaced by a rash of "intrusions" – statues added to existing caves, and small shrines dotted about where there was space between them. These were commissioned by less powerful individuals, some monks, who had not previously been able to make additions to the large excavations of the rulers and courtiers. They were added to the facades, the return sides of the entrances, and to walls inside the caves.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20075–6_104-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20075–6-104"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>104<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to Spink, "After 480, not a single image was ever made again at the site".<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20076_105-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20076-105"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>105<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, there exists a Rashtrakuta inscription outside of cave 26 dateable to end of seventh or early 8th century, suggesting the caves were not abandoned until then. </p><p>Spink does not use "circa" in his dates, but says that "one should allow a margin of error of one year or perhaps even two in all cases".<sup id="cite_ref-106" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-106"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>106<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Hindu_and_Buddhist_sponsorship">Hindu and Buddhist sponsorship</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Hindu and Buddhist sponsorship"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Ajanta Caves were built in a period when both the Buddha and the Hindu gods were simultaneously revered in Indian culture. According to Spink and other scholars, the royal <a href="/wiki/Vakataka" class="mw-redirect" title="Vakataka">Vakataka</a> sponsors of the Ajanta Caves probably worshipped both Hindu and Buddhist gods.<sup id="cite_ref-cohen83_34-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cohen83-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007180_107-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007180-107"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>107<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This is evidenced by inscriptions in which these rulers, who are otherwise known as Hindu devotees, made Buddhist dedications to the caves.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007180_107-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007180-107"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>107<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to Spink, </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1244412712"><blockquote class="templatequote"> <p>That one could worship both the Buddha and the Hindu gods may well account for Varahadeva's participation here, just as it can explain why the emperor Harisena himself could sponsor the remarkable Cave 1, even though most scholars agree that he was certainly a Hindu, like earlier Vakataka kings. </p> <div class="templatequotecite">— <cite>Walter Spink, <i>Ajanta: History and Development, Cave by Cave</i>,<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007180_107-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007180-107"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>107<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></cite></div></blockquote> <p>A terracotta plaque of <a href="/wiki/Durga" title="Durga">Mahishasuramardini</a>, also known as <a href="/wiki/Durga" title="Durga">Durga</a>, was also found in a burnt-brick <a href="/wiki/Vihara" class="mw-redirect" title="Vihara">vihara</a> monastery facing the caves on the right bank of the river <a href="/wiki/Waghora" class="mw-redirect" title="Waghora">Waghora</a> that has been recently excavated.<sup id="cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AjantaASI-108"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>108<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ASI_Ajanta_109-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ASI_Ajanta-109"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>109<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-The_Early_Development_of_the_Cave_2_110-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-The_Early_Development_of_the_Cave_2-110"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>110<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This suggest that the deity was possibly under worship by the artisans.<sup id="cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AjantaASI-108"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>108<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ASI_Ajanta_109-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ASI_Ajanta-109"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>109<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to Yuko Yokoschi and Walter Spink, the excavated artifacts of the 5th century near the site suggest that the Ajanta caves deployed a huge number of builders.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200914_with_footnote_3_111-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200914_with_footnote_3-111"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>111<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-112" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-112"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>112<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-halign-center" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_caves_full_panorama_with_cave_numbers.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Ajanta_caves_full_panorama_with_cave_numbers.jpg/800px-Ajanta_caves_full_panorama_with_cave_numbers.jpg" decoding="async" width="800" height="191" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Ajanta_caves_full_panorama_with_cave_numbers.jpg/1200px-Ajanta_caves_full_panorama_with_cave_numbers.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Ajanta_caves_full_panorama_with_cave_numbers.jpg/1600px-Ajanta_caves_full_panorama_with_cave_numbers.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2340" data-file-height="559" /></a><figcaption>Ajanta Caves panorama with cave numbers. The caves are numbered from right to left, except for the later discovered cave 29, located high above Cave 21. Also, cave 30 is located between caves 15 and 16, nearer the river bed (cave invisible here). Chaitya halls are boxed (9, 10, 19, 26), and minor caves are indicated by a smaller type.</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_1">Cave 1</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Cave 1"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:AjantaHoehle1VerandaPanorama.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/AjantaHoehle1VerandaPanorama.jpg/400px-AjantaHoehle1VerandaPanorama.jpg" decoding="async" width="400" height="122" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/AjantaHoehle1VerandaPanorama.jpg/600px-AjantaHoehle1VerandaPanorama.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/AjantaHoehle1VerandaPanorama.jpg/800px-AjantaHoehle1VerandaPanorama.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="488" /></a><figcaption>Front of Cave 1</figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:402px;max-width:402px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:199px;max-width:199px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:131px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:015_Cave_1,_Main_Shrine_and_Paintings_(33470082003).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/015_Cave_1%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Paintings_%2833470082003%29.jpg/197px-015_Cave_1%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Paintings_%2833470082003%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="197" height="131" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/015_Cave_1%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Paintings_%2833470082003%29.jpg/296px-015_Cave_1%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Paintings_%2833470082003%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/015_Cave_1%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Paintings_%2833470082003%29.jpg/394px-015_Cave_1%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Paintings_%2833470082003%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5934" data-file-height="3956" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:199px;max-width:199px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:131px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Indien_ajanta2.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Indien_ajanta2.jpg/197px-Indien_ajanta2.jpg" decoding="async" width="197" height="131" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Indien_ajanta2.jpg/296px-Indien_ajanta2.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Indien_ajanta2.jpg/394px-Indien_ajanta2.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2160" data-file-height="1440" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Cave 1, interior</div></div></div></div> <p>Cave 1 was built on the eastern end of the horseshoe-shaped scarp and is now the first cave the visitor encounters. This cave, when first made, would have been in a less prominent position, right at the end of the row. According to Spink, it is one of the last caves to have been excavated, when the best sites had been taken, and was never fully inaugurated for worship by the dedication of the Buddha image in the central shrine. This is shown by the absence of sooty deposits from butter lamps on the base of the shrine image, and the lack of damage to the paintings that would have happened if the garland-hooks around the shrine had been in use for any period of time. Spink states that the Vākāṭaka Emperor <a href="/wiki/Harishena" title="Harishena">Harishena</a> was the benefactor of the work, and this is reflected in the emphasis on imagery of royalty in the cave, with those Jataka tales being selected that tell of those previous lives of the Buddha in which he was royal.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200717,_31_113-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200717,_31-113"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>113<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The cliff has a steeper slope here than at other caves, so to achieve a tall grand facade it was necessary to cut far back into the slope, giving a large courtyard in front of the facade. There was originally a columned portico in front of the present facade, which can be seen "half-intact in the 1880s" in pictures of the site, but this fell down completely and the remains, despite containing fine carvings, were carelessly thrown down the slope into the river and lost.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200717_114-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200717-114"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>114<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-115" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-115"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>115<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:008_Cave_1,_In_the_Forest_(34239644366).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/008_Cave_1%2C_In_the_Forest_%2834239644366%29.jpg/220px-008_Cave_1%2C_In_the_Forest_%2834239644366%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/008_Cave_1%2C_In_the_Forest_%2834239644366%29.jpg/330px-008_Cave_1%2C_In_the_Forest_%2834239644366%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/008_Cave_1%2C_In_the_Forest_%2834239644366%29.jpg/440px-008_Cave_1%2C_In_the_Forest_%2834239644366%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5919" data-file-height="3946" /></a><figcaption>The frieze over the frontage of Cave 1 front shows elephants, horses, bulls, lions, apsaras and meditating monks.</figcaption></figure> <p>This cave (35.7 m × 27.6 m)<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> has one of the most elaborate carved facades, with relief sculptures on entablature and ridges, and most surfaces embellished with decorative carving. There are scenes carved from the life of the Buddha as well as a number of decorative motifs. A two-pillared portico, visible in the 19th-century photographs, has since perished. The cave has a forecourt with cells fronted by pillared vestibules on either side. These have a high plinth level. The cave has a porch with simple cells at both ends. The absence of pillared vestibules on the ends suggests that the porch was not excavated in the latest phase of Ajanta when pillared vestibules had become customary. Most areas of the porch were once covered with murals, of which many fragments remain, especially on the ceiling. There are three doorways: a central doorway and two side doorways. Two square windows were carved between the doorways to brighten the interiors.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200717–21_117-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200717–21-117"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>117<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Each wall of the hall inside is nearly 40 feet (12 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) high. Twelve pillars make a square colonnade inside, supporting the ceiling and creating spacious aisles along the walls. There is a shrine carved on the rear wall to house an impressive seated image of the Buddha, his hands being in the <i>dharmachakrapravartana <a href="/wiki/Mudra" title="Mudra">mudra</a>.</i> There are four cells on each of the left, rear, and the right walls, though due to rock fault there are none at the ends of the rear aisle.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200720–23_118-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200720–23-118"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>118<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cave_1,_Ajanta" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Cave 1, Ajanta">The paintings of Cave 1</a> cover the walls and the ceilings. They are in a fair state of preservation, although the full scheme was never completed. The scenes depicted are mostly didactic, devotional, and ornamental, with scenes from the <a href="/wiki/Jataka" class="mw-redirect" title="Jataka">Jataka</a> stories of the Buddha's former lives as a <a href="/wiki/Bodhisattva" title="Bodhisattva">bodhisattva</a>, the life of the <a href="/wiki/Gautama_Buddha" class="mw-redirect" title="Gautama Buddha">Gautama Buddha</a>, and those of his veneration. The two most famous individual painted images at Ajanta are the two over-lifesize figures of the protective bodhisattvas <a href="/wiki/Padmapani" class="mw-redirect" title="Padmapani">Padmapani</a> and <a href="/wiki/Vajrapani" title="Vajrapani">Vajrapani</a> on either side of the entrance to the Buddha shrine on the wall of the rear aisle (see illustrations above).<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200729–31_119-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200729–31-119"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>119<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994359–361_120-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994359–361-120"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>120<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Other significant frescoes in Cave 1 include the Sibi, Sankhapala, Mahajanaka, Mahaummagga, and Champeyya Jataka tales. The cave-paintings also show the Temptation of Mara, the miracle of Sravasti where the Buddha simultaneously manifests in many forms, the story of Nanda, and the story of Siddhartha and Yasodhara.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84_89-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84-89"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>89<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200978,_132–135_121-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200978,_132–135-121"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>121<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Meister_des_Mah%C3%A2janaka_J%C3%A2taka_001.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="One of four frescoes for the Mahajanaka Jataka tale: the king announces his abdication to become an ascetic.[122]"><img alt="One of four frescoes for the Mahajanaka Jataka tale: the king announces his abdication to become an ascetic.[122]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Meister_des_Mah%C3%A2janaka_J%C3%A2taka_001.jpg/125px-Meister_des_Mah%C3%A2janaka_J%C3%A2taka_001.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="104" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Meister_des_Mah%C3%A2janaka_J%C3%A2taka_001.jpg/188px-Meister_des_Mah%C3%A2janaka_J%C3%A2taka_001.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Meister_des_Mah%C3%A2janaka_J%C3%A2taka_001.jpg/250px-Meister_des_Mah%C3%A2janaka_J%C3%A2taka_001.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2024" data-file-height="1682" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">One of four frescoes for the Mahajanaka Jataka tale: the king announces his abdication to become an <a href="/wiki/Asceticism" title="Asceticism">ascetic</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-122" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-122"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>122<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_1_Mahajanaka_Jataka_mural_detail.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Sibi Jataka: the king undergoes the traditional rituals for renunciants. He receives a ceremonial bath.[123][124]"><img alt="Sibi Jataka: the king undergoes the traditional rituals for renunciants. He receives a ceremonial bath.[123][124]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Ajanta_Cave_1_Mahajanaka_Jataka_mural_detail.jpg/125px-Ajanta_Cave_1_Mahajanaka_Jataka_mural_detail.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="103" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Ajanta_Cave_1_Mahajanaka_Jataka_mural_detail.jpg/188px-Ajanta_Cave_1_Mahajanaka_Jataka_mural_detail.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Ajanta_Cave_1_Mahajanaka_Jataka_mural_detail.jpg/250px-Ajanta_Cave_1_Mahajanaka_Jataka_mural_detail.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1277" data-file-height="1057" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Sibi Jataka: the king undergoes the traditional rituals for renunciants. He receives a ceremonial bath.<sup id="cite_ref-behlpaint_123-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-behlpaint-123"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>123<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196232–33,_Plate_XI_124-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196232–33,_Plate_XI-124"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>124<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Bodhisattva_Padmapani,_cave_1,_Ajanta,_India.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The Bodhisattva of compassion Padmapani with lotus[123][125]"><img alt="The Bodhisattva of compassion Padmapani with lotus[123][125]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Bodhisattva_Padmapani%2C_cave_1%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg/107px-Bodhisattva_Padmapani%2C_cave_1%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg" decoding="async" width="107" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Bodhisattva_Padmapani%2C_cave_1%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg/160px-Bodhisattva_Padmapani%2C_cave_1%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Bodhisattva_Padmapani%2C_cave_1%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg/213px-Bodhisattva_Padmapani%2C_cave_1%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1797" data-file-height="2104" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The <a href="/wiki/Bodhisattva" title="Bodhisattva">Bodhisattva</a> of compassion <a href="/wiki/Padmapani" class="mw-redirect" title="Padmapani">Padmapani</a> with lotus<sup id="cite_ref-behlpaint_123-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-behlpaint-123"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>123<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan19628–9,_Plate_IV_125-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan19628–9,_Plate_IV-125"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>125<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:023_Cave_1,_Vajrapani_(33896242100).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The Vajrapani[123][126]"><img alt="The Vajrapani[123][126]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/023_Cave_1%2C_Vajrapani_%2833896242100%29.jpg/118px-023_Cave_1%2C_Vajrapani_%2833896242100%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="118" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/023_Cave_1%2C_Vajrapani_%2833896242100%29.jpg/178px-023_Cave_1%2C_Vajrapani_%2833896242100%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/023_Cave_1%2C_Vajrapani_%2833896242100%29.jpg/236px-023_Cave_1%2C_Vajrapani_%2833896242100%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2805" data-file-height="2966" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The <a href="/wiki/Vajrapani" title="Vajrapani">Vajrapani</a><sup id="cite_ref-behlpaint_123-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-behlpaint-123"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>123<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009138–140_126-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009138–140-126"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>126<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Kinnara_with_kachchapa_veena,_part_of_the_Bodhisattva_Padmapani,_Cave_1,_Ajanta,_India.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Kinnara with kachchapa veena, part of Bodhisattva Padmapani painting in Cave 1.[127]"><img alt="Kinnara with kachchapa veena, part of Bodhisattva Padmapani painting in Cave 1.[127]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Kinnara_with_kachchapa_veena%2C_part_of_the_Bodhisattva_Padmapani%2C_Cave_1%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg/125px-Kinnara_with_kachchapa_veena%2C_part_of_the_Bodhisattva_Padmapani%2C_Cave_1%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="99" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Kinnara_with_kachchapa_veena%2C_part_of_the_Bodhisattva_Padmapani%2C_Cave_1%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg/188px-Kinnara_with_kachchapa_veena%2C_part_of_the_Bodhisattva_Padmapani%2C_Cave_1%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Kinnara_with_kachchapa_veena%2C_part_of_the_Bodhisattva_Padmapani%2C_Cave_1%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg/250px-Kinnara_with_kachchapa_veena%2C_part_of_the_Bodhisattva_Padmapani%2C_Cave_1%2C_Ajanta%2C_India.jpg 2x" data-file-width="700" data-file-height="557" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Kinnara" title="Kinnara">Kinnara</a> with kachchapa veena, part of Bodhisattva Padmapani painting in Cave 1.<sup id="cite_ref-127" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-127"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>127<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Ajanta Cave 1 Group of foreigners on the ceiling"><img alt="Ajanta Cave 1 Group of foreigners on the ceiling" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg/125px-Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg/188px-Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg/250px-Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1254" data-file-height="1252" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Ajanta Cave 1 Group of foreigners on the ceiling</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_2">Cave 2</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Cave 2"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:472px;max-width:472px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:234px;max-width:234px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:154px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Caves_18.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Ajanta_Caves_18.jpg/232px-Ajanta_Caves_18.jpg" decoding="async" width="232" height="155" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Ajanta_Caves_18.jpg/348px-Ajanta_Caves_18.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Ajanta_Caves_18.jpg/464px-Ajanta_Caves_18.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:234px;max-width:234px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:154px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:041_Cave_2,_Main_Shrine_and_Ceiling_(33438141474).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/041_Cave_2%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Ceiling_%2833438141474%29.jpg/232px-041_Cave_2%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Ceiling_%2833438141474%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="232" height="155" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/041_Cave_2%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Ceiling_%2833438141474%29.jpg/348px-041_Cave_2%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Ceiling_%2833438141474%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/041_Cave_2%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Ceiling_%2833438141474%29.jpg/464px-041_Cave_2%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Ceiling_%2833438141474%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Outside view and main hall with shrine, Cave 2.</div></div></div></div> <p>Cave 2, adjacent to Cave 1, is known for the paintings that have been preserved on its walls, ceilings, and pillars. It looks similar to Cave 1 and is in a better state of preservation. This cave is best known for its feminine focus, intricate rock carvings and paint artwork yet it is incomplete and lacks consistency.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200974–75_128-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200974–75-128"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>128<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-picron245_129-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-picron245-129"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>129<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> One of the 5th-century frescos in this cave also shows children at a school, with those in the front rows paying attention to the teacher, while those in the back row are shown distracted and acting.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009150–152_130-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009150–152-130"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>130<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Cave 2 (35.7 m × 21.6 m)<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> was started in the 460s, but mostly carved between 475 and 477 CE, probably sponsored and influenced by a woman closely related to emperor Harisena.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20077–8,_40–43_131-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20077–8,_40–43-131"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>131<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It has a porch quite different from Cave 1. Even the façade carvings seem to be different. The cave is supported by robust pillars, ornamented with designs. The front porch consists of cells supported by pillared <a href="/wiki/Vestibule_(architecture)" title="Vestibule (architecture)">vestibules</a> on both ends.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200740–54_132-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200740–54-132"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>132<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_si01-0368.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Ajanta_si01-0368.jpg/220px-Ajanta_si01-0368.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Ajanta_si01-0368.jpg/330px-Ajanta_si01-0368.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Ajanta_si01-0368.jpg/440px-Ajanta_si01-0368.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1200" /></a><figcaption>Colonnades with high-reliefs in the veranda</figcaption></figure> <p>The hall has four <a href="/wiki/Colonnade" title="Colonnade">colonnades</a> which are supporting the ceiling and surrounding a square in the center of the hall. Each arm or colonnade of the square is parallel to the respective walls of the hall, making an aisle in between. The colonnades have rock-beams above and below them. The capitals are carved and painted with various decorative themes that include ornamental, human, animal, vegetative, and semi-divine motifs.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200740–54_132-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200740–54-132"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>132<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Major carvings include that of goddess <a href="/wiki/Hariti" title="Hariti">Hariti</a>. She is a Buddhist deity who originally was the demoness of smallpox and a child eater, who the Buddha converted into a guardian goddess of fertility, easy child birth and one who protects babies.<sup id="cite_ref-picron245_129-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-picron245-129"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>129<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009150–152_130-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009150–152-130"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>130<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cave_2,_Ajanta" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Cave 2, Ajanta">The paintings on the ceilings and walls of Cave 2</a> have been widely published. They depict the Hamsa, Vidhurapandita, Ruru, Kshanti Jataka tales and the Purna Avadhana. Other frescos show the miracle of Sravasti, Ashtabhaya Avalokitesvara and the dream of Maya.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009147–148_88-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009147–148-88"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>88<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84_89-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84-89"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>89<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Just as the stories illustrated in cave 1 emphasise kingship, those in cave 2 show many noble and powerful women in prominent roles, leading to suggestions that the patron was an unknown woman.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200713–14_59-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200713–14-59"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>59<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The porch's rear wall has a doorway in the center, which allows entrance to the hall. On either side of the door is a square-shaped window to brighten the interior. </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:044_Cave_2,_Paintings_and_Pillar_(34149165821).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 2 fresco above the right door shows Buddha in Tushita heaven[133]"><img alt="Cave 2 fresco above the right door shows Buddha in Tushita heaven[133]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/044_Cave_2%2C_Paintings_and_Pillar_%2834149165821%29.jpg/125px-044_Cave_2%2C_Paintings_and_Pillar_%2834149165821%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/044_Cave_2%2C_Paintings_and_Pillar_%2834149165821%29.jpg/188px-044_Cave_2%2C_Paintings_and_Pillar_%2834149165821%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/044_Cave_2%2C_Paintings_and_Pillar_%2834149165821%29.jpg/250px-044_Cave_2%2C_Paintings_and_Pillar_%2834149165821%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5826" data-file-height="3884" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 2 fresco above the right door shows Buddha in <a href="/wiki/Tushita" title="Tushita">Tushita</a> heaven<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196248–49,_Plates_XVII–XX_133-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196248–49,_Plates_XVII–XX-133"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>133<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_2_Birth_of_the_Buddha.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A scene from Vidurapandita Jataka: the birth of the Buddha[133]"><img alt="A scene from Vidurapandita Jataka: the birth of the Buddha[133]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Ajanta_Cave_2_Birth_of_the_Buddha.jpg/125px-Ajanta_Cave_2_Birth_of_the_Buddha.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="94" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Ajanta_Cave_2_Birth_of_the_Buddha.jpg/188px-Ajanta_Cave_2_Birth_of_the_Buddha.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Ajanta_Cave_2_Birth_of_the_Buddha.jpg/250px-Ajanta_Cave_2_Birth_of_the_Buddha.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1200" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A scene from Vidurapandita Jataka: the birth of the Buddha<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196248–49,_Plates_XVII–XX_133-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196248–49,_Plates_XVII–XX-133"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>133<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_cave_2,_girls_detail.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The artworks of Cave 2 are known for their feminine focus, such as these two females[128]"><img alt="The artworks of Cave 2 are known for their feminine focus, such as these two females[128]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Ajanta_cave_2%2C_girls_detail.jpg/125px-Ajanta_cave_2%2C_girls_detail.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="94" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Ajanta_cave_2%2C_girls_detail.jpg/188px-Ajanta_cave_2%2C_girls_detail.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Ajanta_cave_2%2C_girls_detail.jpg/250px-Ajanta_cave_2%2C_girls_detail.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3072" data-file-height="2304" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The artworks of Cave 2 are known for their feminine focus, such as these two females<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200974–75_128-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200974–75-128"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>128<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:045_Cave_2,_Many_Buddhas_(34122766502).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The Miracle of Sravasti[134]"><img alt="The Miracle of Sravasti[134]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/045_Cave_2%2C_Many_Buddhas_%2834122766502%29.jpg/125px-045_Cave_2%2C_Many_Buddhas_%2834122766502%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="97" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/045_Cave_2%2C_Many_Buddhas_%2834122766502%29.jpg/188px-045_Cave_2%2C_Many_Buddhas_%2834122766502%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/045_Cave_2%2C_Many_Buddhas_%2834122766502%29.jpg/250px-045_Cave_2%2C_Many_Buddhas_%2834122766502%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3699" data-file-height="2871" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The Miracle of Sravasti<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2005b3–4,_91_footnote_59,_259_134-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2005b3–4,_91_footnote_59,_259-134"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>134<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_3">Cave 3</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Cave 3"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 3 is merely a start of an excavation; according to Spink it was begun right at the end of the final period of work and soon abandoned.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078_135-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20078-135"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>135<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>This is an incomplete monastery and only the preliminary excavations of pillared <a href="/wiki/Veranda" title="Veranda">veranda</a> exist. The cave was one of the last projects to start at the site. Its date could be ascribed to circa 477 CE<sup id="cite_ref-136" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-136"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>136<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources"><span title="A complete citation is needed. (August 2018)">full citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup>, just before the sudden death of Emperor Harisena. The work stopped after the scooping out of a rough entrance of the hall.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (August 2018)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_4">Cave 4</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Cave 4"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:472px;max-width:472px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:245px;max-width:245px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:147px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_4_Exterior.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Ajanta_Cave_4_Exterior.jpg/243px-Ajanta_Cave_4_Exterior.jpg" decoding="async" width="243" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Ajanta_Cave_4_Exterior.jpg/365px-Ajanta_Cave_4_Exterior.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Ajanta_Cave_4_Exterior.jpg/486px-Ajanta_Cave_4_Exterior.jpg 2x" data-file-width="882" data-file-height="534" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:223px;max-width:223px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:147px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:060_Cave_4,_Main_Shrine_(34280369085).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/060_Cave_4%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834280369085%29.jpg/221px-060_Cave_4%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834280369085%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="221" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/060_Cave_4%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834280369085%29.jpg/332px-060_Cave_4%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834280369085%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/060_Cave_4%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834280369085%29.jpg/442px-060_Cave_4%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834280369085%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Exterior view and interior hall of Cave 4</div></div></div></div> <p>Cave 4, a <a href="/wiki/Vihara" class="mw-redirect" title="Vihara">Vihara</a>, was sponsored by Mathura, likely not a noble or courtly official, rather a wealthy devotee.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200758–61_137-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200758–61-137"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>137<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This is the largest vihara in the inaugural group, which suggests he had immense wealth and influence without being a state official. It is placed at a significantly higher level, possibly because the artists realized that the rock quality at the lower and same level of other caves was poor and they had a better chance of a major vihara at an upper location. Another likely possibility is that the planners wanted to carve into the rock another large cistern to the left courtside for more residents, mirroring the right, a plan implied by the height of the forward cells on the left side.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200758–61_137-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200758–61-137"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>137<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tleft"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:292px;max-width:292px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:149px;max-width:149px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:185px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_4_Hall_door.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Ajanta_Cave_4_Hall_door.jpg/147px-Ajanta_Cave_4_Hall_door.jpg" decoding="async" width="147" height="185" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Ajanta_Cave_4_Hall_door.jpg/221px-Ajanta_Cave_4_Hall_door.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Ajanta_Cave_4_Hall_door.jpg/294px-Ajanta_Cave_4_Hall_door.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1219" data-file-height="1534" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:139px;max-width:139px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:185px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_4,_Decorated_back_pillars.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Ajanta_Cave_4%2C_Decorated_back_pillars.jpg/137px-Ajanta_Cave_4%2C_Decorated_back_pillars.jpg" decoding="async" width="137" height="185" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Ajanta_Cave_4%2C_Decorated_back_pillars.jpg/206px-Ajanta_Cave_4%2C_Decorated_back_pillars.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Ajanta_Cave_4%2C_Decorated_back_pillars.jpg/274px-Ajanta_Cave_4%2C_Decorated_back_pillars.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2245" data-file-height="3034" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Ajanta hall door (left) and cave pillars</div></div></div></div> <p>The Archaeological Survey of India dates it to the 6th century CE.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Spink, in contrast, dates this cave's inauguration a century earlier, to about 463 CE, based on construction style and other inscriptions.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200758–61_137-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200758–61-137"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>137<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cave 4 shows evidence of a dramatic collapse of its ceiling in the central hall, likely in the 6th century, something caused by the vastness of the cave and geological flaws in the rock. Later, the artists attempted to overcome this geological flaw by raising the height of the ceiling through deeper excavation of the embedded basalt lava.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200953–55_138-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200953–55-138"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>138<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:067_Cave_4,_Buddhas,_Sitting_and_Standing_(34123205802).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/067_Cave_4%2C_Buddhas%2C_Sitting_and_Standing_%2834123205802%29.jpg/220px-067_Cave_4%2C_Buddhas%2C_Sitting_and_Standing_%2834123205802%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/067_Cave_4%2C_Buddhas%2C_Sitting_and_Standing_%2834123205802%29.jpg/330px-067_Cave_4%2C_Buddhas%2C_Sitting_and_Standing_%2834123205802%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/067_Cave_4%2C_Buddhas%2C_Sitting_and_Standing_%2834123205802%29.jpg/440px-067_Cave_4%2C_Buddhas%2C_Sitting_and_Standing_%2834123205802%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5888" data-file-height="3925" /></a><figcaption>Cave 4: The Buddha in a preaching pose flanked by <a href="/wiki/Bodhisattva" title="Bodhisattva">bodhisattvas</a></figcaption></figure> <p>The cave has a squarish plan, houses a colossal image of the Buddha in preaching pose flanked by bodhisattvas and celestial nymphs hovering above. It consists, of a verandah, a hypostylar hall, sanctum with an antechamber and a series of unfinished cells. This monastery is the largest among the Ajanta caves and it measures nearly 970 square metres (10,400 sq ft) (35 m × 28 m).<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The door frame is exquisitely sculpted flanking to the right is carved Bodhisattva as reliever of Eight Great Perils. The rear wall of the veranda contains the panel of litany of <a href="/wiki/Avalokite%C5%9Bvara" title="Avalokiteśvara">Avalokiteśvara</a>. The cave's ceiling collapse likely affected its overall plan, caused it being left incomplete. Only the Buddha's statue and the major sculptures were completed, and except for what the sponsor considered most important elements all other elements inside the cave were never painted.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200953–55_138-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200953–55-138"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>138<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_5">Cave 5</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Cave 5"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cave_5,_Ajanta" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Cave 5, Ajanta">Cave 5</a>, an unfinished excavation, was planned as a monastery (10.32 × 16.8 m). Cave 5 is devoid of sculpture and architectural elements except the door frame. The ornate carvings on the frame has female figures with mythical <i>makara</i> creatures found in ancient and medieval-era Indian arts.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The cave's construction was likely initiated about 465 CE but abandoned because the rock has geological flaws. The construction was resumed in 475 CE after Asmakas restarted work at the Ajanta caves, but abandoned again as the artists and sponsor redesigned and focussed on an expanded Cave 6 that abuts Cave 5.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200781–82_139-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200781–82-139"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>139<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_6">Cave 6</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Cave 6"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:502px;max-width:502px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:168px;max-width:168px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:138px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_6_Outside.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Ajanta_Cave_6_Outside.jpg/166px-Ajanta_Cave_6_Outside.jpg" decoding="async" width="166" height="138" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Ajanta_Cave_6_Outside.jpg/249px-Ajanta_Cave_6_Outside.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Ajanta_Cave_6_Outside.jpg/332px-Ajanta_Cave_6_Outside.jpg 2x" data-file-width="543" data-file-height="453" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:210px;max-width:210px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:138px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:076_Cave_7,_Main_Shrine_(34239859596).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/076_Cave_7%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834239859596%29.jpg/208px-076_Cave_7%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834239859596%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="208" height="139" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/076_Cave_7%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834239859596%29.jpg/312px-076_Cave_7%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834239859596%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/076_Cave_7%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834239859596%29.jpg/416px-076_Cave_7%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834239859596%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5888" data-file-height="3925" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:118px;max-width:118px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:138px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_6,_shrine_door_artwork,_lower_storey,_1878_sketch_2.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Ajanta_Cave_6%2C_shrine_door_artwork%2C_lower_storey%2C_1878_sketch_2.jpg/116px-Ajanta_Cave_6%2C_shrine_door_artwork%2C_lower_storey%2C_1878_sketch_2.jpg" decoding="async" width="116" height="139" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Ajanta_Cave_6%2C_shrine_door_artwork%2C_lower_storey%2C_1878_sketch_2.jpg/174px-Ajanta_Cave_6%2C_shrine_door_artwork%2C_lower_storey%2C_1878_sketch_2.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Ajanta_Cave_6%2C_shrine_door_artwork%2C_lower_storey%2C_1878_sketch_2.jpg/232px-Ajanta_Cave_6%2C_shrine_door_artwork%2C_lower_storey%2C_1878_sketch_2.jpg 2x" data-file-width="487" data-file-height="585" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">A view of the entrance and two storeys (left), upper-level hall, and artwork on sanctum's door frame</div></div></div></div> <p>Cave 6 is two-storey monastery (16.85 × 18.07 m). It consists of a sanctum, a hall on both levels. The lower level is pillared and has attached cells. The upper hall also has subsidiary cells. The sanctums on both level feature a Buddha in the teaching posture. Elsewhere, the Buddha is shown in different mudras. The lower level walls depict the <a href="/wiki/Shravasti" title="Shravasti">Miracle of Sravasti</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Mara_(demon)" title="Mara (demon)">Temptation of Mara</a> legends.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199410–11_140-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199410–11-140"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>140<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Only the lower floor of cave 6 was finished. The unfinished upper floor of cave 6 has many private votive sculptures, and a shrine Buddha.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078_135-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20078-135"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>135<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The lower level of Cave 6 likely was the earliest excavation in the second stage of construction.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19947–8,_10_73-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19947–8,_10-73"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>73<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This stage marked the Mahayana theme and Vakataka renaissance period of Ajanta reconstruction that started about four centuries after the earlier Hinayana theme construction.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19947–8,_10_73-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19947–8,_10-73"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>73<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200783–89,_98–103_141-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200783–89,_98–103-141"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>141<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The upper storey was not envisioned in the beginning, it was added as an afterthought, likely around the time when the architects and artists abandoned further work on the geologically flawed rock of Cave 5 immediately next to it. Both lower and upper Cave 6 show crude experimentation and construction errors.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200783–91_142-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200783–91-142"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>142<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The cave work was most likely in progress between 460 and 470 CE, and it is the first that shows attendant Bodhisattvas.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200790–93_143-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200790–93-143"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>143<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The upper cave construction probably began in 465, progressed swiftly, and much deeper into the rock than the lower level.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200798–99_144-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200798–99-144"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>144<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The walls and sanctum's door frame of the both levels are intricately carved. These show themes such as <i>makaras</i> and other mythical creatures, apsaras, elephants in different stages of activity, females in waving or welcoming gesture. The upper level of Cave 6 is significant in that it shows a devotee in a kneeling posture at the Buddha's feet, an indication of devotional worship practices by the 5th century.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199410–11_140-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199410–11-140"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>140<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2005b93,_193–194_145-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2005b93,_193–194-145"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>145<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The colossal Buddha of the shrine has an elaborate throne back, but was hastily finished in 477/478 CE, when king Harisena died.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200987,_169–170_146-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200987,_169–170-146"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>146<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The shrine antechamber of the cave features an unfinished sculptural group of the Six Buddhas of the Past, of which only five statues were carved.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200987,_169–170_146-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200987,_169–170-146"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>146<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This idea may have been influenced from those in <a href="/wiki/Bagh_Caves" title="Bagh Caves">Bagh Caves</a> of <a href="/wiki/Madhya_Pradesh" title="Madhya Pradesh">Madhya Pradesh</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200966–67_147-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200966–67-147"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>147<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:075_Cave_6,_Painting_Fragments_(34239868756).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The most intact painting in Cave 6: Buddha seated in dharma-chakra-mudra[148]"><img alt="The most intact painting in Cave 6: Buddha seated in dharma-chakra-mudra[148]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/075_Cave_6%2C_Painting_Fragments_%2834239868756%29.jpg/125px-075_Cave_6%2C_Painting_Fragments_%2834239868756%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/075_Cave_6%2C_Painting_Fragments_%2834239868756%29.jpg/188px-075_Cave_6%2C_Painting_Fragments_%2834239868756%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/075_Cave_6%2C_Painting_Fragments_%2834239868756%29.jpg/250px-075_Cave_6%2C_Painting_Fragments_%2834239868756%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5707" data-file-height="3805" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The most intact painting in Cave 6: Buddha seated in dharma-chakra-mudra<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196274–75_148-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196274–75-148"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>148<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Gosh.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Painting showing the Mahayana devotional worship to the Buddha[140][145]"><img alt="Painting showing the Mahayana devotional worship to the Buddha[140][145]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Gosh.jpg/91px-Gosh.jpg" decoding="async" width="91" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Gosh.jpg/136px-Gosh.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Gosh.jpg/182px-Gosh.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5100" data-file-height="7019" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Painting showing the Mahayana devotional worship to the Buddha<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199410–11_140-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199410–11-140"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>140<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2005b93,_193–194_145-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2005b93,_193–194-145"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>145<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Upper_Floor,_Cave_No._6,_Ajanta_Caves_-_1.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Buddha in the upper level, deer below and apsaras above (artificial lighting)[149][150]"><img alt="Buddha in the upper level, deer below and apsaras above (artificial lighting)[149][150]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Upper_Floor%2C_Cave_No._6%2C_Ajanta_Caves_-_1.jpg/125px-Upper_Floor%2C_Cave_No._6%2C_Ajanta_Caves_-_1.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="100" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Upper_Floor%2C_Cave_No._6%2C_Ajanta_Caves_-_1.jpg/188px-Upper_Floor%2C_Cave_No._6%2C_Ajanta_Caves_-_1.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Upper_Floor%2C_Cave_No._6%2C_Ajanta_Caves_-_1.jpg/250px-Upper_Floor%2C_Cave_No._6%2C_Ajanta_Caves_-_1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3006" data-file-height="2403" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Buddha in the upper level, deer below and apsaras above (artificial lighting)<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196276–77_149-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196276–77-149"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>149<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201497,_99_figures_32–33_150-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink201497,_99_figures_32–33-150"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>150<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:AJANTA_CAVE_NO._6.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Bhagwan Buddha"><img alt="Bhagwan Buddha" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/AJANTA_CAVE_NO._6.jpg/98px-AJANTA_CAVE_NO._6.jpg" decoding="async" width="98" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/AJANTA_CAVE_NO._6.jpg/148px-AJANTA_CAVE_NO._6.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/AJANTA_CAVE_NO._6.jpg/197px-AJANTA_CAVE_NO._6.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1265" data-file-height="1607" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Bhagwan Buddha</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_7">Cave 7</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Cave 7"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:442px;max-width:442px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:206px;max-width:206px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:153px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_(57).JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2857%29.JPG/204px-Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2857%29.JPG" decoding="async" width="204" height="153" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2857%29.JPG/306px-Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2857%29.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2857%29.JPG/408px-Aurangabad_-_Ajanta_Caves_%2857%29.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="1536" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:232px;max-width:232px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:153px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:080_Cave_8,_Main_Shrine_and_Reliefs_(34123127702).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/080_Cave_8%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Reliefs_%2834123127702%29.jpg/230px-080_Cave_8%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Reliefs_%2834123127702%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="230" height="153" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/080_Cave_8%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Reliefs_%2834123127702%29.jpg/345px-080_Cave_8%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Reliefs_%2834123127702%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/080_Cave_8%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Reliefs_%2834123127702%29.jpg/460px-080_Cave_8%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Reliefs_%2834123127702%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5707" data-file-height="3805" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">External view of Cave 7, and inside shrine</div></div></div></div> <p>Cave 7 is also a monastery (15.55 × 31.25 m) but a single storey. It consists of a sanctum, a hall with octagonal pillars, and eight small rooms for monks. The sanctum Buddha is shown in preaching posture. There are many art panels narrating Buddhist themes, including those of the Buddha with Nagamuchalinda and <a href="/wiki/The_Twin_Miracle" title="The Twin Miracle">Miracle of Sravasti</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Cave 7 has a grand facade with two porticos. The veranda has eight pillars of two types. One has an octagonal base with amalaka and lotus capital. The other lacks a distinctly shaped base, features an octagonal shaft instead with a plain capital.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277_151-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277-151"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>151<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The veranda opens into an antechamber. On the left side in this antechamber are seated or standing sculptures such as those of 25 carved seated Buddhas in various postures and facial expressions, while on the right side are 58 seated Buddha reliefs in different postures, all placed on lotus.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277_151-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277-151"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>151<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These Buddhas and others on the inner walls of the antechamber are a sculptural depiction of the <a href="/wiki/The_Twin_Miracle" title="The Twin Miracle">Miracle of Sravasti</a> in Buddhist theology.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_87–89_152-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_87–89-152"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>152<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The bottom row shows two Nagas (serpents with hoods) holding the blooming lotus stalk.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277_151-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277-151"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>151<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The antechamber leads to the sanctum through a door frame. On this frame are carved two females standing on <i>makaras</i> (mythical sea creatures). Inside the sanctum is the Buddha sitting on a lion throne in cross legged posture, surrounded by other Bodhisattva figures, two attendants with <i>chauris</i><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Template:Which_lang" title="Template:Which lang"><span title="An editor could not identify the correct language for tagging this word or phrase. (May 2020)">what language is this?</span></a></i>]</sup> and flying apsaras above.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277_151-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277-151"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>151<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Perhaps because of faults in the rock, Cave 7 was never taken very deep into the cliff. It consists only of the two porticos and a shrine room with antechamber, with no central hall. Some cells were fitted in.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9_153-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9-153"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>153<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The cave artwork likely underwent revisions and refurbishments over time. The first version was complete by about 469 CE, the myriad Buddhas added and painted a few years later between 476 and 478 CE.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200987–89_154-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200987–89-154"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>154<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_7,_1850_sketch.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 7 plan (Robert Gill sketch, 1850)[155]"><img alt="Cave 7 plan (Robert Gill sketch, 1850)[155]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_7%2C_1850_sketch.jpg/125px-Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_7%2C_1850_sketch.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="96" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_7%2C_1850_sketch.jpg/188px-Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_7%2C_1850_sketch.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_7%2C_1850_sketch.jpg/250px-Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_7%2C_1850_sketch.jpg 2x" data-file-width="500" data-file-height="384" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 7 plan (Robert Gill sketch, 1850)<sup id="cite_ref-155" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-155"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>155<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:1880_sketch_antechamber_reliefs_Cave_7_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 7: Buddhas on the antechamber left wall (James Burgess sketch, 1880)[152]"><img alt="Cave 7: Buddhas on the antechamber left wall (James Burgess sketch, 1880)[152]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/1880_sketch_antechamber_reliefs_Cave_7_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg/79px-1880_sketch_antechamber_reliefs_Cave_7_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg" decoding="async" width="79" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/1880_sketch_antechamber_reliefs_Cave_7_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg/119px-1880_sketch_antechamber_reliefs_Cave_7_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/1880_sketch_antechamber_reliefs_Cave_7_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg/158px-1880_sketch_antechamber_reliefs_Cave_7_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1064" data-file-height="1685" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 7: Buddhas on the antechamber left wall (James Burgess sketch, 1880)<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_87–89_152-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_87–89-152"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>152<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_si01-0403.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Buddhas on the antechamber's right wall[152]"><img alt="Buddhas on the antechamber's right wall[152]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Ajanta_si01-0403.jpg/94px-Ajanta_si01-0403.jpg" decoding="async" width="94" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Ajanta_si01-0403.jpg/141px-Ajanta_si01-0403.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Ajanta_si01-0403.jpg/187px-Ajanta_si01-0403.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="1600" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Buddhas on the antechamber's right wall<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_87–89_152-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_87–89-152"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>152<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Caves_47.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The shallow corridor before the shrine"><img alt="The shallow corridor before the shrine" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Ajanta_Caves_47.jpg/125px-Ajanta_Caves_47.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Ajanta_Caves_47.jpg/188px-Ajanta_Caves_47.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Ajanta_Caves_47.jpg/250px-Ajanta_Caves_47.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The shallow corridor before the shrine</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_8">Cave 8</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Cave 8"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:332px;max-width:332px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:183px;max-width:183px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:126px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_8_exterior_view.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Ajanta_Cave_8_exterior_view.jpg/181px-Ajanta_Cave_8_exterior_view.jpg" decoding="async" width="181" height="127" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Ajanta_Cave_8_exterior_view.jpg/272px-Ajanta_Cave_8_exterior_view.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Ajanta_Cave_8_exterior_view.jpg/362px-Ajanta_Cave_8_exterior_view.jpg 2x" data-file-width="777" data-file-height="545" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:145px;max-width:145px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:126px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ground_Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_8,_1850_sketch.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Ground_Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_8%2C_1850_sketch.jpg/143px-Ground_Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_8%2C_1850_sketch.jpg" decoding="async" width="143" height="127" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Ground_Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_8%2C_1850_sketch.jpg/215px-Ground_Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_8%2C_1850_sketch.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Ground_Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_8%2C_1850_sketch.jpg/286px-Ground_Plan_of_Ajanta_Cave_8%2C_1850_sketch.jpg 2x" data-file-width="365" data-file-height="323" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">External view of Cave 8, with plan. Cave 8 is small, and located at the lowest level in Ajanta, just below the walkway between Caves 7 and 9.</div></div></div></div> <p>Cave 8 is another unfinished monastery (15.24 × 24.64 m). For many decades in the 20th century, this cave was used as a storage and generator room.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9,_127–130_156-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9,_127–130-156"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>156<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is at the river level with easy access, relatively lower than other caves, and according to Archaeological Survey of India it is possibly one of the earliest monasteries. Much of its front is damaged, likely from a landslide.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The cave excavation proved difficult and probably abandoned after a geological fault consisting of a mineral layer proved disruptive to stable carvings.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9,_127–130_156-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9,_127–130-156"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>156<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200910,_88_157-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200910,_88-157"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>157<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Spink, in contrast, states that Cave 8 is perhaps the earliest cave from the second period, its shrine an "afterthought". It may well be the oldest Mahayana monastery excavated in India, according to Spink.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9_153-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9-153"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>153<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The statue may have been loose rather than carved from the living rock, as it has now vanished. The cave was painted, but only traces remain.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9_153-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9-153"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>153<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_9">Cave 9</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Cave 9"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:332px;max-width:332px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:172px;max-width:172px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:216px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_9.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Ajanta_Cave_9.jpg/170px-Ajanta_Cave_9.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="216" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Ajanta_Cave_9.jpg/255px-Ajanta_Cave_9.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Ajanta_Cave_9.jpg/340px-Ajanta_Cave_9.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2166" data-file-height="2754" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:156px;max-width:156px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:216px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Entrance_fa%C3%A7ade_of_Ajanta_Cave_9,_Maharashtra_India,_1878_sketch_2.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Entrance_fa%C3%A7ade_of_Ajanta_Cave_9%2C_Maharashtra_India%2C_1878_sketch_2.jpg/154px-Entrance_fa%C3%A7ade_of_Ajanta_Cave_9%2C_Maharashtra_India%2C_1878_sketch_2.jpg" decoding="async" width="154" height="216" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Entrance_fa%C3%A7ade_of_Ajanta_Cave_9%2C_Maharashtra_India%2C_1878_sketch_2.jpg/231px-Entrance_fa%C3%A7ade_of_Ajanta_Cave_9%2C_Maharashtra_India%2C_1878_sketch_2.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Entrance_fa%C3%A7ade_of_Ajanta_Cave_9%2C_Maharashtra_India%2C_1878_sketch_2.jpg/308px-Entrance_fa%C3%A7ade_of_Ajanta_Cave_9%2C_Maharashtra_India%2C_1878_sketch_2.jpg 2x" data-file-width="508" data-file-height="712" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Entrance to the Cave 9 worship hall. Right: An 1878 sketch.</div></div></div></div> <p>Caves 9 and 10 are the two <i>chaitya</i> or worship halls from the 2nd to 1st century BCE – the first period of construction, though both were reworked upon the end of the second period of construction in the 5th century CE. </p><p>Cave 9 (18.24 m × 8.04 m)<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> is smaller than Cave 10 (30.5 m × 12.2 m),<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> but more complex.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007131–132_158-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007131–132-158"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>158<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This has led Spink to the view that Cave 10 was perhaps originally of the 1st century BCE, and cave 9 about a hundred years later. The small "shrinelets" called caves 9A to 9D and 10A also date from the second period. These were commissioned by individuals.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20079,_140–141_159-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20079,_140–141-159"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>159<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cave 9 arch has remnant profile that suggests that it likely had wooden fittings.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007131–132_158-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007131–132-158"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>158<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The cave has a distinct apsidal shape, nave, aisle and an apse with an icon, architecture, and plan that reminds one of the cathedrals built in Europe many centuries later. The aisle has a row of 23 pillars. The ceiling is vaulted. The stupa is at the center of the apse, with a circumambulation path around it. The stupa sits on a high cylindrical base. On the left wall of the cave are votaries approaching the stupa, which suggests a devotional tradition.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199412–13_160-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199412–13-160"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>160<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007131–135_161-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007131–135-161"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>161<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>According to Spink, the paintings in this cave, including the intrusive standing Buddhas on the pillars, were added in the 5th century.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_1–3_162-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_1–3-162"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>162<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Above the pillars and also behind the stupa are colorful paintings of the Buddha with Padmapani and Vajrapani next to him, they wear jewels and necklaces, while yogis, citizens and Buddhist <i>bhikshu</i> are shown approaching the Buddha with garlands and offerings, with men wearing <i>dhoti</i> and turbans wrapped around their heads.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277–78_163-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277–78-163"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>163<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On the walls are friezes of Jataka tales, but likely from the Hinayana phase of early construction. Some of the panels and reliefs inside as well as outside Cave 10 do not make narrative sense, but are related to Buddhist legends. This lack of narrative flow may be because these were added by different monks and official donors in the 5th century wherever empty space was available.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007131–135_161-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007131–135-161"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>161<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This devotionalism and the worship hall character of this cave is the likely reason why four additional shrinelets 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D were added between Cave 9 and 10.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007131–135_161-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007131–135-161"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>161<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:098_Cave_9,_Buddha_with_Ananda_(34239733306).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Buddha statue on the porch of Cave 9"><img alt="Buddha statue on the porch of Cave 9" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/098_Cave_9%2C_Buddha_with_Ananda_%2834239733306%29.jpg/83px-098_Cave_9%2C_Buddha_with_Ananda_%2834239733306%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="83" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/098_Cave_9%2C_Buddha_with_Ananda_%2834239733306%29.jpg/125px-098_Cave_9%2C_Buddha_with_Ananda_%2834239733306%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/098_Cave_9%2C_Buddha_with_Ananda_%2834239733306%29.jpg/166px-098_Cave_9%2C_Buddha_with_Ananda_%2834239733306%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="6000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Buddha statue on the porch of Cave 9</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_12.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="The apsidal hall with plain hemispherical stupa at apse's center[163]"><img alt="The apsidal hall with plain hemispherical stupa at apse's center[163]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_12.JPG/125px-Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_12.JPG" decoding="async" width="125" height="80" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_12.JPG/188px-Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_12.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_12.JPG/250px-Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_12.JPG 2x" data-file-width="5031" data-file-height="3215" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The apsidal hall with plain hemispherical stupa at apse's center<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277–78_163-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277–78-163"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>163<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Caves_57.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Pillar paintings"><img alt="Pillar paintings" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Ajanta_Caves_57.jpg/125px-Ajanta_Caves_57.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Ajanta_Caves_57.jpg/188px-Ajanta_Caves_57.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Ajanta_Caves_57.jpg/250px-Ajanta_Caves_57.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Pillar paintings</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Cave_9,_Paintings_on_and_over_pillars_right_side_of_the_cave.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 9: fresco with Buddhas in orange robes and protected by chatra umbrellas"><img alt="Cave 9: fresco with Buddhas in orange robes and protected by chatra umbrellas" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Cave_9%2C_Paintings_on_and_over_pillars_right_side_of_the_cave.jpg/83px-Cave_9%2C_Paintings_on_and_over_pillars_right_side_of_the_cave.jpg" decoding="async" width="83" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Cave_9%2C_Paintings_on_and_over_pillars_right_side_of_the_cave.jpg/125px-Cave_9%2C_Paintings_on_and_over_pillars_right_side_of_the_cave.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Cave_9%2C_Paintings_on_and_over_pillars_right_side_of_the_cave.jpg/166px-Cave_9%2C_Paintings_on_and_over_pillars_right_side_of_the_cave.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="6000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 9: fresco with Buddhas in orange robes and protected by <a href="/wiki/Chatra_(umbrella)" title="Chatra (umbrella)">chatra</a> umbrellas</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_10">Cave 10</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Cave 10"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:402px;max-width:402px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:147px;max-width:147px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:165px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_10_outside_view.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Ajanta_Cave_10_outside_view.jpg/145px-Ajanta_Cave_10_outside_view.jpg" decoding="async" width="145" height="166" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Ajanta_Cave_10_outside_view.jpg/218px-Ajanta_Cave_10_outside_view.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Ajanta_Cave_10_outside_view.jpg/290px-Ajanta_Cave_10_outside_view.jpg 2x" data-file-width="783" data-file-height="894" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:251px;max-width:251px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:165px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_14.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_14.JPG/249px-Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_14.JPG" decoding="async" width="249" height="166" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_14.JPG/374px-Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_14.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_14.JPG/498px-Ajanta_caves_aurangabad_14.JPG 2x" data-file-width="5184" data-file-height="3456" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Exterior view and interior hall of Cave 10<sup id="cite_ref-164" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-164"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>164<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div></div></div></div> <p>Cave 10, a vast prayer hall or <a href="/wiki/Chaitya" title="Chaitya">Chaitya</a>, is dated to about the 1st century BCE, together with the nearby <a href="/wiki/Vihara" class="mw-redirect" title="Vihara">vihara</a> cave No 12.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20091_165-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20091-165"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>165<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009135–137_166-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009135–137-166"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>166<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These two caves are thus among the earliest of the Ajanta complex.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20091_165-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20091-165"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>165<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It has a large central apsidal hall with a row of 39 octagonal pillars, a nave separating its aisle and stupa at the end for worship. The stupa has a <i>pradakshina patha</i> (circumambulatory path).<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009135–137_166-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009135–137-166"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>166<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>This cave is significant because its scale confirms the influence of Buddhism in South Asia by the 1st century BCE and its continued though declining influence in India through the 5th century CE.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009135–137_166-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009135–137-166"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>166<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Further, the cave includes a number of inscriptions where parts of the cave are "gifts of prasada" by different individuals, which in turn suggests that the cave was sponsored as a community effort rather than a single king or one elite official.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009135–137_166-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009135–137-166"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>166<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cave 10 is also historically important because in April 1819, a British Army officer John Smith saw its arch and introduced his discovery to the attention of the Western audience.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <dl><dt>Chronology</dt></dl> <p>Several others caves were also built in <a href="/wiki/Western_India" title="Western India">Western India</a> around the same period under royal sponsorship.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20091_165-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20091-165"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>165<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is thought that the chronology of these early Chaitya Caves is as follows: first Cave 9 at <a href="/wiki/Mahakali_Caves" title="Mahakali Caves">Kondivite Caves</a> and then Cave 12 at the <a href="/wiki/Bhaja_Caves" title="Bhaja Caves">Bhaja Caves</a>, which both predate Cave 10 of Ajanta.<sup id="cite_ref-Le_108_167-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Le_108-167"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>167<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Then, after Cave 10 of Ajanta, in chronological order: Cave 3 at <a href="/wiki/Pitalkhora" title="Pitalkhora">Pitalkhora</a>, Cave 1 at <a href="/wiki/Kondana_Caves" title="Kondana Caves">Kondana Caves</a>, Cave 9 at Ajanta, which, with its more ornate designs, may have been built about a century later,<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20091_165-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20091-165"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>165<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cave 18 at <a href="/wiki/Nasik_Caves" title="Nasik Caves">Nasik Caves</a>, and Cave 7 at <a href="/wiki/Bedse_Caves" title="Bedse Caves">Bedse Caves</a>, to finally culminate with the "final perfection" of the Great Chaitya at <a href="/wiki/Karla_Caves" title="Karla Caves">Karla Caves</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Le_108_167-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Le_108-167"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>167<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <dl><dt>Inscription</dt></dl> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_10_dedicatory_inscription.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Ajanta_Cave_10_dedicatory_inscription.jpg/250px-Ajanta_Cave_10_dedicatory_inscription.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Ajanta_Cave_10_dedicatory_inscription.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="320" data-file-height="192" /></a><figcaption>Ajanta Cave 10 dedicatory inscription</figcaption></figure> <p>Cave 10 features a Sanskrit inscription in <a href="/wiki/Brahmi_script" title="Brahmi script">Brahmi script</a> that is archaeologically important.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The inscription is the oldest of the Ajanta site, the <a href="/wiki/Brahmi" class="mw-redirect" title="Brahmi">Brahmi</a> letters being paleographically dated to circa the 2nd century BCE.<sup id="cite_ref-168" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-168"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>168<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It reads:<sup id="cite_ref-169" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-169"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>note 1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1244412712"><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>𑀯𑀲𑀺𑀣𑀺𑀧𑀼𑀢𑀲 𑀓𑀝𑀳𑀸𑀤𑀺𑀦𑁄 𑀖𑀭𑀫𑀼𑀔 𑀤𑀸𑀦𑀁<br /><i>Vasithiputasa Kaṭahādino gharamukha dānaṁ</i><br />"The gift of a cave-façade by Vasisthiputra Katahadi."</p><div class="templatequotecite">— <cite>Inscription of Cave No.10.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20091_165-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20091-165"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>165<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-170" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-170"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>169<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></cite></div></blockquote> <dl><dt>Paintings</dt></dl> <p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cave_10,_Ajanta" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Cave 10, Ajanta">The paintings in cave 10</a> include some surviving from the early period, many from an incomplete programme of modernisation in the second period, and a very large number of smaller late intrusive images for votive purposes, around the 479–480 CE, nearly all Buddhas and many with donor inscriptions from individuals. These mostly avoided over-painting the "official" programme and after the best positions were used up are tucked away in less prominent positions not yet painted; the total of these (including those now lost) was probably over 300, and the hands of many different artists are visible. The paintings are numerous and from two periods, many narrating the Jataka tales in a clockwise sequence.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007101–103,_137–139,_184_171-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007101–103,_137–139,_184-171"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>170<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Both Hinayana and Mahayana stage paintings are discernable, though the former are more faded and begrimed with early centuries of Hinayana worship.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20092–3,_135–137_172-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20092–3,_135–137-172"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>171<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Of interest here is the Saddanta Jataka tale – the fable about six tusked elephant, and the Shyama Jataka – the story about the man who dedicates his life serving his blind parents.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009135–137_166-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009135–137-166"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>166<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-173" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-173"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>172<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKramrisch1994293–295_174-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEKramrisch1994293–295-174"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>173<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to Stella Kramrisch, the oldest layer of the Cave 10 paintings date from about 100 BCE, and the principles behind their composition are analogous to those from the same era at Sanchi and Amaravati.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKramrisch1994293–295_174-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEKramrisch1994293–295-174"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>173<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:*Plate_3*_%3D%3D_Ajunta--_Interior_of_Chaitya_Cave,_No._10.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 10, condition in 1839[174]"><img alt="Cave 10, condition in 1839[174]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/%2APlate_3%2A_%3D%3D_Ajunta--_Interior_of_Chaitya_Cave%2C_No._10.jpg/125px-%2APlate_3%2A_%3D%3D_Ajunta--_Interior_of_Chaitya_Cave%2C_No._10.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="89" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/%2APlate_3%2A_%3D%3D_Ajunta--_Interior_of_Chaitya_Cave%2C_No._10.jpg/188px-%2APlate_3%2A_%3D%3D_Ajunta--_Interior_of_Chaitya_Cave%2C_No._10.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/%2APlate_3%2A_%3D%3D_Ajunta--_Interior_of_Chaitya_Cave%2C_No._10.jpg/250px-%2APlate_3%2A_%3D%3D_Ajunta--_Interior_of_Chaitya_Cave%2C_No._10.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1086" data-file-height="774" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 10, condition in 1839<sup id="cite_ref-175" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-175"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>174<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:089_Cave_10,_Buddha_Drawing_on_Column_(33896473480).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The Buddha in long, heavy robe, a design derived from the art of Gandhara[175]"><img alt="The Buddha in long, heavy robe, a design derived from the art of Gandhara[175]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/089_Cave_10%2C_Buddha_Drawing_on_Column_%2833896473480%29.jpg/83px-089_Cave_10%2C_Buddha_Drawing_on_Column_%2833896473480%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="83" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/089_Cave_10%2C_Buddha_Drawing_on_Column_%2833896473480%29.jpg/125px-089_Cave_10%2C_Buddha_Drawing_on_Column_%2833896473480%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/089_Cave_10%2C_Buddha_Drawing_on_Column_%2833896473480%29.jpg/166px-089_Cave_10%2C_Buddha_Drawing_on_Column_%2833896473480%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="6000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The Buddha in long, heavy robe, a design derived from the art of <a href="/wiki/Gandhara" title="Gandhara">Gandhara</a><sup id="cite_ref-176" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-176"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>175<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Caves_71.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Later painting with devotional figures, on pillars and ceiling"><img alt="Later painting with devotional figures, on pillars and ceiling" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Ajanta_Caves_71.jpg/125px-Ajanta_Caves_71.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Ajanta_Caves_71.jpg/188px-Ajanta_Caves_71.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Ajanta_Caves_71.jpg/250px-Ajanta_Caves_71.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Later painting with devotional figures, on pillars and ceiling</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:106_Cave_10,_Paintings_in_Arches_(33438399444).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Paintings of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on the arches"><img alt="Paintings of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on the arches" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/106_Cave_10%2C_Paintings_in_Arches_%2833438399444%29.jpg/83px-106_Cave_10%2C_Paintings_in_Arches_%2833438399444%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="83" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/106_Cave_10%2C_Paintings_in_Arches_%2833438399444%29.jpg/125px-106_Cave_10%2C_Paintings_in_Arches_%2833438399444%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/106_Cave_10%2C_Paintings_in_Arches_%2833438399444%29.jpg/166px-106_Cave_10%2C_Paintings_in_Arches_%2833438399444%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="6000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Paintings of Buddhas and <a href="/wiki/Bodhisattva" title="Bodhisattva">Bodhisattvas</a> on the arches</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_11">Cave 11</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Cave 11"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:442px;max-width:442px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:233px;max-width:233px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:135px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_11_outside_view.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Ajanta_Cave_11_outside_view.jpg/231px-Ajanta_Cave_11_outside_view.jpg" decoding="async" width="231" height="136" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Ajanta_Cave_11_outside_view.jpg/347px-Ajanta_Cave_11_outside_view.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Ajanta_Cave_11_outside_view.jpg/462px-Ajanta_Cave_11_outside_view.jpg 2x" data-file-width="832" data-file-height="489" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:205px;max-width:205px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:135px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Buddha_at_Ajanta_Caves.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Buddha_at_Ajanta_Caves.JPG/203px-Buddha_at_Ajanta_Caves.JPG" decoding="async" width="203" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Buddha_at_Ajanta_Caves.JPG/305px-Buddha_at_Ajanta_Caves.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Buddha_at_Ajanta_Caves.JPG/406px-Buddha_at_Ajanta_Caves.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3456" data-file-height="2304" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Outside view of Cave 11: Buddha with a kneeling devotee<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82_177-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82-177"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>176<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div></div></div></div> <p>Cave 11 is a monastery (19.87 × 17.35 m) built during <i>c.</i> 462 to 478.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESingh2021302_178-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESingh2021302-178"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>177<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The cave veranda has pillars with octagonal shafts and square bases. The ceiling of the veranda shows evidence of floral designs and eroded reliefs. Only the center panel is discernible wherein the Buddha is seen with votaries lining up to pray before him.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82_177-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82-177"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>176<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Inside, the cave consists of a hall with a long rock bench opening into six rooms. Similar stone benches are found in <a href="/wiki/Nasik_Caves" title="Nasik Caves">Nasik Caves</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82_177-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82-177"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>176<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Another pillared verandah ends in a sanctum with seated Buddha against an incomplete stupa, and has four cells. </p><p>The cave has a few paintings showing Bodhisattvas and the Buddha.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Of these, the Padmapani, a couple gathered to pray, a pair of peafowl, and a female figure painting have survived in the best condition. The sanctum of this cave may be among the last structures built at Ajanta because it features a circumambulation path around the seated Buddha.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82_177-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82-177"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>176<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_12">Cave 12</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: Cave 12"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:362px;max-width:362px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:150px;max-width:150px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:137px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_12_plan.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Ajanta_Cave_12_plan.jpg/148px-Ajanta_Cave_12_plan.jpg" decoding="async" width="148" height="138" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Ajanta_Cave_12_plan.jpg/222px-Ajanta_Cave_12_plan.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Ajanta_Cave_12_plan.jpg/296px-Ajanta_Cave_12_plan.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1080" data-file-height="1004" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:208px;max-width:208px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:137px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:094_Cave_12,_Vihara_Cells_(34123037202).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/094_Cave_12%2C_Vihara_Cells_%2834123037202%29.jpg/206px-094_Cave_12%2C_Vihara_Cells_%2834123037202%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="206" height="137" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/094_Cave_12%2C_Vihara_Cells_%2834123037202%29.jpg/309px-094_Cave_12%2C_Vihara_Cells_%2834123037202%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/094_Cave_12%2C_Vihara_Cells_%2834123037202%29.jpg/412px-094_Cave_12%2C_Vihara_Cells_%2834123037202%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5902" data-file-height="3935" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Cave 12 hall, with monk cells. Each cell has two stone beds.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82_177-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82-177"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>176<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div></div></div></div> <p>According to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Cave 12 is an early stage <a href="/wiki/Hinayana" title="Hinayana">Hinayana</a> (<a href="/wiki/Theravada" title="Theravada">Theravada</a>) monastery (14.9 × 17.82 m) from the 2nd to 1st century BCE. Spink however only dates it to the 1st century BCE.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20061_179-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20061-179"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>178<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The cave is damaged with its front wall completely collapsed. Its three sides inside have twelve cells, each with two stone beds.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196282–83_180-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196282–83-180"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>179<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_13">Cave 13</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Cave 13"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 13 is another small monastery from the early period, consisting of a hall with seven cells, each also with two stone beds, all carved out of the rock. Each cell has rock-cut beds for the monks. In contrast to ASI's estimate, Gupte and Mahajan date both these caves about two to three centuries later, between 1st and 2nd-century CE.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196282–83_180-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196282–83-180"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>179<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_14">Cave 14</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Cave 14"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 14 is another unfinished monastery (13.43 × 19.28 m) but carved above Cave 13. The entrance door frame shows <i>sala bhanjikas</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_15">Cave 15</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: Cave 15"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 15 is a more complete monastery (19.62 × 15.98 m) with evidence that it had paintings. The cave consists of an eight-celled hall ending in a sanctum, an antechamber and a verandah with pillars. The reliefs show the Buddha, while the sanctum Buddha is shown seated in the <a href="/wiki/Simhasana" title="Simhasana">Simhasana</a> posture.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cave 15 door frame has carvings of pigeons eating grain.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196282–83_180-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196282–83-180"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>179<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_15A">Cave 15A</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: Cave 15A"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 15A is the smallest cave with a hall and one cell on each side. Its entrance is just to the right of the elephant-decorated entrance to Cave 16.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007178_181-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007178-181"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>180<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is an ancient Hinayana cave with three cells opening around a minuscule central hall.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007178_181-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007178-181"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>180<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The doors are decorated with a rail and arch pattern.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007178_181-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007178-181"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>180<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It had an inscription in an ancient script, which has been lost. <sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007178_181-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007178-181"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>180<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-packed"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 168px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 166px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_13_exterior.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 13"><img alt="Cave 13" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Ajanta_Cave_13_exterior.jpg/249px-Ajanta_Cave_13_exterior.jpg" decoding="async" width="166" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Ajanta_Cave_13_exterior.jpg/373px-Ajanta_Cave_13_exterior.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Ajanta_Cave_13_exterior.jpg/497px-Ajanta_Cave_13_exterior.jpg 2x" data-file-width="567" data-file-height="411" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 13</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 200px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 198px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_14_exterior.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 14"><img alt="Cave 14" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Ajanta_Cave_14_exterior.jpg/297px-Ajanta_Cave_14_exterior.jpg" decoding="async" width="198" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Ajanta_Cave_14_exterior.jpg/445px-Ajanta_Cave_14_exterior.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Ajanta_Cave_14_exterior.jpg/593px-Ajanta_Cave_14_exterior.jpg 2x" data-file-width="657" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 14</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 158px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_15_exterior.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 15"><img alt="Cave 15" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Ajanta_Cave_15_exterior.jpg/237px-Ajanta_Cave_15_exterior.jpg" decoding="async" width="158" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Ajanta_Cave_15_exterior.jpg/355px-Ajanta_Cave_15_exterior.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Ajanta_Cave_15_exterior.jpg/474px-Ajanta_Cave_15_exterior.jpg 2x" data-file-width="517" data-file-height="393" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 15</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 196.66666666667px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 194.66666666667px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_15A.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 15A"><img alt="Cave 15A" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Ajanta_Cave_15A.jpg/292px-Ajanta_Cave_15A.jpg" decoding="async" width="195" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Ajanta_Cave_15A.jpg/438px-Ajanta_Cave_15A.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Ajanta_Cave_15A.jpg/583px-Ajanta_Cave_15A.jpg 2x" data-file-width="609" data-file-height="376" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 15A</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 162px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 160px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Interior_of_newly_discovered_vihara_15A_at_Ajanta_2nd_century_BCE.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Interior of cave 15A[181]"><img alt="Interior of cave 15A[181]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Interior_of_newly_discovered_vihara_15A_at_Ajanta_2nd_century_BCE.jpg/240px-Interior_of_newly_discovered_vihara_15A_at_Ajanta_2nd_century_BCE.jpg" decoding="async" width="160" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Interior_of_newly_discovered_vihara_15A_at_Ajanta_2nd_century_BCE.jpg/361px-Interior_of_newly_discovered_vihara_15A_at_Ajanta_2nd_century_BCE.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Interior_of_newly_discovered_vihara_15A_at_Ajanta_2nd_century_BCE.jpg/481px-Interior_of_newly_discovered_vihara_15A_at_Ajanta_2nd_century_BCE.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1634" data-file-height="1224" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Interior of cave 15A<sup id="cite_ref-182" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-182"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>181<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_16">Cave 16</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: Cave 16"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:502px;max-width:502px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:236px;max-width:236px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:173px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_16_Outside_view.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Ajanta_Cave_16_Outside_view.jpg/234px-Ajanta_Cave_16_Outside_view.jpg" decoding="async" width="234" height="173" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Ajanta_Cave_16_Outside_view.jpg/351px-Ajanta_Cave_16_Outside_view.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Ajanta_Cave_16_Outside_view.jpg/468px-Ajanta_Cave_16_Outside_view.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3161" data-file-height="2339" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:262px;max-width:262px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:173px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:003_Cave_16,_Main_Shrine_(34298723855).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/003_Cave_16%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834298723855%29.jpg/260px-003_Cave_16%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834298723855%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="260" height="173" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/003_Cave_16%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834298723855%29.jpg/390px-003_Cave_16%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834298723855%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/003_Cave_16%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834298723855%29.jpg/520px-003_Cave_16%2C_Main_Shrine_%2834298723855%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Entrance stairs to the single-storey Cave 16, with stone elephants and front with pillars (left). Inside hall with seated Buddha statue (right).<sup id="cite_ref-183" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-183"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>182<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div></div></div></div> <p>Cave 16 occupies a prime position near the middle of site, and was sponsored by Varahadeva, minister of <a href="/wiki/Vakataka" class="mw-redirect" title="Vakataka">Vakataka</a> king <a href="/wiki/Harishena" title="Harishena">Harishena</a> (r. <abbr title="circa">c.</abbr><span style="white-space:nowrap;"> 475</span> – c.<span style="white-space:nowrap;"> 500 CE</span>). He was a follower of <a href="/wiki/Buddhism" title="Buddhism">Buddhism</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-184" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-184"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>183<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He devoted it to the community of monks, with an inscription that expresses his wish, may "the entire world (...) enter that peaceful and noble state free from sorrow and disease" and affirming his devotion to the Buddhist faith: "regarding the sacred law as his only companion, (he was) extremely devoted to the Buddha, the teacher of the world".<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007179–181_185-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007179–181-185"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>184<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-186" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-186"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>185<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He was, states Spink, probably someone who revered both the Buddha and the Hindu gods, as he proclaims his Hindu heritage in an inscription in the nearby <a href="/wiki/Ghatotkacha_Cave" class="mw-redirect" title="Ghatotkacha Cave">Ghatotkacha Cave</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007180_107-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007180-107"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>107<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The 7th-century Chinese traveler <a href="/wiki/Xuan_Zang" class="mw-redirect" title="Xuan Zang">Xuan Zang</a> described the cave as the entrance to the site.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007179–181_185-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007179–181-185"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>184<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Cave 16 (19.5 m × 22.25 m × 4.6 m)<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> influenced the architecture of the entire site. Spink and other scholars call it the "crucial cave" that helps trace the chronology of the second and closing stages of the entire cave's complex construction.<sup id="cite_ref-187" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-187"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>186<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-188" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-188"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>187<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cave 16 is a Mahayana monastery and has the standard arrangement of a main doorway, two windows, and two aisle doorways.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007181–183_189-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007181–183-189"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>188<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The veranda of this monastery is 19.5 m × 3 m, while the main hall is almost a perfect square with 19.5 m side.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196283–84_190-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196283–84-190"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>189<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:292px;max-width:292px"><div class="trow"><div class="theader">Inscription of Varāhadēva</div></div><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:180px;max-width:180px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:230px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_cave_inscription_of_Varahadeva.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Ajanta_cave_inscription_of_Varahadeva.jpg/178px-Ajanta_cave_inscription_of_Varahadeva.jpg" decoding="async" width="178" height="231" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Ajanta_cave_inscription_of_Varahadeva.jpg/267px-Ajanta_cave_inscription_of_Varahadeva.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Ajanta_cave_inscription_of_Varahadeva.jpg/356px-Ajanta_cave_inscription_of_Varahadeva.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3747" data-file-height="4853" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:108px;max-width:108px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:230px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_inscription_of_Varahadeva_(translation).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Ajanta_inscription_of_Varahadeva_%28translation%29.jpg/106px-Ajanta_inscription_of_Varahadeva_%28translation%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="106" height="232" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Ajanta_inscription_of_Varahadeva_%28translation%29.jpg/159px-Ajanta_inscription_of_Varahadeva_%28translation%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Ajanta_inscription_of_Varahadeva_%28translation%29.jpg/212px-Ajanta_inscription_of_Varahadeva_%28translation%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3482" data-file-height="7609" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Cave 16 inscription of Varāhadēva, with translation</div></div></div></div> <p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cave_16,_Ajanta" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Cave 16, Ajanta">The paintings in Cave 16</a> are numerous. Narratives include various Jataka tales such as Hasti, Mahaummagga and the Sutasoma fables. Other frescos depict the conversion of Nanda, miracle of Sravasti, <a href="/wiki/Sujata_(milkmaid)" title="Sujata (milkmaid)">Sujata</a>'s offering, Asita's visit, the dream of Maya, the Trapusha and Bhallika story, and the ploughing festival.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84_89-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84-89"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>89<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009ix–xiii_191-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009ix–xiii-191"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>190<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Hasti Jataka frescos tell the story of a Bodhisattva elephant who learns of a large group of people starving, then tells them to go below a cliff where they could find food. The elephant proceeds to sacrifice himself by jumping off that cliff thereby becoming food so that the people can survive.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196283–84_190-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196283–84-190"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>189<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-194" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-194"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>note 2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These frescos are found immediately to the left of entrance, in the front corridor and the narrative follows a clockwise direction.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196283–84_190-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196283–84-190"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>189<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Mahaummagga Jataka frescos are found on the left wall of the corridor, which narrates the story of a child Bodhisattva.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196284–85_195-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196284–85-195"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>193<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Thereafter, in the left corridor is the legend surrounding the conversion of Nanda – the half brother of the Buddha. The story depicted is one of the two major versions of the Nanda legend in the Buddhist tradition, one where Nanda wants to lead a sensuous life with the girl he had just wed and the Buddha takes him to heaven and later hell to show the spiritual dangers of a sensual life.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196284–85_195-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196284–85-195"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>193<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> After the Nanda-related frescos, the cave presents Manushi Buddhas, followed by flying votaries with offerings to worship the Buddha and the Buddha seated in teaching asana and <i>dharma chakra mudra</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196285–86_196-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196285–86-196"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>194<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The right wall of the corridor show the scenes from the life of the Buddha.<sup id="cite_ref-Dehejia1997p210_197-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Dehejia1997p210-197"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>195<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88_198-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88-198"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>196<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These include Sujata offering food to the Buddha with a begging bowl in white dress, Tapussa and Bhalluka next to the Buddha after they offering wheat and honey to the Buddha as monk, the future Buddha sitting alone under a tree, and the Buddha at a ploughing festival.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88_198-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88-198"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>196<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> One mural shows Buddha's parents trying to dissuade him from becoming a monk. Another shows the Buddha at the palace surrounded by men in <i>dhoti</i> and women in <i>sari</i> as his behavior presents the four signs that he is likely to renounce.<sup id="cite_ref-Dehejia1997p210_197-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Dehejia1997p210-197"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>195<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88_198-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88-198"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>196<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On this side of the corridor are also paintings that show the future Buddha as a baby with sage <a href="/wiki/Asita" title="Asita">Asita</a> with <a href="/wiki/Rishi" title="Rishi">rishi</a>-like looks.<sup id="cite_ref-Dehejia1997p210_197-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Dehejia1997p210-197"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>195<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88_198-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88-198"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>196<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to Spink, some of the Cave 16 paintings were left incomplete.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200974_199-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200974-199"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>197<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:018_Cave_16,_Bodhisattva_Painting_(34141156892).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The conversion of sensuality-driven Nanda to Buddhism, left corridor[198]"><img alt="The conversion of sensuality-driven Nanda to Buddhism, left corridor[198]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/018_Cave_16%2C_Bodhisattva_Painting_%2834141156892%29.jpg/125px-018_Cave_16%2C_Bodhisattva_Painting_%2834141156892%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/018_Cave_16%2C_Bodhisattva_Painting_%2834141156892%29.jpg/188px-018_Cave_16%2C_Bodhisattva_Painting_%2834141156892%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/018_Cave_16%2C_Bodhisattva_Painting_%2834141156892%29.jpg/250px-018_Cave_16%2C_Bodhisattva_Painting_%2834141156892%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The conversion of sensuality-driven Nanda to Buddhism, left corridor<sup id="cite_ref-200" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-200"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>198<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:017_Cave_16,_Colonnaned_Hall_(34141160892).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Palace scene fresco, right corridor of Cave 16[195]"><img alt="Palace scene fresco, right corridor of Cave 16[195]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/017_Cave_16%2C_Colonnaned_Hall_%2834141160892%29.jpg/125px-017_Cave_16%2C_Colonnaned_Hall_%2834141160892%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/017_Cave_16%2C_Colonnaned_Hall_%2834141160892%29.jpg/188px-017_Cave_16%2C_Colonnaned_Hall_%2834141160892%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/017_Cave_16%2C_Colonnaned_Hall_%2834141160892%29.jpg/250px-017_Cave_16%2C_Colonnaned_Hall_%2834141160892%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Palace scene fresco, right corridor of Cave 16<sup id="cite_ref-Dehejia1997p210_197-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Dehejia1997p210-197"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>195<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:027_Cave_16,_Buddha_on_Almsround_(33914608490).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The Buddha in asceticism stage, getting sweet milk-rice from Sujata[196]"><img alt="The Buddha in asceticism stage, getting sweet milk-rice from Sujata[196]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/027_Cave_16%2C_Buddha_on_Almsround_%2833914608490%29.jpg/125px-027_Cave_16%2C_Buddha_on_Almsround_%2833914608490%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/027_Cave_16%2C_Buddha_on_Almsround_%2833914608490%29.jpg/188px-027_Cave_16%2C_Buddha_on_Almsround_%2833914608490%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/027_Cave_16%2C_Buddha_on_Almsround_%2833914608490%29.jpg/250px-027_Cave_16%2C_Buddha_on_Almsround_%2833914608490%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5751" data-file-height="3834" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The Buddha in <a href="/wiki/Asceticism" title="Asceticism">asceticism</a> stage, getting sweet milk-rice from Sujata<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88_198-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88-198"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>196<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:019_Cave_16,_Buddha_Paintings,_with_Inscription_(34141152992).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Manushi Buddhas painting in Cave 16[196]"><img alt="Manushi Buddhas painting in Cave 16[196]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/019_Cave_16%2C_Buddha_Paintings%2C_with_Inscription_%2834141152992%29.jpg/125px-019_Cave_16%2C_Buddha_Paintings%2C_with_Inscription_%2834141152992%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/019_Cave_16%2C_Buddha_Paintings%2C_with_Inscription_%2834141152992%29.jpg/188px-019_Cave_16%2C_Buddha_Paintings%2C_with_Inscription_%2834141152992%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/019_Cave_16%2C_Buddha_Paintings%2C_with_Inscription_%2834141152992%29.jpg/250px-019_Cave_16%2C_Buddha_Paintings%2C_with_Inscription_%2834141152992%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Manushi Buddhas painting in Cave 16<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88_198-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88-198"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>196<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_16_King_paying_hommage_to_the_Buddha.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 16: king paying homage to the Buddha"><img alt="Cave 16: king paying homage to the Buddha" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Ajanta_Cave_16_King_paying_hommage_to_the_Buddha.jpg/87px-Ajanta_Cave_16_King_paying_hommage_to_the_Buddha.jpg" decoding="async" width="87" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Ajanta_Cave_16_King_paying_hommage_to_the_Buddha.jpg/131px-Ajanta_Cave_16_King_paying_hommage_to_the_Buddha.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Ajanta_Cave_16_King_paying_hommage_to_the_Buddha.jpg/174px-Ajanta_Cave_16_King_paying_hommage_to_the_Buddha.jpg 2x" data-file-width="662" data-file-height="949" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 16: king paying homage to the Buddha</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_17">Cave 17</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: Cave 17"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:502px;max-width:502px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:240px;max-width:240px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:170px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_17_outside_view.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Ajanta_Cave_17_outside_view.jpg/238px-Ajanta_Cave_17_outside_view.jpg" decoding="async" width="238" height="171" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Ajanta_Cave_17_outside_view.jpg/357px-Ajanta_Cave_17_outside_view.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Ajanta_Cave_17_outside_view.jpg/476px-Ajanta_Cave_17_outside_view.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1692" data-file-height="1214" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:258px;max-width:258px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:170px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:039_Cave_17,_Main_Shrine_and_Columns_(34167586901).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/039_Cave_17%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Columns_%2834167586901%29.jpg/256px-039_Cave_17%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Columns_%2834167586901%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="256" height="171" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/039_Cave_17%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Columns_%2834167586901%29.jpg/384px-039_Cave_17%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Columns_%2834167586901%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/039_Cave_17%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Columns_%2834167586901%29.jpg/512px-039_Cave_17%2C_Main_Shrine_and_Columns_%2834167586901%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5865" data-file-height="3911" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Cave 17: exterior view and inside hall with seated Buddha statue<sup id="cite_ref-201" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-201"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>199<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div></div></div></div> <p>Cave 17 (34.5 m × 25.63 m)<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> along with Cave 16 with two great stone elephants at the entrance and Cave 26 with sleeping Buddha, were some of the many caves sponsored by the Hindu Vakataka prime minister Varahadeva.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007179–180,_203–209_202-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007179–180,_203–209-202"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>200<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cave 17 had additional donors such as the local king Upendragupta, as evidenced by the inscription therein.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200967–68_203-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200967–68-203"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>201<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The cave features a large and most sophisticated vihara design, along with some of the best-preserved and well-known paintings of all the caves. While Cave 16 is known for depicting the life stories of the Buddha, the Cave 17 paintings has attracted much attention for extolling human virtues by narrating the Jataka tales.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196288–90_204-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196288–90-204"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>202<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The narration includes attention to details and a realism which <a href="/wiki/Stella_Kramrisch" title="Stella Kramrisch">Stella Kramrisch</a> calls "lavish elegance" accomplished by efficient craftsmen. The ancient artists, states Kramrisch, tried to show wind passing over a crop by showing it bending in waves, and a similar profusion of rhythmic sequences that unroll story after story, visually presenting the metaphysical.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKramrisch1994299–300_205-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEKramrisch1994299–300-205"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>203<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:292px;max-width:292px"><div class="trow"><div class="theader">Inscription of Cave 17</div></div><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:176px;max-width:176px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:232px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:A_Brahmi_inscribed_wall_at_Ajanta_Caves.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/A_Brahmi_inscribed_wall_at_Ajanta_Caves.jpg/174px-A_Brahmi_inscribed_wall_at_Ajanta_Caves.jpg" decoding="async" width="174" height="232" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/A_Brahmi_inscribed_wall_at_Ajanta_Caves.jpg/261px-A_Brahmi_inscribed_wall_at_Ajanta_Caves.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/A_Brahmi_inscribed_wall_at_Ajanta_Caves.jpg/348px-A_Brahmi_inscribed_wall_at_Ajanta_Caves.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2448" data-file-height="3264" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:112px;max-width:112px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:232px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_inscription_Cave_17_(translation).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Ajanta_inscription_Cave_17_%28translation%29.jpg/110px-Ajanta_inscription_Cave_17_%28translation%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="110" height="234" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Ajanta_inscription_Cave_17_%28translation%29.jpg/165px-Ajanta_inscription_Cave_17_%28translation%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Ajanta_inscription_Cave_17_%28translation%29.jpg/220px-Ajanta_inscription_Cave_17_%28translation%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3031" data-file-height="6437" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Inscription of Cave 17, with translation</div></div></div></div> <p>The Cave 17 monastery includes a colonnaded porch, a number of pillars each with a distinct style, a peristyle design for the interior hall, a shrine antechamber located deep in the cave, larger windows and doors for more light, along with extensive integrated carvings of Indian gods and goddesses.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007203–209,_213_206-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007203–209,_213-206"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>204<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The hall of this monastery is a 380.53 square metres (4,096.0 sq ft) square, with 20 pillars.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196288–90_204-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196288–90-204"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>202<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The grand scale of the carving also introduced errors of taking out too much rock to shape the walls, states Spink, which led to the cave being splayed out toward the rear.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007209–214_207-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007209–214-207"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>205<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Cave 17 has one long inscription by king Upendragupta, in which he explains that he has "expended abundant wealth" on building this vihara, bringing much satisfaction to the devotees.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007209_208-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007209-208"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>206<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Altogether, Upendragupta is known to have sponsored at least 5 of the caves in Ajanta. He may have spent too much wealth on religious pursuits however, as he was ultimately defeated by the attacks of the <a href="/wiki/Asmaka" title="Asmaka">Asmaka</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007209_208-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007209-208"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>206<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Cave 17 has thirty major murals. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cave_17,_Ajanta" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Cave 17, Ajanta">The paintings of Cave 17</a> depict Buddha in various forms and postures – Vipasyi, Sikhi, Visvbhu, Krakuchchanda, Kanakamuni, Kashyapa and Sakyamuni. Also depicted are Avalokitesvara, the story of Udayin and Gupta, the story of Nalagiri, the <a href="/wiki/Bhavacakra" title="Bhavacakra">Wheel of life</a>, a panel celebrating various ancient Indian musicians and a panel that tells the tales of Prince Simhala's expedition to Sri Lanka.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii–xiii,_41–51,_70–75_209-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii–xiii,_41–51,_70–75-209"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>207<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-210" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-210"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>208<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The narrative frescos depict the various Jataka tales such as the Shaddanta, Hasti, Hamsa, Vessantara, Sutasoma, Mahakapi (in two versions), Sarabhamiga, Machchha, Matiposaka, Shyama, Mahisha, Valahassa, Sibi, Ruru and Nigrodamiga Jatakas.<sup id="cite_ref-RingWatson2012p17_87-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-RingWatson2012p17-87"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>87<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84_89-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84-89"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>89<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009ix–xiii,_206_211-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009ix–xiii,_206-211"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>209<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The depictions weave in the norms of the early 1st millennium culture and the society. They show themes as diverse as a shipwreck, a princess applying makeup, lovers in scenes of dalliance, and a wine drinking scene of a couple with the woman and man amorously seated. Some frescos attempt to show the key characters from various parts of a Jataka tale by co-depicting animals and attendants in the same scene.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84_89-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84-89"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>89<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009201–202_99-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009201–202-99"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>99<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_amorous_palace_scene.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Vessantara Jataka: the story of the generous king Vessantara[202]"><img alt="Vessantara Jataka: the story of the generous king Vessantara[202]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Ajanta_amorous_palace_scene.jpg/125px-Ajanta_amorous_palace_scene.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="109" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Ajanta_amorous_palace_scene.jpg/188px-Ajanta_amorous_palace_scene.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Ajanta_amorous_palace_scene.jpg/250px-Ajanta_amorous_palace_scene.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2995" data-file-height="2623" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Vessantara Jataka: the story of the generous king Vessantara<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196288–90_204-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196288–90-204"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>202<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_17_Shada-Danta_Jataka.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Shaddanta Jataka: six-tusked elephant giving away his tusks[202]"><img alt="Shaddanta Jataka: six-tusked elephant giving away his tusks[202]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Ajanta_Cave_17_Shada-Danta_Jataka.jpg/125px-Ajanta_Cave_17_Shada-Danta_Jataka.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="95" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Ajanta_Cave_17_Shada-Danta_Jataka.jpg/188px-Ajanta_Cave_17_Shada-Danta_Jataka.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Ajanta_Cave_17_Shada-Danta_Jataka.jpg/250px-Ajanta_Cave_17_Shada-Danta_Jataka.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1585" data-file-height="1200" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Shaddanta Jataka: six-tusked elephant giving away his tusks<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196288–90_204-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196288–90-204"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>202<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:079_Cave_17,_Beautiful_Composition_(34298740365).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Painting depicting "Darpana Sundari", a lady with a mirror[210]"><img alt="Painting depicting "Darpana Sundari", a lady with a mirror[210]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/079_Cave_17%2C_Beautiful_Composition_%2834298740365%29.jpg/83px-079_Cave_17%2C_Beautiful_Composition_%2834298740365%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="83" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/079_Cave_17%2C_Beautiful_Composition_%2834298740365%29.jpg/125px-079_Cave_17%2C_Beautiful_Composition_%2834298740365%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/079_Cave_17%2C_Beautiful_Composition_%2834298740365%29.jpg/166px-079_Cave_17%2C_Beautiful_Composition_%2834298740365%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3251" data-file-height="4877" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Painting depicting "Darpana Sundari", a lady with a mirror<sup id="cite_ref-212" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-212"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>210<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:1880_sketch_Buddha_in_sanctum_Cave_17_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The Buddha in Cave 17 sanctum"><img alt="The Buddha in Cave 17 sanctum" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/1880_sketch_Buddha_in_sanctum_Cave_17_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg/125px-1880_sketch_Buddha_in_sanctum_Cave_17_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="119" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/1880_sketch_Buddha_in_sanctum_Cave_17_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg/188px-1880_sketch_Buddha_in_sanctum_Cave_17_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/1880_sketch_Buddha_in_sanctum_Cave_17_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg/250px-1880_sketch_Buddha_in_sanctum_Cave_17_Ajanta_Maharashtra_India.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1238" data-file-height="1174" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The Buddha in Cave 17 sanctum</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Indra_and_Apsara_mural.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Musician with Alapini Vina (far left), next to Indra."><img alt="Musician with Alapini Vina (far left), next to Indra." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Indra_and_Apsara_mural.jpg/125px-Indra_and_Apsara_mural.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Indra_and_Apsara_mural.jpg/188px-Indra_and_Apsara_mural.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Indra_and_Apsara_mural.jpg/250px-Indra_and_Apsara_mural.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2784" data-file-height="1848" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Musician with <a href="/wiki/Alapini_Vina" class="mw-redirect" title="Alapini Vina">Alapini Vina</a> (far left), next to <a href="/wiki/Indra" title="Indra">Indra</a>.</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_18">Cave 18</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: Cave 18"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 18 is a small rectangular space (3.38 × 11.66 m) with two octagonal pillars and it joins into another cell. Its role is unclear.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_19_(5th_century_CE)"><span id="Cave_19_.285th_century_CE.29"></span>Cave 19 (5th century CE)</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=32" title="Edit section: Cave 19 (5th century CE)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:402px;max-width:402px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:175px;max-width:175px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:165px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta,_grotta_19,_chaitya_del_V_secolo_dc._,_esterno_04,0.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Ajanta%2C_grotta_19%2C_chaitya_del_V_secolo_dc._%2C_esterno_04%2C0.jpg/173px-Ajanta%2C_grotta_19%2C_chaitya_del_V_secolo_dc._%2C_esterno_04%2C0.jpg" decoding="async" width="173" height="166" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Ajanta%2C_grotta_19%2C_chaitya_del_V_secolo_dc._%2C_esterno_04%2C0.jpg/260px-Ajanta%2C_grotta_19%2C_chaitya_del_V_secolo_dc._%2C_esterno_04%2C0.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Ajanta%2C_grotta_19%2C_chaitya_del_V_secolo_dc._%2C_esterno_04%2C0.jpg/346px-Ajanta%2C_grotta_19%2C_chaitya_del_V_secolo_dc._%2C_esterno_04%2C0.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5655" data-file-height="5428" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:223px;max-width:223px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:165px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:One_of_the_Cave_in_Ajanta_Caves.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/One_of_the_Cave_in_Ajanta_Caves.jpg/221px-One_of_the_Cave_in_Ajanta_Caves.jpg" decoding="async" width="221" height="166" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/One_of_the_Cave_in_Ajanta_Caves.jpg/332px-One_of_the_Cave_in_Ajanta_Caves.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/One_of_the_Cave_in_Ajanta_Caves.jpg/442px-One_of_the_Cave_in_Ajanta_Caves.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4320" data-file-height="3240" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Entrance façade and inside worship hall, Cave 19, sponsored by king Upendragupta.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20079,_237–238_213-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20079,_237–238-213"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>211<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div></div></div></div> <p>Cave 19 is a worship hall (chaitya griha, 16.05 × 7.09 m) datable to the fifth century CE. The hall shows painted Buddha, depicted in different postures.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20079,_237–238_213-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20079,_237–238-213"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>211<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This worship hall is now visited through what was previously a carved room. The presence of this room before the hall suggests that the original plan included a mandala style courtyard for devotees to gather and wait, an entrance and facade to this courtyard, all of whose ruins are now lost to history.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102_214-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102-214"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>212<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cave 19 is one of the caves known for its sculpture. It includes Naga figures with a serpent canopy protecting the Buddha, similar to those found for spiritual icons in the ancient Jain and Hindu traditions. It includes Yaksha dwarapala (guardian) images on the side of its vetayana (arches), flying couples, sitting Buddha, standing Buddhas and evidence that its ceiling was once painted.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102_214-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102-214"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>212<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Cave 19 drew upon on the plan and experimentation in Cave 9.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200926–27,_47–48_215-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200926–27,_47–48-215"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>213<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It made a major departure from the earlier Hinayana tradition, by carving a Buddha into the stupa, a decision that states Spink must have come from "the highest levels" in the 5th-century Mahayana Buddhist establishment because the king and dynasty that built this cave was from the Shaivism Hindu tradition. Cave 19 excavation and stupa was likely in place by 467 CE, and its finishing and artistic work continued into the early 470s, but it too was an incomplete cave when it was dedicated in 471 CE.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200926–27,_34–35,_47–48,_56_216-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200926–27,_34–35,_47–48,_56-216"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>214<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The entrance facade of the Cave 19 worship hall is ornate. Two round pillars with fluted floral patterns and carved garlands support a porch. Its capital is an inverted lotus connecting to an <i>amalaka</i>. To its left is standing Buddha in <i>varada hasta mudra</i> with a devotee prostrating at his feet. On right is a relief of woman with one hand holding a pitcher and other touching her chin.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102_214-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102-214"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>212<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200744–46,_131–137,_231–239_217-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200744–46,_131–137,_231–239-217"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>215<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Above is a seated Buddha in meditating mudra. Towards the right of the entrance is the "Mother and Child" sculpture.<sup id="cite_ref-218" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-218"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>216<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-221" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-221"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>note 3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A figure with begging bowl is the Buddha, watching him are his wife and son.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102_214-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102-214"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>212<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200744–46,_131–137,_231–239_217-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200744–46,_131–137,_231–239-217"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>215<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The worship hall is apsidal, with 15 pillars dividing it into two side aisles and one nave. The round pillars have floral reliefs and a fluted shaft topped with Buddha in its capitals. Next, to the Buddha in the capitals are elephants, horses and flying apsara friezes found elsewhere in India, reflecting the style of the Gupta Empire artwork.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962102–103_222-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962102–103-222"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>219<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to Sharma, the similarities at the <a href="/wiki/Karla_Caves" title="Karla Caves">Karla Caves</a> Great Chaitya, built in the 2nd century CE, suggest that Cave 19 may have been modeled after it.<sup id="cite_ref-Sharma_223-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Sharma-223"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>220<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The walls and the ceiling of the side aisles inside the worship hall are covered with paintings. These show the Buddha, flowers, and in the left aisle the "Mother and Child" legend again.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962102–103_222-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962102–103-222"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>219<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 19 plan suggests that it once had a courtyard and additional artwork[212]"><img alt="Cave 19 plan suggests that it once had a courtyard and additional artwork[212]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg/125px-Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="95" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg/188px-Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg/250px-Ajanta_cave_19_plan.jpg 2x" data-file-width="933" data-file-height="708" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 19 plan suggests that it once had a courtyard and additional artwork<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102_214-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102-214"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>212<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Engravings_in_pathway_of_Ajanta.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Nagaraja in ardhaparyanka asana, with his wife holding lotus and wearing mangalasutra[212]"><img alt="Nagaraja in ardhaparyanka asana, with his wife holding lotus and wearing mangalasutra[212]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Engravings_in_pathway_of_Ajanta.JPG/94px-Engravings_in_pathway_of_Ajanta.JPG" decoding="async" width="94" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Engravings_in_pathway_of_Ajanta.JPG/141px-Engravings_in_pathway_of_Ajanta.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Engravings_in_pathway_of_Ajanta.JPG/187px-Engravings_in_pathway_of_Ajanta.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Nagaraja" title="Nagaraja">Nagaraja</a> in <i>ardhaparyanka asana</i>, with his wife holding lotus and wearing <i>mangalasutra</i><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102_214-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102-214"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>212<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:013_Cave_19,_Buddha_Meditating_(33535639164).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The nave has 15 pillars with Buddha reliefs[219]"><img alt="The nave has 15 pillars with Buddha reliefs[219]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/013_Cave_19%2C_Buddha_Meditating_%2833535639164%29.jpg/125px-013_Cave_19%2C_Buddha_Meditating_%2833535639164%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/013_Cave_19%2C_Buddha_Meditating_%2833535639164%29.jpg/188px-013_Cave_19%2C_Buddha_Meditating_%2833535639164%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/013_Cave_19%2C_Buddha_Meditating_%2833535639164%29.jpg/250px-013_Cave_19%2C_Buddha_Meditating_%2833535639164%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The nave has 15 pillars with Buddha reliefs<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962102–103_222-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962102–103-222"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>219<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:027_Cave_19,_Buddha_Paintings_(34219246102).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Buddha paintings in the side aisle of Cave 19[219]"><img alt="Buddha paintings in the side aisle of Cave 19[219]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/027_Cave_19%2C_Buddha_Paintings_%2834219246102%29.jpg/125px-027_Cave_19%2C_Buddha_Paintings_%2834219246102%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/027_Cave_19%2C_Buddha_Paintings_%2834219246102%29.jpg/188px-027_Cave_19%2C_Buddha_Paintings_%2834219246102%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/027_Cave_19%2C_Buddha_Paintings_%2834219246102%29.jpg/250px-027_Cave_19%2C_Buddha_Paintings_%2834219246102%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5784" data-file-height="3856" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Buddha paintings in the side aisle of Cave 19<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962102–103_222-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962102–103-222"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>219<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_20">Cave 20</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=33" title="Edit section: Cave 20"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:402px;max-width:402px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:187px;max-width:187px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:139px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_200.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_200.jpg/185px-Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_200.jpg" decoding="async" width="185" height="139" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_200.jpg/278px-Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_200.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_200.jpg/370px-Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_200.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="3000" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:211px;max-width:211px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:139px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Caves_113.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Ajanta_Caves_113.jpg/209px-Ajanta_Caves_113.jpg" decoding="async" width="209" height="139" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Ajanta_Caves_113.jpg/314px-Ajanta_Caves_113.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Ajanta_Caves_113.jpg/418px-Ajanta_Caves_113.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Cave 20: exterior, and main shrine with pillars</div></div></div></div> <p>Cave 20 is a monastery hall (16.2 × 17.91 m) from the 5th century. Its construction, states Spink, was started in the 460s by king Upendragupta, with his expressed desire "to make the great tree of religious merit grow".<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007249_224-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007249-224"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>221<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The work on Cave 20 was pursued in parallel with other caves. Cave 20 has exquisite detailing, states Spink, but it was relatively lower on priority than Caves 17 and 19.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007249–251_225-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007249–251-225"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>222<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The work on Cave 20 was intermittently stopped and then continued in the following decade.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007249–251_225-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007249–251-225"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>222<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The vihara consists of a sanctum, four cells for monks and a pillared verandah with two stone cut windows for light. Prior to entering the main hall, on the left of veranda are two Buddhas carved above the window and side cell. The ceiling of the main hall has remnants of painting.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103_226-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103-226"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>223<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The sanctum Buddha is in preaching posture. The cave is known for the sculpture showing seven Buddhas with attendants on its lintel.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The cave has a dedicatory Sanskrit inscription in Brahmi script in its verandah, and it calls the cave as a <i>mandapa</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007217–218_227-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007217–218-227"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>224<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-228" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-228"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>225<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Many of the figural and ornamental carvings in Cave 20 are similar to Cave 19, and to a lesser degree to those found in Cave 17. This may be because the same architects and artisans were responsible for the evolution of the three caves. The door frames in Cave 20 are quasi-structural, something unique at the Ajanta site.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007261–263_229-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007261–263-229"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>226<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The decorations are also innovative in Cave 20, such as one showing the Buddha seated against two pillows and "a richly laden mango tree behind him", states Spink.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007261–263_229-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007261–263-229"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>226<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:033_Cave_20,_Buddha_on_Lion_Throne_(34246702601).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The Buddha on Lion throne"><img alt="The Buddha on Lion throne" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/033_Cave_20%2C_Buddha_on_Lion_Throne_%2834246702601%29.jpg/101px-033_Cave_20%2C_Buddha_on_Lion_Throne_%2834246702601%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="101" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/033_Cave_20%2C_Buddha_on_Lion_Throne_%2834246702601%29.jpg/151px-033_Cave_20%2C_Buddha_on_Lion_Throne_%2834246702601%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/033_Cave_20%2C_Buddha_on_Lion_Throne_%2834246702601%29.jpg/201px-033_Cave_20%2C_Buddha_on_Lion_Throne_%2834246702601%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3287" data-file-height="4078" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The Buddha on Lion throne</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:037_Cave_20,_Naga_(33567164493).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The sanctum has two Nagarajas on the side as guardians."><img alt="The sanctum has two Nagarajas on the side as guardians." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/037_Cave_20%2C_Naga_%2833567164493%29.jpg/50px-037_Cave_20%2C_Naga_%2833567164493%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="50" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/037_Cave_20%2C_Naga_%2833567164493%29.jpg/75px-037_Cave_20%2C_Naga_%2833567164493%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/037_Cave_20%2C_Naga_%2833567164493%29.jpg/100px-037_Cave_20%2C_Naga_%2833567164493%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2114" data-file-height="5248" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The sanctum has two Nagarajas on the side as guardians.</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_21">Cave 21</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=34" title="Edit section: Cave 21"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 21 is a hall (29.56 × 28.03 m) with twelve rock-cut rooms for monks, a sanctum, and twelve pillared and pilastered verandah. The carvings on the pilaster include those of animals and flowers. The pillars feature reliefs of apsaras, Nagaraja, and Nagarani, as well as devotees bowing with the Anjali mudra. The hall shows evidence that it used to be completely painted. The sanctum Buddha is shown in preaching posture.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104_230-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104-230"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>227<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007273–311_231-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007273–311-231"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>228<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_22">Cave 22</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=35" title="Edit section: Cave 22"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 22 is a small vihara (12.72 × 11.58 m) with a narrow veranda and four unfinished cells. It is excavated at a higher level and has to be reached by a flight of steps. Inside, the Buddha is seated in pralamba-padasana. The painted figures in Cave 22 show Manushi-Buddhas with Maitreya.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104_230-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104-230"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>227<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007288–290_232-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007288–290-232"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>229<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A pilaster on the left side of the Cave 22 veranda has a Sanskrit prose inscription. It is damaged in parts, and the legible parts state that this is a "meritorious gift of a mandapa by Jayata", calling Jayata's family as "a great Upasaka", and ending the inscription with "may the merit of this be for excellent knowledge to all sentient beings, beginning with father and mother".<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962259_233-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962259-233"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>230<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:442px;max-width:442px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:226px;max-width:226px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:139px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_21_outside_view.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Ajanta_Cave_21_outside_view.jpg/224px-Ajanta_Cave_21_outside_view.jpg" decoding="async" width="224" height="140" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Ajanta_Cave_21_outside_view.jpg/336px-Ajanta_Cave_21_outside_view.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Ajanta_Cave_21_outside_view.jpg/448px-Ajanta_Cave_21_outside_view.jpg 2x" data-file-width="562" data-file-height="350" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:212px;max-width:212px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:139px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Caves_124.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Ajanta_Caves_124.jpg/210px-Ajanta_Caves_124.jpg" decoding="async" width="210" height="140" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Ajanta_Caves_124.jpg/315px-Ajanta_Caves_124.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Ajanta_Caves_124.jpg/420px-Ajanta_Caves_124.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Cave 21: exterior, and inside hall</div></div></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_23">Cave 23</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=36" title="Edit section: Cave 23"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 23 is also unfinished, consisting of a hall (28.32 × 22.52 m) but a design similar to Cave 21. The cave differs in its pillar decorations and the naga doorkeepers.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104_230-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104-230"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>227<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007290–303_234-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007290–303-234"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>231<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:442px;max-width:442px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:225px;max-width:225px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:140px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_24_exterior.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Ajanta_Cave_24_exterior.jpg/223px-Ajanta_Cave_24_exterior.jpg" decoding="async" width="223" height="140" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Ajanta_Cave_24_exterior.jpg/335px-Ajanta_Cave_24_exterior.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Ajanta_Cave_24_exterior.jpg/446px-Ajanta_Cave_24_exterior.jpg 2x" data-file-width="479" data-file-height="301" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:213px;max-width:213px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:140px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:076_Cave_24,_Unfinished_Cave_(34336103326).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/076_Cave_24%2C_Unfinished_Cave_%2834336103326%29.jpg/211px-076_Cave_24%2C_Unfinished_Cave_%2834336103326%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="211" height="141" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/076_Cave_24%2C_Unfinished_Cave_%2834336103326%29.jpg/317px-076_Cave_24%2C_Unfinished_Cave_%2834336103326%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/076_Cave_24%2C_Unfinished_Cave_%2834336103326%29.jpg/422px-076_Cave_24%2C_Unfinished_Cave_%2834336103326%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4617" data-file-height="3078" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Exterior, and unfinished inside of Cave 24.</div></div></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_24">Cave 24</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=37" title="Edit section: Cave 24"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 24 is like Cave 21, unfinished but much larger. It features the second largest monastery hall (29.3 × 29.3 m) after Cave 4. The cave 24 monastery has been important to scholarly studies of the site because it shows how multiple crews of workers completed their objectives in parallel.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007308–309_235-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007308–309-235"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>232<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The cell construction began as soon as the aisle had been excavated and while the main hall and sanctum were under construction.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200918_footnote_5_236-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200918_footnote_5-236"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>233<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The construction of Cave 24 was planned in 467 CE, but likely started in 475 CE, with support from Buddhabhadra, then abruptly ended in 477 with the sponsor king Harisena's death.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200931–32,_60_237-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200931–32,_60-237"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>234<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is significant in having one of the most complex capitals on a pillar at the Ajanta site, an indication of how the artists excelled and continuously improved their sophistication as they worked with the rock inside the cave.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009243–244_238-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009243–244-238"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>235<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The artists carved fourteen complex miniature figures on the central panel of the right center porch pillar, while working in dim light in a cramped cave space.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201437–38,_42_239-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink201437–38,_42-239"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>236<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The medallion reliefs in Cave 24 similarly show loving couples and anthropomorphic arts, rather than flowers of earlier construction.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201437–38,_42_239-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink201437–38,_42-239"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>236<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cave 24's sanctum has a seated Buddha in pralamba-padasana.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104_230-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104-230"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>227<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007304–311_240-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007304–311-240"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>237<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_25">Cave 25</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=38" title="Edit section: Cave 25"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 25 is a monastery. Its hall (11.37 × 12.24 m) is similar to other monasteries, but has no sanctum, includes an enclosed courtyard and is excavated at an upper level.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104_230-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104-230"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>227<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_210.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The Buddha of Cave 21"><img alt="The Buddha of Cave 21" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_210.jpg/94px-Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_210.jpg" decoding="async" width="94" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_210.jpg/141px-Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_210.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_210.jpg/187px-Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_210.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The Buddha of Cave 21</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:060_Cave_22,_Interior_(34336161086).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 22: inside hall"><img alt="Cave 22: inside hall" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/060_Cave_22%2C_Interior_%2834336161086%29.jpg/125px-060_Cave_22%2C_Interior_%2834336161086%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/060_Cave_22%2C_Interior_%2834336161086%29.jpg/188px-060_Cave_22%2C_Interior_%2834336161086%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/060_Cave_22%2C_Interior_%2834336161086%29.jpg/250px-060_Cave_22%2C_Interior_%2834336161086%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4325" data-file-height="2883" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 22: inside hall</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:064_Cave_23,_Side_View_(34377438285).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 23: inside hall"><img alt="Cave 23: inside hall" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/064_Cave_23%2C_Side_View_%2834377438285%29.jpg/125px-064_Cave_23%2C_Side_View_%2834377438285%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="83" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/064_Cave_23%2C_Side_View_%2834377438285%29.jpg/188px-064_Cave_23%2C_Side_View_%2834377438285%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/064_Cave_23%2C_Side_View_%2834377438285%29.jpg/250px-064_Cave_23%2C_Side_View_%2834377438285%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5534" data-file-height="3689" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 23: inside hall</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:075_Cave_24,_Pillar_in_Unfinished_Cave_(34336108966).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Sophisticated pillars of Cave 24 with embedded loving couples; evidence of parallel work[236]"><img alt="Sophisticated pillars of Cave 24 with embedded loving couples; evidence of parallel work[236]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/075_Cave_24%2C_Pillar_in_Unfinished_Cave_%2834336108966%29.jpg/83px-075_Cave_24%2C_Pillar_in_Unfinished_Cave_%2834336108966%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="83" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/075_Cave_24%2C_Pillar_in_Unfinished_Cave_%2834336108966%29.jpg/125px-075_Cave_24%2C_Pillar_in_Unfinished_Cave_%2834336108966%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/075_Cave_24%2C_Pillar_in_Unfinished_Cave_%2834336108966%29.jpg/167px-075_Cave_24%2C_Pillar_in_Unfinished_Cave_%2834336108966%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3935" data-file-height="5902" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Sophisticated pillars of Cave 24 with embedded loving couples; evidence of parallel work<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201437–38,_42_239-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink201437–38,_42-239"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>236<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_26_(5th_century_CE)"><span id="Cave_26_.285th_century_CE.29"></span>Cave 26 (5th century CE)</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=39" title="Edit section: Cave 26 (5th century CE)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:442px;max-width:442px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:216px;max-width:216px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:142px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:079_Cave_26,_Exterior_of_Chaitya_Hall_(33535465394).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/079_Cave_26%2C_Exterior_of_Chaitya_Hall_%2833535465394%29.jpg/214px-079_Cave_26%2C_Exterior_of_Chaitya_Hall_%2833535465394%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="214" height="143" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/079_Cave_26%2C_Exterior_of_Chaitya_Hall_%2833535465394%29.jpg/321px-079_Cave_26%2C_Exterior_of_Chaitya_Hall_%2833535465394%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/079_Cave_26%2C_Exterior_of_Chaitya_Hall_%2833535465394%29.jpg/428px-079_Cave_26%2C_Exterior_of_Chaitya_Hall_%2833535465394%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4440" data-file-height="2960" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:222px;max-width:222px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:142px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Cave_26,_Ajanta.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Cave_26%2C_Ajanta.jpg/220px-Cave_26%2C_Ajanta.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="143" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Cave_26%2C_Ajanta.jpg/330px-Cave_26%2C_Ajanta.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Cave_26%2C_Ajanta.jpg/440px-Cave_26%2C_Ajanta.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4100" data-file-height="2662" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flow-root"><div class="thumbcaption" style="text-align:center">Cave 26: entrance and interior of hall</div></div></div></div> <p>Cave 26 is a worship hall (chaityagriha, 25.34 × 11.52 m) similar in plan to Cave 19. It is much larger and with elements of a vihara design. An inscription states that a monk Buddhabhadra and his friend minister serving king of Asmaka gifted this vast cave.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–106_241-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–106-241"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>238<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20099–10_242-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20099–10-242"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>239<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The inscription includes a vision statement and the aim to make "a memorial on the mountain that will endure for as long as the moon and the sun continue", translates Walter Spink.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201434_with_footnote_30_243-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink201434_with_footnote_30-243"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>240<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is likely that the builders focussed on sculpture, rather than paintings, in Cave 26 because they believed stone sculpture will far more endure than paintings on the wall.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201434_with_footnote_30_243-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink201434_with_footnote_30-243"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>240<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201464–65,_88–96_with_footnotes_244-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink201464–65,_88–96_with_footnotes-244"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>241<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-245" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-245"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>242<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cave_26,_Ajanta" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Cave 26, Ajanta">The sculptures in Cave 26</a> are elaborate and more intricate. It is among the last caves excavated, and an inscription suggests late 5th or early 6th century according to ASI. The cave consists of an apsidal hall with side aisles for circumambulation (<i>pradikshana</i>). This path is full of carved Buddhist legends, three depictions of the Miracle of Sravasti in the right ambulatory side of the aisle, and seated Buddhas in various mudra. Many of these were added later by devotees, and therefore are intrusive to the aims of the original planners.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201453–57,_33–42,_Figures_on_88–96_(plus_cover_page),_311–324_246-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink201453–57,_33–42,_Figures_on_88–96_(plus_cover_page),_311–324-246"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>243<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The artwork begins on the wall of the aisle, immediately the left side of entrance. The major artworks include the Mahaparinirvana of Buddha (reclining Buddha) on the wall, followed by the legend called the "Temptations by Mara". The temptations include the seduction by Mara's daughters who are depicted below the meditating Buddha. They are shown scantly dressed and in seductive postures, while on both the left and right side of the Buddha are armies of Mara attempting to distract him with noise and threaten him with violence. In the top right corner is the image of a dejected Mara frustrated by his failure to disturb the resolve or focus of the ascetic Buddha.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–106_241-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–106-241"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>238<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>At the center of the apse is a rock-cut stupa. The stupa has an image of the Buddha on its front, 18 panels on its base, 18 panels above these, a three tiered <i>torana</i> above him, and apsaras are carved on the <i>anda</i> (hemispherical egg) stupa.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–106_241-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–106-241"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>238<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On top of the dagoba is a nine-tiered <i>harmika</i>, a symbolism for the nine <a href="/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra_(Buddhism)" title="Saṃsāra (Buddhism)">saṃsāra (Buddhism)</a> heavens in Mahayana cosmology. The walls, pillars, brackets and the triforium are extensively carved with Buddhist themes. Many of the wall reliefs and images in this cave were badly damaged, and have been restored as a part of the site conservation efforts.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2014311–339,_Figures_on_88–93,_with_footnotes_247-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2014311–339,_Figures_on_88–93,_with_footnotes-247"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>244<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Between cave 26 and its left wing, there is an inscription by a courtier of <a href="/wiki/Rashtrakuta" class="mw-redirect" title="Rashtrakuta">Rashtrakuta</a> Nanaraj (who is mentioned in the Multai and Sangaloda plates), from late 7th or early 8th century. It is the last inscription in Ajanta.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2006336_248-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2006336-248"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>245<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_cave_26_plan.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 26 plan as completed. The etchings suggest the original plan was more ambitious.[246]"><img alt="Cave 26 plan as completed. The etchings suggest the original plan was more ambitious.[246]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Ajanta_cave_26_plan.jpg/125px-Ajanta_cave_26_plan.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Ajanta_cave_26_plan.jpg/188px-Ajanta_cave_26_plan.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Ajanta_cave_26_plan.jpg/250px-Ajanta_cave_26_plan.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1001" data-file-height="719" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 26 plan as completed. The etchings suggest the original plan was more ambitious.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009xvii,_29–30_249-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009xvii,_29–30-249"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>246<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage,_Cave_26_Ajanta,_Digoba_Stupa.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The sculptured dagoba (stupa) in the worship hall. It has 36 carved panels.[247]"><img alt="The sculptured dagoba (stupa) in the worship hall. It has 36 carved panels.[247]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Digoba_Stupa.jpg/125px-19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Digoba_Stupa.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="116" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Digoba_Stupa.jpg/188px-19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Digoba_Stupa.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Digoba_Stupa.jpg/250px-19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Digoba_Stupa.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3988" data-file-height="3701" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The sculptured dagoba (stupa) in the worship hall. It has 36 carved panels.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962105–106_250-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962105–106-250"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>247<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage,_Cave_26_Ajanta,_Temptation_of_the_Buddha.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Temptation of the Buddha; the daughters of Mara carved below are trying to seduce him. Mara is on the top right.[247]"><img alt="Temptation of the Buddha; the daughters of Mara carved below are trying to seduce him. Mara is on the top right.[247]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Temptation_of_the_Buddha.jpg/125px-19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Temptation_of_the_Buddha.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="116" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Temptation_of_the_Buddha.jpg/188px-19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Temptation_of_the_Buddha.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Temptation_of_the_Buddha.jpg/250px-19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Temptation_of_the_Buddha.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3988" data-file-height="3701" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Temptation of the Buddha; the daughters of <a href="/wiki/Mara_(demon)" title="Mara (demon)">Mara</a> carved below are trying to seduce him. Mara is on the top right.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962105–106_250-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962105–106-250"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>247<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage,_Cave_26_Ajanta,_Buddha_Parinirvana.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 26, left aisle wall: Mahaparinirvana of Buddha, or Dying Buddha[248]"><img alt="Cave 26, left aisle wall: Mahaparinirvana of Buddha, or Dying Buddha[248]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Buddha_Parinirvana.jpg/125px-19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Buddha_Parinirvana.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="89" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Buddha_Parinirvana.jpg/188px-19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Buddha_Parinirvana.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Buddha_Parinirvana.jpg/250px-19th_century_sketch_and_21st_century_photo_collage%2C_Cave_26_Ajanta%2C_Buddha_Parinirvana.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="2839" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 26, left aisle wall: Mahaparinirvana of Buddha, or Dying Buddha<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–105_251-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–105-251"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>248<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_27">Cave 27</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=40" title="Edit section: Cave 27"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 27 is a monastery and may have been planned as an attachment to Cave 26. Its two storeys are damaged, with the upper level partially collapsed. Its plan is similar to other monasteries. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:512px;max-width:512px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:167px;max-width:167px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:123px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_205.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_205.jpg/165px-Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_205.jpg" decoding="async" width="165" height="124" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_205.jpg/248px-Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_205.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_205.jpg/330px-Ajanta_caves_Maharashtra_205.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="3000" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:180px;max-width:180px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:123px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_28_exterior.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Ajanta_Cave_28_exterior.jpg/178px-Ajanta_Cave_28_exterior.jpg" decoding="async" width="178" height="124" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Ajanta_Cave_28_exterior.jpg/267px-Ajanta_Cave_28_exterior.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Ajanta_Cave_28_exterior.jpg/356px-Ajanta_Cave_28_exterior.jpg 2x" data-file-width="699" data-file-height="487" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:159px;max-width:159px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:123px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_29_frontal_view.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Ajanta_Cave_29_frontal_view.jpg/157px-Ajanta_Cave_29_frontal_view.jpg" decoding="async" width="157" height="123" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Ajanta_Cave_29_frontal_view.jpg/236px-Ajanta_Cave_29_frontal_view.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Ajanta_Cave_29_frontal_view.jpg/314px-Ajanta_Cave_29_frontal_view.jpg 2x" data-file-width="561" data-file-height="441" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption"><b>Left</b>: Cave 27, to the left of Cave 26. <b>Middle</b>: Cave 28, further beyond Cave 27, at the westernmost end of the Ajanta complex. <b>Right</b>: Cave 29, high up between caves 20 and 21.</div></div></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_28">Cave 28</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=41" title="Edit section: Cave 28"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 28 is an unfinished monastery, partially excavated, at the westernmost end of the Ajanta complex and barely accessible.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_29">Cave 29</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=42" title="Edit section: Cave 29"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cave 29 an unfinished monastery at the highest level of the Ajanta complex, apparently unnoticed when the initial numbering system was established, and physically located between Caves 20 and 21.<sup id="cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>116<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cave_30">Cave 30</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=43" title="Edit section: Cave 30"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1956, a landslide covered the footpath leading to Cave 16. In the attempts to clear and restore the walkway, a small aperture and votive stupa were noticed in the debris by the workers, in a location near the stream bed.<sup id="cite_ref-Le_112_252-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Le_112-252"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>249<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-253" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-253"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>250<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Further tracing and excavations led to a previously unknown Hinayana monastery cave dated to the 2nd and 1st century BCE.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962106_254-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962106-254"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>251<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-255" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-255"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>252<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cave 30 may actually be the oldest cave of the Ajanta complex.<sup id="cite_ref-Le_112_252-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Le_112-252"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>249<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is a 3.66 m × 3.66 m cave with three cells, each with two stone beds and stone pillows on the side of each cell. The cell door lintels show lotus and garland carvings. The cave has two inscriptions in an unknown script. It also has a platform on its veranda with a fine view of the river ravine below and the forest cover. According to Gupte and Mahajan, this cave may have been closed at some point with large carefully carved pieces as it distracted the entrance view of Cave 16.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962106_254-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962106-254"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>251<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Other_infrastructure">Other infrastructure</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=44" title="Edit section: Other infrastructure"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Over 80% of the Ajanta caves were <i>vihara</i> (temporary traveler residences, monasteries). The designers and artisans who built these caves included facilities for collecting donations and storing grains and food for the visitors and monks. Many of the caves include large repositories cut into the floor. The largest storage spaces are found, states Spink, in the "very commodious recesses in the shrines of both Ajanta Cave Lower 6 and Cave 11". These caves were probably chosen because of their relative convenience and the security they offered due to their higher level. The choice of integrating covered vaults cut into the floor may have been driven by the need to provide sleeping space and logistical ease.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2005a100–101_256-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2005a100–101-256"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>253<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-257" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-257"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>note 4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Recent_excavations">Recent excavations</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=45" title="Edit section: Recent excavations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Vihara_brick_monastery_at_Ajanta.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Vihara_brick_monastery_at_Ajanta.jpg/220px-Vihara_brick_monastery_at_Ajanta.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="140" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Vihara_brick_monastery_at_Ajanta.jpg/330px-Vihara_brick_monastery_at_Ajanta.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Vihara_brick_monastery_at_Ajanta.jpg/440px-Vihara_brick_monastery_at_Ajanta.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1250" data-file-height="796" /></a><figcaption>The <a href="/wiki/Vihara" class="mw-redirect" title="Vihara">vihara</a> brick monastery facing the caves at Ajanta. The cells were built around a <a href="/wiki/Stupa" title="Stupa">stupa</a> set on a central platform.<sup id="cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AjantaASI-108"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>108<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></figcaption></figure> <p>A burnt-brick <a href="/wiki/Vihara" class="mw-redirect" title="Vihara">vihara</a> monastery facing the caves on the right bank of the river <a href="/wiki/Waghora" class="mw-redirect" title="Waghora">Waghora</a> has been recently excavated.<sup id="cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AjantaASI-108"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>108<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ASI_Ajanta_109-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ASI_Ajanta-109"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>109<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It has a number of cells facing a central courtyard, in which a <a href="/wiki/Stupa" title="Stupa">stupa</a> was established.<sup id="cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AjantaASI-108"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>108<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-The_Early_Development_of_the_Cave_2_110-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-The_Early_Development_of_the_Cave_2-110"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>110<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A coin of the <a href="/wiki/Western_Satraps" title="Western Satraps">Western Satraps</a> ruler <a href="/wiki/Visvasena" title="Visvasena">Visvasena</a> (ruled 293–304 CE) as well as a gold coin of the <a href="/wiki/Byzantine_Empire" title="Byzantine Empire">Byzantine Emperor</a> <a href="/wiki/Theodosius_II" title="Theodosius II">Theodosius II</a> (ruled 402-450 CE) were found in the excavations, giving further numismatic confirmation for the dating of the caves.<sup id="cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AjantaASI-108"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>108<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A terracotta plaque of <a href="/wiki/Durga" title="Durga">Mahishasuramardini</a> was also found, which was possibly under worship by the artisans.<sup id="cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AjantaASI-108"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>108<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ASI_Ajanta_109-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ASI_Ajanta-109"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>109<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 215px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 210px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_burnt-brick_monastery.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Buddhist vihara cell structure at the recently excavated brick monastery at Ajanta"><img alt="Buddhist vihara cell structure at the recently excavated brick monastery at Ajanta" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Ajanta_burnt-brick_monastery.jpg/180px-Ajanta_burnt-brick_monastery.jpg" decoding="async" width="180" height="114" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Ajanta_burnt-brick_monastery.jpg/270px-Ajanta_burnt-brick_monastery.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Ajanta_burnt-brick_monastery.jpg/360px-Ajanta_burnt-brick_monastery.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2084" data-file-height="1322" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Buddhist <a href="/wiki/Vihara" class="mw-redirect" title="Vihara">vihara</a> cell structure at the recently excavated brick monastery at Ajanta</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 215px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 210px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Visvasena.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Coin of Western Satrap Visvasena (293–304), found in the excavations at the monastery"><img alt="Coin of Western Satrap Visvasena (293–304), found in the excavations at the monastery" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Ajanta_Visvasena.jpg/180px-Ajanta_Visvasena.jpg" decoding="async" width="180" height="97" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Ajanta_Visvasena.jpg/270px-Ajanta_Visvasena.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Ajanta_Visvasena.jpg/360px-Ajanta_Visvasena.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1284" data-file-height="694" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Coin of <a href="/wiki/Western_Satraps" title="Western Satraps">Western Satrap</a> <a href="/wiki/Visvasena" title="Visvasena">Visvasena</a> (293–304), found in the excavations at the monastery</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 215px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 210px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Theodosius_II_402-450.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Coin of Byzantine Theodosius II (402–450), found in the excavations at the monastery"><img alt="Coin of Byzantine Theodosius II (402–450), found in the excavations at the monastery" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Ajanta_Theodosius_II_402-450.jpg/180px-Ajanta_Theodosius_II_402-450.jpg" decoding="async" width="180" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Ajanta_Theodosius_II_402-450.jpg/270px-Ajanta_Theodosius_II_402-450.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Ajanta_Theodosius_II_402-450.jpg/360px-Ajanta_Theodosius_II_402-450.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1416" data-file-height="710" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Coin of <a href="/wiki/Byzantine_Empire" title="Byzantine Empire">Byzantine</a> <a href="/wiki/Theodosius_II" title="Theodosius II">Theodosius II</a> (402–450), found in the excavations at the monastery</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 215px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 210px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_terracotta_plaque_of_Mahishasuramardini.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Terracotta plaque of Hindu goddess Mahishasuramardini found on the site"><img alt="Terracotta plaque of Hindu goddess Mahishasuramardini found on the site" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Ajanta_terracotta_plaque_of_Mahishasuramardini.jpg/71px-Ajanta_terracotta_plaque_of_Mahishasuramardini.jpg" decoding="async" width="71" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Ajanta_terracotta_plaque_of_Mahishasuramardini.jpg/107px-Ajanta_terracotta_plaque_of_Mahishasuramardini.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Ajanta_terracotta_plaque_of_Mahishasuramardini.jpg/142px-Ajanta_terracotta_plaque_of_Mahishasuramardini.jpg 2x" data-file-width="909" data-file-height="1530" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Terracotta plaque of Hindu goddess <a href="/wiki/Durga" title="Durga">Mahishasuramardini</a> found on the site</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Copies_of_the_paintings">Copies of the paintings</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=46" title="Edit section: Copies of the paintings"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Aj2.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Aj2.jpg/220px-Aj2.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="182" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Aj2.jpg/330px-Aj2.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Aj2.jpg/440px-Aj2.jpg 2x" data-file-width="764" data-file-height="631" /></a><figcaption>a detail: original left, copy by <a href="/wiki/Christiana_Herringham" title="Christiana Herringham">Lady Herringham</a> (1915) right</figcaption></figure> <p>The paintings have deteriorated significantly since they were rediscovered, and a number of 19th-century copies and drawings are important for a complete understanding of the works. A number of attempts to copy the Ajanta paintings began in the 19th century for European and Japanese museums. Some of these works have later been lost in natural and fire disasters. In 1846 for example, Major <a href="/wiki/Robert_Gill" title="Robert Gill">Robert Gill</a>, an Army officer from <a href="/wiki/Madras_Presidency" title="Madras Presidency">Madras Presidency</a> and a painter, was appointed by the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Asiatic_Society" class="mw-redirect" title="Royal Asiatic Society">Royal Asiatic Society</a> to make copies of the frescos on the cave walls.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19942–3_258-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19942–3-258"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>254<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Gill worked on his painting at the site from 1844 to 1863. He made 27 copies of large sections of murals, but all but four were destroyed in a fire at <a href="/wiki/The_Crystal_Palace" title="The Crystal Palace">the Crystal Palace</a> in London in 1866, where they were on display.<sup id="cite_ref-259" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-259"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>255<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Gill returned to the site, and recommenced his labours, replicating the murals until his death in 1875.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (September 2016)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_dancing_girl_now_and_then.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Ajanta_dancing_girl_now_and_then.jpg/220px-Ajanta_dancing_girl_now_and_then.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="192" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Ajanta_dancing_girl_now_and_then.jpg/330px-Ajanta_dancing_girl_now_and_then.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Ajanta_dancing_girl_now_and_then.jpg 2x" data-file-width="420" data-file-height="366" /></a><figcaption>Dancing girl in Ajanta fresco; a 2012 photograph (left) and <a href="/wiki/Robert_Gill" title="Robert Gill">Robert Gill</a>'s 19th-century copy<sup id="cite_ref-260" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-260"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>256<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></figcaption></figure> <p>Another attempt was made in 1872 when the <a href="/wiki/Bombay_Presidency" title="Bombay Presidency">Bombay Presidency</a> commissioned John Griffiths to work with his students to make copies of Ajanta paintings, again for shipping to England. They worked on this for thirteen years and some 300 canvases were produced, many of which were displayed at the <a href="/wiki/Imperial_Institute" class="mw-redirect" title="Imperial Institute">Imperial Institute</a> on <a href="/wiki/Exhibition_Road" title="Exhibition Road">Exhibition Road</a> in London, one of the forerunners of the <a href="/wiki/Victoria_and_Albert_Museum" title="Victoria and Albert Museum">Victoria and Albert Museum</a>. But in 1885 another fire destroyed over a hundred of the paintings in storage in a wing of the museum. The V&A still has 166 paintings surviving from both sets, though none have been on permanent display since 1955. The largest are some 3 by 6 metres (9.8 ft × 19.7 ft). A conservation project was undertaken on about half of them in 2006, also involving the <a href="/wiki/University_of_Northumbria" class="mw-redirect" title="University of Northumbria">University of Northumbria</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-261" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-261"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>257<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Griffith and his students had painted many of the paintings with "cheap varnish" in order to make them easier to see, which has added to the deterioration of the originals, as has, according to Spink and others, recent cleaning by the ASI.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a50–51_262-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a50–51-262"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>258<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Exposition_Clemenceau,_le_Tigre_et_l%27Asie_(MNAA-Guimet,_Paris)_(13888446659).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Exposition_Clemenceau%2C_le_Tigre_et_l%27Asie_%28MNAA-Guimet%2C_Paris%29_%2813888446659%29.jpg/220px-Exposition_Clemenceau%2C_le_Tigre_et_l%27Asie_%28MNAA-Guimet%2C_Paris%29_%2813888446659%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="254" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Exposition_Clemenceau%2C_le_Tigre_et_l%27Asie_%28MNAA-Guimet%2C_Paris%29_%2813888446659%29.jpg/330px-Exposition_Clemenceau%2C_le_Tigre_et_l%27Asie_%28MNAA-Guimet%2C_Paris%29_%2813888446659%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Exposition_Clemenceau%2C_le_Tigre_et_l%27Asie_%28MNAA-Guimet%2C_Paris%29_%2813888446659%29.jpg/440px-Exposition_Clemenceau%2C_le_Tigre_et_l%27Asie_%28MNAA-Guimet%2C_Paris%29_%2813888446659%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1020" data-file-height="1177" /></a><figcaption>Copy of an Ajanta painting, in <a href="/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_Guimet" class="mw-redirect" title="Musée Guimet">Musée Guimet</a>, Paris. Part of a mural probably relating the conversion of <a href="/wiki/Nanda_(Buddhist)" class="mw-redirect" title="Nanda (Buddhist)">Nanda</a>, Cave 1.<sup id="cite_ref-263" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-263"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>259<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></figcaption></figure> <p>A further set of copies were made between 1909 and 1911 by <a href="/wiki/Christiana_Herringham" title="Christiana Herringham">Christiana Herringham</a> (Lady Herringham) and a group of students from the <a href="/wiki/Government_College_of_Art_%26_Craft" title="Government College of Art & Craft">Calcutta School of Art</a> that included the future Indian Modernist painter <a href="/wiki/Nandalal_Bose" title="Nandalal Bose">Nandalal Bose</a>. The copies were published in full colour as the first publication of London's fledgling <a href="/wiki/Royal_India_Society" title="Royal India Society">India Society</a>. More than the earlier copies, these aimed to fill in holes and damage to recreate the original condition rather than record the state of the paintings as she was seeing them. According to one writer, unlike the paintings created by her predecessors Griffiths and Gill, whose copies were influenced by <a href="/wiki/Academic_art" title="Academic art">British Victorian styles of painting</a>, those of the Herringham expedition preferred an 'Indian Renascence' aesthetic of the type pioneered by <a href="/wiki/Abanindranath_Tagore" title="Abanindranath Tagore">Abanindranath Tagore</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-264" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-264"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>260<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Early photographic surveys were made by Robert Gill, whose photos, including some using <a href="/wiki/Stereoscopy" title="Stereoscopy">stereoscopy</a>, were used in books by him and Fergusson (many are available online from the <a href="/wiki/British_Library" title="British Library">British Library</a>),<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGordon2011236_265-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGordon2011236-265"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>261<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-266" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-266"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>262<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> then Victor Goloubew in 1911 and E.L. Vassey, who took the photos in the four volume study of the caves by Ghulam Yazdani (published 1930–1955).<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19942–3_258-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19942–3-258"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>254<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Buddhist_mural,_Albert_Hall_Museum,_Jaipur.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Buddhist_mural%2C_Albert_Hall_Museum%2C_Jaipur.jpg/220px-Buddhist_mural%2C_Albert_Hall_Museum%2C_Jaipur.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="152" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Buddhist_mural%2C_Albert_Hall_Museum%2C_Jaipur.jpg/330px-Buddhist_mural%2C_Albert_Hall_Museum%2C_Jaipur.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Buddhist_mural%2C_Albert_Hall_Museum%2C_Jaipur.jpg/440px-Buddhist_mural%2C_Albert_Hall_Museum%2C_Jaipur.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2624" data-file-height="1808" /></a><figcaption>Reproduction of The Adoration of the Buddha, cave 17, <a href="/wiki/Albert_Hall_Museum" title="Albert Hall Museum">Albert Hall Museum</a>, <a href="/wiki/Jaipur" title="Jaipur">Jaipur</a>, India</figcaption></figure> <p>Some slightly creative copies of Ajanta frescos, especially the painting of the Adoration of the Buddha from the shrine antechamber of Cave 17, were commissioned by <a href="/wiki/Thomas_Holbein_Hendley" title="Thomas Holbein Hendley">Thomas Holbein Hendley</a> (1847–1917) for the decoration of the walls of the hall of the <a href="/wiki/Albert_Hall_Museum" title="Albert Hall Museum">Albert Hall Museum</a>, <a href="/wiki/Jaipur" title="Jaipur">Jaipur</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Tillotson_267-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Tillotson-267"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>263<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He had the work painted by a local artist variously named Murli or Murali.<sup id="cite_ref-Tillotson_267-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Tillotson-267"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>263<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The museum was opened to the public in 1887. This work is otherwise presented as characteristic of the end of the 19th century.<sup id="cite_ref-268" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-268"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>264<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Another attempt to make copies of the murals was made by the Japanese artist Arai Kampō (荒井寛方:1878–1945) after being invited by <a href="/wiki/Rabindranath_Tagore" title="Rabindranath Tagore">Rabindranath Tagore</a> to India to teach Japanese painting techniques.<sup id="cite_ref-269" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-269"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>265<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He worked on making copies with tracings on Japanese paper from 1916 to 1918 and his work was conserved at <a href="/wiki/University_of_Tokyo" title="University of Tokyo">Tokyo Imperial University</a> until the materials perished during the <a href="/wiki/1923_Great_Kant%C5%8D_earthquake" title="1923 Great Kantō earthquake">1923 Great Kantō earthquake</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-270" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-270"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>266<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Reception_history">Reception history</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=47" title="Edit section: Reception history"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:352px;max-width:352px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:153px;max-width:153px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:210px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_b.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_b.jpg/151px-19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_b.jpg" decoding="async" width="151" height="211" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_b.jpg/227px-19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_b.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_b.jpg/302px-19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_b.jpg 2x" data-file-width="376" data-file-height="526" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:195px;max-width:195px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:210px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_Hariti_and_Kubera_b.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_Hariti_and_Kubera_b.jpg/193px-19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_Hariti_and_Kubera_b.jpg" decoding="async" width="193" height="210" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_Hariti_and_Kubera_b.jpg/290px-19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_Hariti_and_Kubera_b.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_Hariti_and_Kubera_b.jpg/386px-19th_century_copy_of_1st_century_BCE_to_5th_century_CE_Ajanta_Cave_2_painting_Hariti_and_Kubera_b.jpg 2x" data-file-width="426" data-file-height="464" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Ajanta arts predominantly show natives. Left: people discussing the king's renunciation; Right: <i>sadhus</i> or <i>brahmakayikas</i> heading to a temple, five women chatting in a market square, children playing a board game near a banana tree.<sup id="cite_ref-271" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-271"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>267<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div></div></div></div> <p>The Ajanta cave arts are a window into the culture, society and religiosity of the native population of India between the 2nd century BCE and 5th century CE. Different scholars have variously interpreted them from the perspective of gender studies, history, sociology, and the anthropology of South Asia.<sup id="cite_ref-272" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-272"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>268<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-273" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-273"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>269<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The dress, the jewellery, the gender relations, the social activities depicted show at least the lifestyle of the royalty and elite,<sup id="cite_ref-274" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-274"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>270<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and in others definitely the costumes of the common man, monks and rishi. They shine "light on life in India" around mid 1st millennium CE.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199412–14_275-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199412–14-275"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>271<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Mehta199539_276-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Mehta199539-276"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>272<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Ajanta paintings provide a contrast between the spiritual life of monks who had given up all materialistic possessions versus the sensual life of those it considered materialistic, luxurious, symbols of wealth, leisurely and high fashion. Many frescos show scenes from shops, festivals, jesters at processions, palaces and performance art pavilions. These friezes share themes and details of those found in <a href="/wiki/Bharhut" title="Bharhut">Bharhut</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sanchi" title="Sanchi">Sanchi</a>, <a href="/wiki/Amaravati" title="Amaravati">Amaravati</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ellora" class="mw-redirect" title="Ellora">Ellora</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bagh_Caves" title="Bagh Caves">Bagh</a>, <a href="/wiki/Aihole" title="Aihole">Aihole</a>, <a href="/wiki/Badami" title="Badami">Badami</a> and other archaeological sites in India. Ajanta caves contributes to visual and descriptive sense of the ancient and early medieval Indian culture and artistic traditions, particularly those around the Gupta Empire era period.<sup id="cite_ref-Mehta199539_276-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Mehta199539-276"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>272<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-277" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-277"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>273<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1224211176">.mw-parser-output .quotebox{background-color:#F9F9F9;border:1px solid #aaa;box-sizing:border-box;padding:10px;font-size:88%;max-width:100%}.mw-parser-output .quotebox.floatleft{margin:.5em 1.4em .8em 0}.mw-parser-output .quotebox.floatright{margin:.5em 0 .8em 1.4em}.mw-parser-output .quotebox.centered{overflow:hidden;position:relative;margin:.5em auto .8em auto}.mw-parser-output .quotebox.floatleft span,.mw-parser-output .quotebox.floatright span{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .quotebox>blockquote{margin:0;padding:0;border-left:0;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit}.mw-parser-output .quotebox-title{text-align:center;font-size:110%;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .quotebox-quote>:first-child{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .quotebox-quote:last-child>:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.mw-parser-output .quotebox-quote.quoted:before{font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-weight:bold;font-size:large;color:gray;content:" “ ";vertical-align:-45%;line-height:0}.mw-parser-output .quotebox-quote.quoted:after{font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-weight:bold;font-size:large;color:gray;content:" ” ";line-height:0}.mw-parser-output .quotebox .left-aligned{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .quotebox .right-aligned{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .quotebox .center-aligned{text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .quotebox .quote-title,.mw-parser-output .quotebox .quotebox-quote{display:block}.mw-parser-output .quotebox cite{display:block;font-style:normal}@media screen and (max-width:640px){.mw-parser-output .quotebox{width:100%!important;margin:0 0 .8em!important;float:none!important}}</style><div class="quotebox pullquote floatright" style="width:35%; ; color: #202122;background-color: #FFE0BB;"> <blockquote class="quotebox-quote left-aligned" style=""> <p><b>Orientalism and Ajanta Caves</b><br /> In the early nineteenth century, when Europeans first visited the Ajanta caves, they had no literary precedents through which to determine what they saw. Thus they saw very little beyond hunting scenes, domestic scenes, seraglio scenes, Welsh wigs, Hampton court beauties, elephants and horses, an Abyssinian black prince, shields and spears, and statues that they called 'Buddha' because of the curly hair. </p> </blockquote> <p style="padding-bottom: 0;"><cite class="left-aligned" style="">– Richard Cohen<br /><i>Beyond Enlightenment: Buddhism, Religion, Modernity</i><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a119_278-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a119-278"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>274<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></cite></p> </div> <p>The earliest colonial era descriptions of the Ajanta caves was largely orientalist and critical. According to <a href="/wiki/William_Dalrymple" title="William Dalrymple">William Dalrymple</a>, the subjects in the Ajanta caves were puzzling to 19th-century Orientalists. Lacking the Asian cultural heritage and with no knowledge of Jataka Tales or equivalent Indian fables, they could not comprehend it.<sup id="cite_ref-279" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-279"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>275<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> They projected their own views and assumptions, calling it something that lacks reason and rationale, something that is a meaningless crude representation of royalty and foreigners with mysticism and sensuousness.<sup id="cite_ref-Lannoy1971_280-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Lannoy1971-280"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>276<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-asher4_281-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asher4-281"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>277<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The 19th-century views and interpretations of the Ajanta Caves were conditioned by ideas and assumptions in the colonial mind, saw what they wanted to see.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a119–120_282-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a119–120-282"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>278<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-asher4_281-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-asher4-281"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>277<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19943–4_283-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19943–4-283"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>279<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>To many who are unaware of the premises of Indian religions in general, and Buddhism in particular, the significance of Ajanta Caves has been like the rest of Indian art. According to Richard Cohen, the Ajanta Caves to them has been yet another example of "worship this stock, or that stone, or monstrous idol".<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a119–120_282-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a119–120-282"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>278<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In contrast, to the Indian mind and the larger Buddhist community, it is everything that art ought to be, the religious and the secular, the spiritual and the social fused to enlightened perfection.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a120–131_284-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a120–131-284"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>280<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>According to Walter Spink – one of the most respected Art historians on Ajanta, these caves were by 475 CE a much-revered site to the Indians, with throngs of "travelers, pilgrims, monks and traders". The site was vastly transformed into its current form in just 20 years, between early 460 CE to early 480 CE, by regional architects and artisans. This accomplishment, states Spink, makes Ajanta, "one of the most remarkable creative achievements in man's history".<sup id="cite_ref-Williams1981_285-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Williams1981-285"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>281<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Foreigners_in_the_paintings_of_Ajanta">Foreigners in the paintings of Ajanta</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=48" title="Edit section: Foreigners in the paintings of Ajanta"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Ajanta Caves painting are a significant source of socio-economic information in ancient India, particularly in relation to the interactions of India with foreign cultures at the time most of the paintings were made, in the 5th century CE (Common Era). According to Indian historian <a href="/wiki/Haroon_Khan_Sherwani" title="Haroon Khan Sherwani">Haroon Khan Sherwani</a>: "The paintings at Ajanta clearly demonstrate the cosmopolitan character of Buddhism, which opened its way to men of all races, Greek, Persian, <a href="/wiki/Saka" title="Saka">Saka</a>, <a href="/wiki/Pahlava" class="mw-redirect" title="Pahlava">Pahlava</a>, <a href="/w/index.php?title=Kushan_(clan)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Kushan (clan) (page does not exist)">Kushan</a> and <a href="/wiki/Huna_people" title="Huna people">Huna</a>".<sup id="cite_ref-286" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-286"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>282<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Depictions of foreigners abound: according to Spink, "Ajanta's paintings are filled with such foreign types." They have sometimes been a source of misinterpretation as in the so-called "Persian Embassy Scene". These foreigners may reflect the Sassanian merchants, visitors and the flourishing trade routes of the day.<sup id="cite_ref-287" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-287"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>283<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <dl><dt>The so-called "Persian Embassy Scene"</dt></dl> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_1_first_frescoe_to_the_right_of_the_entrance_with_three_foreigners_detail.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Ajanta_Cave_1_first_frescoe_to_the_right_of_the_entrance_with_three_foreigners_detail.jpg/400px-Ajanta_Cave_1_first_frescoe_to_the_right_of_the_entrance_with_three_foreigners_detail.jpg" decoding="async" width="400" height="113" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Ajanta_Cave_1_first_frescoe_to_the_right_of_the_entrance_with_three_foreigners_detail.jpg/600px-Ajanta_Cave_1_first_frescoe_to_the_right_of_the_entrance_with_three_foreigners_detail.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Ajanta_Cave_1_first_frescoe_to_the_right_of_the_entrance_with_three_foreigners_detail.jpg/800px-Ajanta_Cave_1_first_frescoe_to_the_right_of_the_entrance_with_three_foreigners_detail.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4881" data-file-height="1382" /></a><figcaption>Upper part of the so-called "Persian Embassy Scene", with detail of the foreigners.</figcaption></figure> <p>Cave 1, for example, shows a mural fresco with characters with foreigner faces or dresses, the so-called "Persian Embassy Scene".<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200729_288-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200729-288"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>284<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This scene<sup id="cite_ref-289" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-289"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>285<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> is located at the right of the entrance door upon entering the hall.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200729_288-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200729-288"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>284<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to Spink, <a href="/wiki/James_Fergusson_(architect)" title="James Fergusson (architect)">James Fergusson</a>, a 19th-century architectural historian, had decided that this scene corresponded to the Persian ambassador in 625 CE to the court of the Hindu <a href="/wiki/Chalukya_dynasty" title="Chalukya dynasty">Chalukya</a> king <a href="/wiki/Pulakeshin_II" title="Pulakeshin II">Pulakeshin II</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009132_290-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009132-290"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>286<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> An alternate theory has been that the fresco represents a Hindu ambassador visiting the Persian king <a href="/wiki/Khusrau_II" class="mw-redirect" title="Khusrau II">Khusrau II</a> in 625 CE, a theory that Fergusson disagreed with.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200729_288-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200729-288"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>284<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-291" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-291"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>287<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These assumptions by colonial British era art historians, state Spink and other scholars, has been responsible for wrongly dating this painting to the 7th century, when in fact this reflects an incomplete Harisena-era painting of a Jataka tale (the Mahasudarsana jataka, in which the enthroned king is actually the <a href="/wiki/Buddha" class="mw-redirect" title="Buddha">Buddha</a> in one of his previous lives as King) with the representation of trade between India and distant lands such as <a href="/wiki/Sasanian_Empire" title="Sasanian Empire">Sassanian near East</a> that was common by the 5th century.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009132_290-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009132-290"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>286<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200727_292-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200727-292"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>288<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-293" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-293"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>289<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <dl><dt>International trade, growth of Buddhism</dt></dl> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_foreigner_1.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Ajanta_foreigner_1.jpg/220px-Ajanta_foreigner_1.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="196" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Ajanta_foreigner_1.jpg/330px-Ajanta_foreigner_1.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Ajanta_foreigner_1.jpg/440px-Ajanta_foreigner_1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2173" data-file-height="1934" /></a><figcaption>A foreigner in <a href="/wiki/Sasanian_Empire" title="Sasanian Empire">Sasanian</a> dress drinking wine, on the ceiling of the central hall of Cave 1, likely a generic scene from an object imported from Central Asia (460–480 CE)<sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81-294"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>290<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-DK_295-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-DK-295"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>291<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The men depicted in these paintings may also have been <a href="/wiki/Bactria" title="Bactria">Bactrians</a>, at that time under <a href="/wiki/Hephthalite" class="mw-redirect" title="Hephthalite">Hephthalite</a> rule.<sup id="cite_ref-MC40_296-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MC40-296"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>292<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></figcaption></figure> <p>Cave 1 has several frescos with characters with foreigners' faces or dresses. Similar depictions are found in the paintings of Cave 17. Such murals, states Pia Brancaccio, suggest a prosperous and multicultural society in 5th-century India active in international trade.<sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81-294"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>290<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These also suggest that this trade was economically important enough to the Deccan region that the artists chose to include it with precision.<sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81-294"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>290<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Additional evidence of international trade includes the use of the blue lapis lazuli pigment to depict foreigners in the Ajanta paintings, which must have been imported from Afghanistan or Iran. It also suggests, states Brancaccio, that the Buddhist monastic world was closely connected with trading guilds and the court culture in this period.<sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81-294"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>290<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A small number of scenes show foreigners drinking wine in Caves 1 and 2.<sup id="cite_ref-299" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-299"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>note 5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Some show foreign <a href="/wiki/Near_East" title="Near East">Near East</a> kings with wine and their retinue which presumably add to the "general regal emphasis" of the cave.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200727_292-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200727-292"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>288<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to Brancaccio, the Ajanta paintings show a variety of colorful, delicate textiles and women making cotton. Textile probably was one of the major exports to foreign lands, along with gems. These were exported first through the <a href="/wiki/Red_Sea" title="Red Sea">Red Sea</a>, and later through the <a href="/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a>, thereby bringing a period of economic and cultural exchange between the Indians, the Sasanian Empire and the Persian merchants before Islam was founded in the Arabian peninsula.<sup id="cite_ref-300" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-300"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>295<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_17_frescoe.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Ajanta_Cave_17_frescoe.jpg/220px-Ajanta_Cave_17_frescoe.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="166" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Ajanta_Cave_17_frescoe.jpg/330px-Ajanta_Cave_17_frescoe.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Ajanta_Cave_17_frescoe.jpg/440px-Ajanta_Cave_17_frescoe.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2840" data-file-height="2140" /></a><figcaption>Cave 17: many foreigners are included as devotees attending the Buddha's descent from Trayastrimsa Heaven<sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81-294"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>290<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-302" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-302"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>note 6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></figcaption></figure> <p>While scholars generally agree that these murals confirm trade and cultural connections between India and Sassanian west, their specific significance and interpretation varies.<sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81-294"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>290<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200727_292-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200727-292"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>288<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Brancaccio, for example, suggests that the ship and jars in them probably reflect foreign ships carrying wine imported to India. In contrast, Schlinghoff interprets the jars to be holding water, and ships shown as Indian ships used in international trade.<sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81-294"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>290<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Similar depictions are found in the paintings of Cave 17, but this time in direct relation to the worship of the <a href="/wiki/Buddha" class="mw-redirect" title="Buddha">Buddha</a>. In Cave 17, a painting of the Buddha descending from the Trayastrimsa Heaven shows he being attended by many foreigners. Many foreigners in this painting are thus shown as listeners to the Buddhist <a href="/wiki/Dharma" title="Dharma">Dharma</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_and_Note_27_303-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81_and_Note_27-303"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>297<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The ethnic diversity is depicted in the painting in the clothes (<a href="/wiki/Kaftans" class="mw-redirect" title="Kaftans">kaftans</a>, Sasanian helmets, round caps), hairdos and skin colors. In the Visvantara Jataka of Cave 17, according to Brancaccio, the scene probably shows a servant from Central Asia holding a foreign metal ewer, while a dark-complexioned servant holds a cup to an amorous couple. In another painting in Cave 17, relating to the conversion of <a href="/wiki/Nanda_(Buddhism)" class="mw-redirect" title="Nanda (Buddhism)">Nanda</a>, a man possibly from northeast Africa appears as a servant.<sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81-294"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>290<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These representations show, states Brancaccio, that the artists were familiar with people of <a href="/wiki/Sogdia" title="Sogdia">Sogdia</a>, <a href="/wiki/Central_Asia" title="Central Asia">Central Asia</a>, <a href="/wiki/Persia" class="mw-redirect" title="Persia">Persia</a> and possibly <a href="/wiki/East_Africa" title="East Africa">East Africa</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81-294"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>290<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-305" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-305"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>note 7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Another hypothesis is offered by Upadhya, who states that the artists who built Ajanta caves "very probably included foreigners".<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya1994135_306-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya1994135-306"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>299<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_2_Veranda_ceiling_foreigners.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 2, ceiling: foreigners sharing a drink of wine[300]"><img alt="Cave 2, ceiling: foreigners sharing a drink of wine[300]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Ajanta_Cave_2_Veranda_ceiling_foreigners.jpg/125px-Ajanta_Cave_2_Veranda_ceiling_foreigners.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="98" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Ajanta_Cave_2_Veranda_ceiling_foreigners.jpg/188px-Ajanta_Cave_2_Veranda_ceiling_foreigners.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Ajanta_Cave_2_Veranda_ceiling_foreigners.jpg/250px-Ajanta_Cave_2_Veranda_ceiling_foreigners.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1141" data-file-height="896" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 2, ceiling: foreigners sharing a drink of wine<sup id="cite_ref-307" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-307"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>300<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 1, ceiling: another Persian-style foreign group, one of the four such groups (one now missing) at the center of each quadrant of the ceiling[288]"><img alt="Cave 1, ceiling: another Persian-style foreign group, one of the four such groups (one now missing) at the center of each quadrant of the ceiling[288]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg/125px-Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg" decoding="async" width="125" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg/188px-Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg/250px-Ajanta_foreigner_2.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1254" data-file-height="1252" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 1, ceiling: another Persian-style foreign group, one of the four such groups (one now missing) at the center of each quadrant of the ceiling<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200727_292-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200727-292"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>288<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_17_foreign_servant.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A servant from Central Asia, Cave 17.[290]"><img alt="A servant from Central Asia, Cave 17.[290]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Ajanta_Cave_17_foreign_servant.jpg/83px-Ajanta_Cave_17_foreign_servant.jpg" decoding="async" width="83" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Ajanta_Cave_17_foreign_servant.jpg/125px-Ajanta_Cave_17_foreign_servant.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Ajanta_Cave_17_foreign_servant.jpg/166px-Ajanta_Cave_17_foreign_servant.jpg 2x" data-file-width="947" data-file-height="1425" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A servant from Central Asia, Cave 17.<sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81-294"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>290<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_foreigners_detail.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 17: foreigners attending the Buddha[301]"><img alt="Cave 17: foreigners attending the Buddha[301]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_foreigners_detail.jpg/87px-Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_foreigners_detail.jpg" decoding="async" width="87" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_foreigners_detail.jpg/131px-Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_foreigners_detail.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_foreigners_detail.jpg/175px-Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_foreigners_detail.jpg 2x" data-file-width="852" data-file-height="1219" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 17: foreigners attending the Buddha<sup id="cite_ref-PB305_308-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-PB305-308"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>301<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_horsemen_detail.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Cave 17: foreigners on horses attending the Buddha[301]"><img alt="Cave 17: foreigners on horses attending the Buddha[301]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_horsemen_detail.jpg/124px-Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_horsemen_detail.jpg" decoding="async" width="124" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_horsemen_detail.jpg/187px-Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_horsemen_detail.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_horsemen_detail.jpg/248px-Ajanta_Cave_17_Descent_from_Heaven_Left_Wall_horsemen_detail.jpg 2x" data-file-width="732" data-file-height="737" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cave 17: foreigners on horses attending the Buddha<sup id="cite_ref-PB305_308-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-PB305-308"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>301<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 160px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155px; height: 155px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Cave_1,_Padmapani_attendant,_Lady_in_blue_dress_with_tiara.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Lady in blue dress with tiara, of possible "Persian origin"."[302]"><img alt="Lady in blue dress with tiara, of possible "Persian origin"."[302]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Ajanta_Cave_1%2C_Padmapani_attendant%2C_Lady_in_blue_dress_with_tiara.jpg/76px-Ajanta_Cave_1%2C_Padmapani_attendant%2C_Lady_in_blue_dress_with_tiara.jpg" decoding="async" width="76" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Ajanta_Cave_1%2C_Padmapani_attendant%2C_Lady_in_blue_dress_with_tiara.jpg/115px-Ajanta_Cave_1%2C_Padmapani_attendant%2C_Lady_in_blue_dress_with_tiara.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Ajanta_Cave_1%2C_Padmapani_attendant%2C_Lady_in_blue_dress_with_tiara.jpg/153px-Ajanta_Cave_1%2C_Padmapani_attendant%2C_Lady_in_blue_dress_with_tiara.jpg 2x" data-file-width="446" data-file-height="730" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Lady in blue dress with tiara, of possible "Persian origin"."<sup id="cite_ref-309" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-309"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>302<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Impact_on_later_painting_and_other_arts">Impact on later painting and other arts</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=49" title="Edit section: Impact on later painting and other arts"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Ajanta paintings, or more likely the general style they come from, influenced painting in <a href="/wiki/Tibet" title="Tibet">Tibet</a><sup id="cite_ref-310" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-310"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>303<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and <a href="/wiki/Sri_Lanka" title="Sri Lanka">Sri Lanka</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-311" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-311"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>304<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Some influences from Ajanta have also suggested in the <a href="/wiki/Kizil_Caves" title="Kizil Caves">Kizil Caves</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Tarim_Basin" title="Tarim Basin">Tarim Basin</a>, in particular in early caves such as the <i><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Peacock_Cave_(Cave_76)" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Peacock Cave (Cave 76)">Peacock Cave</a></i>.<sup id="cite_ref-BR156_312-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BR156-312"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>305<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The rediscovery of ancient Indian paintings at Ajanta provided Indian artists with examples from ancient India to follow. <a href="/wiki/Nandalal_Bose" title="Nandalal Bose">Nandalal Bose</a> experimented with techniques to follow the ancient style which allowed him to develop his unique style.<sup id="cite_ref-313" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-313"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>306<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Abanindranath_Tagore" title="Abanindranath Tagore">Abanindranath Tagore</a> and <a href="/wiki/Syed_Thajudeen" title="Syed Thajudeen">Syed Thajudeen</a> also used the Ajanta paintings for inspiration. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Anna_Pavlova" title="Anna Pavlova">Anna Pavlova</a>'s ballet <i>Ajanta's Frescoes</i> was inspired by her visit to Ajanta, choreographed by <a href="/wiki/Ivan_Clustine" title="Ivan Clustine">Ivan Clustine</a>, with music by <a href="/wiki/Nikolai_Tcherepnin" title="Nikolai Tcherepnin">Nikolai Tcherepnin</a><sup id="cite_ref-314" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-314"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>307<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> (one report says <a href="/wiki/Mikhail_Fokine" class="mw-redirect" title="Mikhail Fokine">Mikhail Fokine</a> in 1923).<sup id="cite_ref-315" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-315"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>308<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and premiered at <a href="/wiki/Covent_Garden" title="Covent Garden">Covent Garden</a> in 1923. </p><p>Jewish American poet <a href="/wiki/Muriel_Rukeyser" title="Muriel Rukeyser">Muriel Rukeyser</a> wrote about the caves in "Ajanta," the opening poem of her third collection <i>Beast in View</i> (1944). Rukeyser was inspired in part by writings on the caves by artist <a href="/wiki/Mukul_Dey" title="Mukul Dey">Mukul Dey</a> in 1925 and art historian <a href="/wiki/Stella_Kramrisch" title="Stella Kramrisch">Stella Kramrisch</a> in 1937.<sup id="cite_ref-316" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-316"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>309<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=50" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239009302">.mw-parser-output .portalbox{padding:0;margin:0.5em 0;display:table;box-sizing:border-box;max-width:175px;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .portalborder{border:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);padding:0.1em;background:var(--background-color-neutral-subtle,#f8f9fa)}.mw-parser-output .portalbox-entry{display:table-row;font-size:85%;line-height:110%;height:1.9em;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .portalbox-image{display:table-cell;padding:0.2em;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .portalbox-link{display:table-cell;padding:0.2em 0.2em 0.2em 0.3em;vertical-align:middle}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .portalleft{clear:left;float:left;margin:0.5em 1em 0.5em 0}.mw-parser-output .portalright{clear:right;float:right;margin:0.5em 0 0.5em 1em}}</style><ul role="navigation" aria-label="Portals" class="noprint portalbox portalborder portalright"> <li class="portalbox-entry"><span class="portalbox-image"><span class="mw-image-border noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="flag" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/32px-Flag_of_India.svg.png" decoding="async" width="32" height="21" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/48px-Flag_of_India.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/64px-Flag_of_India.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span></span><span class="portalbox-link"><a href="/wiki/Portal:India" title="Portal:India">India portal</a></span></li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cetiya" title="Cetiya">Cetiya</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bedse_Caves" title="Bedse Caves">Bedse Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bhaja_Caves" title="Bhaja Caves">Bhaja Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dambulla_cave_temple" title="Dambulla cave temple">Dambulla cave temple</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kanheri_Caves" title="Kanheri Caves">Kanheri Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Karla_Caves" title="Karla Caves">Karla Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mogao_Caves" title="Mogao Caves">Mogao Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nasik_Caves" title="Nasik Caves">Nasik Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pitalkhora_Caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Pitalkhora Caves">Pitalkhora Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shivneri_Caves" title="Shivneri Caves">Shivneri Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_colossal_sculptures_in_situ" title="List of colossal sculptures in situ">List of colossal sculptures in situ</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=51" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-169"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-169">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The inscription has been connected to the <a href="/wiki/Satavahana" class="mw-redirect" title="Satavahana">Satavahana</a> ruler <a href="/wiki/Vasishthiputra_Pulumavi" title="Vasishthiputra Pulumavi">Vasishthiputra Pulumavi</a> (c. 170 CE), who is also known for inscription at the <a href="/wiki/Nasik_Caves" title="Nasik Caves">Nasik Caves</a>, although there are disagreements since he is very posterior to the 1st century BCE.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-194"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-194">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Similar morals and virtue-defining fables are also found in Jainism and Hinduism, in texts such as the <i><a href="/wiki/Panchatantra" title="Panchatantra">Panchatantra</a></i>. The antiquity of these tales has been a subject of scholarly debate. The pictorial narrative in Ajanta Caves attests to their influence by the 5th century.<sup id="cite_ref-192" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-192"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>191<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In some cases such as the Sibi and Hasti Jataka, the Ajanta friezes more closely match the version of the same fables found in Hindu or Jain texts, suggesting a common root and shared heritage.<sup id="cite_ref-193" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-193"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>192<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-221"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-221">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The "Mother and Child" theme is found in other caves, such as in the painting of Cave 17. These show the father Buddha with a begging bowl, with his son and wife looking up to him. Some show a towering figure of the Buddha looking below, with a small inset with the mother and child looking up. These images are interpreted as they offering food to him, or alternatively as the Buddha giving his son the begging bowl as his inheritance. The artwork signifies the belief that human values and spirituality is highest exchange across human generations.<sup id="cite_ref-219" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-219"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>217<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-220" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-220"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>218<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-257"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-257">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Granaries and kitchens were commonly integrated as infrastructures near major temples and monasteries in India. They are also found embedded into the design elsewhere such as the Bagh monuments.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2005a100–101_256-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2005a100–101-256"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>253<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-299"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-299">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">In Cave 1, there are also four "foreign" <a href="/wiki/Bacchanalian" class="mw-redirect" title="Bacchanalian">bacchanalian</a> groups (one now missing) at the middle of each quadrant of the elaborate ceiling painting.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200727_292-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200727-292"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>288<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cave 2 shows two foreigners, possibly from Central Asia, sharing wine. These scenes, interprets Brancaccio, show what are probably foreign ewers from <a href="/wiki/Sogdia" title="Sogdia">Sogdia</a> or <a href="/wiki/Persia" class="mw-redirect" title="Persia">Persia</a> were used to consume imported wines. A text from the <a href="/wiki/Periplus_of_the_Erythrean_Sea" class="mw-redirect" title="Periplus of the Erythrean Sea">Periplus of the Erythrean Sea</a> era states that silverware vessels and wine was one of the main products imported for kings of <a href="/wiki/Barygaza" class="mw-redirect" title="Barygaza">Barygaza</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81-294"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>290<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Sassanian bowls dated to about 400 CE have been discovered in other parts of the Indian subcontinent.<sup id="cite_ref-297" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-297"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>293<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A copper plate in the <a href="/wiki/Kanheri_caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Kanheri caves">Kanheri caves</a> near <a href="/wiki/Mumbai" title="Mumbai">Mumbai</a> indicates that foreigners were active in trade in the city of <a href="/wiki/Kalyan" title="Kalyan">Kalyan</a> in the 5th century CE.<sup id="cite_ref-298" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-298"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>294<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-302"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-302">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Actual photograph are available on Google.<sup id="cite_ref-301" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-301"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>296<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-305"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-305">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The expansion of Buddhism into Gandhara and Central Asia began during the 1st millennium BCE. Some early Buddhist worship halls in western India included <a href="/wiki/Yavanas" class="mw-redirect" title="Yavanas">Yavanas</a> (Greeks) as donors.<sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81-294"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>290<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Inscriptions recording such donations are found at <a href="/wiki/Karla_Caves" title="Karla Caves">Karla Caves</a>, <a href="/wiki/Pandavleni_Caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Pandavleni Caves">Pandavleni Caves</a> or <a href="/wiki/Manmodi_Caves" title="Manmodi Caves">Manmodi Caves</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-304" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-304"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>298<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_and_Note_27_303-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Brancaccio_81_and_Note_27-303"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>297<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=52" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239543626"><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230402113118/https://aurangabad.gov.in/en/tourist-place/padmapani-painting-ajanta-cave/">"Padmapani Painting Ajanta Cave"</a>. <i>Chatrapati Sambhajinagar District Administration, Government Of Maharashtra</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://aurangabad.gov.in/en/tourist-place/padmapani-painting-ajanta-cave/">the original</a> on 2 April 2023<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2 April</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Chatrapati+Sambhajinagar+District+Administration%2C+Government+Of+Maharashtra&rft.atitle=Padmapani+Painting+Ajanta+Cave&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Faurangabad.gov.in%2Fen%2Ftourist-place%2Fpadmapani-painting-ajanta-cave%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-:0-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:0_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCentre" class="citation web cs1">Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242/">"Ajanta Caves"</a>. <i>UNESCO World Heritage Centre</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">30 March</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=UNESCO+World+Heritage+Centre&rft.atitle=Ajanta+Caves&rft.aulast=Centre&rft.aufirst=UNESCO+World+Heritage&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwhc.unesco.org%2Fen%2Flist%2F242%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Madan-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Madan_3-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGopal1990" class="citation book cs1">Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada"><i>India through the ages</i></a>. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/173">173</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=India+through+the+ages&rft.pages=173&rft.pub=Publication+Division%2C+Ministry+of+Information+and+Broadcasting%2C+Government+of+India&rft.date=1990&rft.aulast=Gopal&rft.aufirst=Madan&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Findiathroughages00mada&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRingWatsonSchellinger2012" class="citation book cs1">Ring, Trudy; Watson, Noelle; Schellinger, Paul (2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=voerPYsAB5wC&pg=PA17"><i>Asia and Oceania</i></a>. Routledge. pp. 17, 14–19. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-136-63979-1" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-136-63979-1"><bdi>978-1-136-63979-1</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Asia+and+Oceania&rft.pages=17%2C+14-19&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=2012&rft.isbn=978-1-136-63979-1&rft.aulast=Ring&rft.aufirst=Trudy&rft.au=Watson%2C+Noelle&rft.au=Schellinger%2C+Paul&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DvoerPYsAB5wC%26pg%3DPA17&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHonourFleming2005" class="citation book cs1">Honour, Hugh; Fleming, John (2005). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=qGb4pyoseH4C"><i>A World History of Art</i></a>. Laurence King. pp. 228–230. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-85669-451-3" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-85669-451-3"><bdi>978-1-85669-451-3</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A+World+History+of+Art&rft.pages=228-230&rft.pub=Laurence+King&rft.date=2005&rft.isbn=978-1-85669-451-3&rft.aulast=Honour&rft.aufirst=Hugh&rft.au=Fleming%2C+John&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DqGb4pyoseH4C&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEMichell2009336-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009336_6-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFMichell2009">Michell 2009</a>, p. 336.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/242.pdf"><i>Ajanta Caves: Advisory Body Evaluation,</i> UNESCO International Council on Monuments and Sites. 1982. Retrieved 27 October 2006.</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091222054333/https://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/242.pdf">Archived</a> 22 December 2009 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, p. 2.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Johnston2013p18-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Johnston2013p18_8-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Johnston2013p18_8-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Johnston2013p18_8-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Johnston2013p18_8-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Johnston2013p18_8-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCohen2013" class="citation book cs1">Cohen, Richard (2013). Johnston, William M. (ed.). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=iepJAgAAQBAJ"><i>Encyclopedia of Monasticism</i></a>. Routledge. pp. 18–20. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-136-78716-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-136-78716-4"><bdi>978-1-136-78716-4</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Encyclopedia+of+Monasticism&rft.pages=18-20&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=2013&rft.isbn=978-1-136-78716-4&rft.aulast=Cohen&rft.aufirst=Richard&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DiepJAgAAQBAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJamkhedkar2009" class="citation book cs1">Jamkhedkar, Aravinda Prabhakar (2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=HGzqAAAAMAAJ"><i>Ajanta</i></a>. Oxford University Press. pp. 61–62, 71–73. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-569785-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-19-569785-8"><bdi>978-0-19-569785-8</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta&rft.pages=61-62%2C+71-73&rft.pub=Oxford+University+Press&rft.date=2009&rft.isbn=978-0-19-569785-8&rft.aulast=Jamkhedkar&rft.aufirst=Aravinda+Prabhakar&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DHGzqAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242">"<i>Ajanta Caves, India: Brief Description,</i> UNESCO World Heritage Site. Retrieved 27 October 2006"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081218043116/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242">Archived</a> from the original on 18 December 2008<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">26 December</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Ajanta+Caves%2C+India%3A+Brief+Description%2C+UNESCO+World+Heritage+Site.+Retrieved+27+October+2006.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwhc.unesco.org%2Fen%2Flist%2F242&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCohen1998" class="citation journal cs1">Cohen, Richard S. (May 1998). "Nāga, Yakṣiṇī, Buddha: Local Deities and Local Buddhism at Ajanta". <i>History of Religions</i>. <b>37</b> (4). University of Chicago Press: 360–400. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1086%2F463514">10.1086/463514</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3176402">3176402</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:162226757">162226757</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=History+of+Religions&rft.atitle=N%C4%81ga%2C+Yak%E1%B9%A3i%E1%B9%87%C4%AB%2C+Buddha%3A+Local+Deities+and+Local+Buddhism+at+Ajanta&rft.volume=37&rft.issue=4&rft.pages=360-400&rft.date=1998-05&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A162226757%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F3176402%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1086%2F463514&rft.aulast=Cohen&rft.aufirst=Richard+S.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBehlNigam1998" class="citation book cs1">Behl, Benoy K.; Nigam, Sangitika (1998). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=sfLVAAAAMAAJ"><i>The Ajanta caves: artistic wonder of ancient Buddhist India</i></a>. Harry N. Abrams. pp. 164, 226. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8109-1983-9" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-8109-1983-9"><bdi>978-0-8109-1983-9</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Ajanta+caves%3A+artistic+wonder+of+ancient+Buddhist+India&rft.pages=164%2C+226&rft.pub=Harry+N.+Abrams&rft.date=1998&rft.isbn=978-0-8109-1983-9&rft.aulast=Behl&rft.aufirst=Benoy+K.&rft.au=Nigam%2C+Sangitika&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DsfLVAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355–361,_460-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355–361,_460_13-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFHarle1994">Harle 1994</a>, pp. 355–361, 460.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a32,_82-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a32,_82_14-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a32,_82_14-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a32,_82_14-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFCohen2006a">Cohen 2006a</a>, pp. 32, 82.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20073,_139-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20073,_139_15-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 3, 139.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">variously spelled Waghora or Wagura</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242/multiple=1&unique_number=269">Map of Ajanta Caves</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211106080808/http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242/multiple%3D1%26unique_number%3D269">Archived</a> 6 November 2021 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, UNESCO</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSanyal1984" class="citation book cs1">Sanyal, Narayan (1984). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=oD7rAAAAMAAJ"><i>Immortal Ajanta</i></a>. Bharati. p. 7.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Immortal+Ajanta&rft.pages=7&rft.pub=Bharati&rft.date=1984&rft.aulast=Sanyal&rft.aufirst=Narayan&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DoD7rAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20072-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20072_19-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 2.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation book cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=vTJUAAAAMAAJ"><i>Bhusawal Division: Tourism (Ajanta and Ellora)</i></a>. Indian Railways. 1996. pp. 40–43.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Bhusawal+Division%3A+Tourism+%28Ajanta+and+Ellora%29&rft.pages=40-43&rft.pub=Indian+Railways&rft.date=1996&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DvTJUAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994118–122-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994118–122_21-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994118–122_21-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994118–122_21-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFHarle1994">Harle 1994</a>, pp. 118–122.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJamkhedkar2009" class="citation book cs1">Jamkhedkar, Aravinda Prabhakar (2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=HGzqAAAAMAAJ"><i>Ajanta</i></a>. Oxford University Press. pp. 3–5. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-569785-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-19-569785-8"><bdi>978-0-19-569785-8</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta&rft.pages=3-5&rft.pub=Oxford+University+Press&rft.date=2009&rft.isbn=978-0-19-569785-8&rft.aulast=Jamkhedkar&rft.aufirst=Aravinda+Prabhakar&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DHGzqAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20091–2-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20091–2_23-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 1–2.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNicholson2014" class="citation book cs1">Nicholson, Louise (2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=71jZCwAAQBAJ"><i>National Geographic India</i></a>. National Geographic Society. pp. 175–176. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4262-1183-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-4262-1183-6"><bdi>978-1-4262-1183-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=National+Geographic+India&rft.pages=175-176&rft.pub=National+Geographic+Society&rft.date=2014&rft.isbn=978-1-4262-1183-6&rft.aulast=Nicholson&rft.aufirst=Louise&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D71jZCwAAQBAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9_25-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9_25-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9_25-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 4, 9.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ringsalkin14-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-ringsalkin14_26-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ringsalkin14_26-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ringsalkin14_26-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ringsalkin14_26-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ringsalkin14_26-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRingSalkinLa_Boda1994" class="citation book cs1">Ring, Trudy; Salkin, Robert M.; La Boda, Sharon (1994). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=JqHPpNaZfNwC"><i>Asia and Oceania</i></a>. Routledge. pp. 14–19. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-884964-04-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-884964-04-6"><bdi>978-1-884964-04-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Asia+and+Oceania&rft.pages=14-19&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=1994&rft.isbn=978-1-884964-04-6&rft.aulast=Ring&rft.aufirst=Trudy&rft.au=Salkin%2C+Robert+M.&rft.au=La+Boda%2C+Sharon&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DJqHPpNaZfNwC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEMichell2009335–336-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009335–336_27-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFMichell2009">Michell 2009</a>, pp. 335–336.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9,_163–170-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20074,_9,_163–170_28-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 4, 9, 163–170.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20074–6-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20074–6_29-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 4–6.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBehlNigam1998" class="citation book cs1">Behl, Benoy K.; Nigam, Sangitika (1998). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=sfLVAAAAMAAJ"><i>The Ajanta caves: artistic wonder of ancient Buddhist India</i></a>. Harry N. Abrams. pp. 20, 26. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8109-1983-9" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-8109-1983-9"><bdi>978-0-8109-1983-9</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Ajanta+caves%3A+artistic+wonder+of+ancient+Buddhist+India&rft.pages=20%2C+26&rft.pub=Harry+N.+Abrams&rft.date=1998&rft.isbn=978-0-8109-1983-9&rft.aulast=Behl&rft.aufirst=Benoy+K.&rft.au=Nigam%2C+Sangitika&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DsfLVAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span>, <b>Quote:</b> "The caves of the earlier phase at Ajanta date from around the second century BC, during the rule of the Satavahana dynasty. Although the Satavahanas were Hindu rulers, they (...)"</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-31">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Nagaraju 1981, pp. 98–103</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20092-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20092_32-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20092_32-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20092_32-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, p. 2.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-33">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242">UNESCO World Heritage List website</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081218043116/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242">Archived</a> 18 December 2008 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> for example says "The 29 caves were excavated beginning around 200 BC, but they were abandoned in AD 650 in favour of Ellora"</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-cohen83-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-cohen83_34-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-cohen83_34-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-cohen83_34-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFCohen2006a">Cohen 2006a</a>, pp. 83–84 (quote): "Hans Bakker's political history of the Vakataka dynasty observed that Ajanta caves belong to the Buddhist, not the Hindu tradition. That this should be so is already remarkable in itself. By all we know of Harisena he was a Hindu; (...)."</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMalandra1993" class="citation book cs1">Malandra, Geri Hockfield (1993). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/unfoldingmandala0000mala"><i>Unfolding A Mandala: The Buddhist Cave Temples at Ellora</i></a></span>. State University of New York Press. pp. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/unfoldingmandala0000mala/page/5">5</a>–7. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7914-1355-5" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-7914-1355-5"><bdi>978-0-7914-1355-5</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Unfolding+A+Mandala%3A+The+Buddhist+Cave+Temples+at+Ellora&rft.pages=5-7&rft.pub=State+University+of+New+York+Press&rft.date=1993&rft.isbn=978-0-7914-1355-5&rft.aulast=Malandra&rft.aufirst=Geri+Hockfield&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Funfoldingmandala0000mala&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-36">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKleiner2016" class="citation book cs1">Kleiner, Fred S. (2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=UX9TCwAAQBAJ"><i>Gardner's Art through the Ages: A Concise Global History</i></a>. Cengage. p. 468. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-305-57780-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-305-57780-0"><bdi>978-1-305-57780-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Gardner%27s+Art+through+the+Ages%3A+A+Concise+Global+History&rft.pages=468&rft.pub=Cengage&rft.date=2016&rft.isbn=978-1-305-57780-0&rft.aulast=Kleiner&rft.aufirst=Fred+S.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DUX9TCwAAQBAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-37">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">For example, Karl Khandalavala, A. P. Jamkhedkar, and Brahmanand Deshpande. Spink, vol. 2, pp. 117–134</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-38">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSchwartzberg1978" class="citation book cs1">Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=182"><i>A Historical atlas of South Asia</i></a>. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 145, map XIV.1 (i). <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0226742210" title="Special:BookSources/0226742210"><bdi>0226742210</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A+Historical+atlas+of+South+Asia&rft.place=Chicago&rft.pages=145%2C+map+XIV.1+%28i%29&rft.pub=University+of+Chicago+Press&rft.date=1978&rft.isbn=0226742210&rft.aulast=Schwartzberg&rft.aufirst=Joseph+E.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fdsal.uchicago.edu%2Freference%2Fschwartzberg%2Fpager.html%3Fobject%3D182&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-39">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSchastok1985" class="citation book cs1">Schastok, Sara L. (1985). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=jh1fF8HvJmMC&pg=PA40"><i>The Śāmalājī Sculptures and 6th Century Art in Western India</i></a>. Brill Academic. p. 40. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-06941-1" title="Special:BookSources/978-90-04-06941-1"><bdi>978-90-04-06941-1</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+%C5%9A%C4%81mal%C4%81j%C4%AB+Sculptures+and+6th+Century+Art+in+Western+India&rft.pages=40&rft.pub=Brill+Academic&rft.date=1985&rft.isbn=978-90-04-06941-1&rft.aulast=Schastok&rft.aufirst=Sara+L.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Djh1fF8HvJmMC%26pg%3DPA40&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2006127-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2006127_40-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2006">Spink 2006</a>, p. 127.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20092–3-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20092–3_41-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 2–3.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a81–82-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a81–82_42-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFCohen2006a">Cohen 2006a</a>, pp. 81–82.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-43">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 4–6, for the briefest summary of his chronology. Developed at great length in his <i>Ajanta: History and Development</i> 2005.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources"><span title="A complete citation is needed. (March 2021)">full citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20075–6,_160–161-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20075–6,_160–161_44-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 5–6, 160–161.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2005a7-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2005a7_45-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2005a">Spink 2005a</a>, p. 7.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-46">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFAuctores_Varii2016" class="citation book cs1">Auctores Varii (2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=fS34CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA59"><i>Ajanta Dipinta - Painted Ajanta Vol. 1 e 2: Studio sulla tecnica e sulla conservazione del sito rupestre indiano - Studies on the techniques and the conservation of the indian rock art site</i></a>. Gangemi Editore. pp. 58–59. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8849274905" title="Special:BookSources/978-8849274905"><bdi>978-8849274905</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta+Dipinta+-+Painted+Ajanta+Vol.+1+e+2%3A+Studio+sulla+tecnica+e+sulla+conservazione+del+sito+rupestre+indiano+-+Studies+on+the+techniques+and+the+conservation+of+the+indian+rock+art+site&rft.pages=58-59&rft.pub=Gangemi+Editore&rft.date=2016&rft.isbn=978-8849274905&rft.au=Auctores+Varii&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DfS34CwAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPA59&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-47">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBrancaccio2010" class="citation book cs1">Brancaccio, Pia (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=m_4pXm7dD78C&pg=PA106"><i>The Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformations in Art and Religion</i></a>. Brill. pp. 105–106. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9004185258" title="Special:BookSources/978-9004185258"><bdi>978-9004185258</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Buddhist+Caves+at+Aurangabad%3A+Transformations+in+Art+and+Religion&rft.pages=105-106&rft.pub=Brill&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=978-9004185258&rft.aulast=Brancaccio&rft.aufirst=Pia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dm_4pXm7dD78C%26pg%3DPA106&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-48">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBrancaccio2010" class="citation book cs1">Brancaccio, Pia (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=m_4pXm7dD78C&pg=PA107"><i>The Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformations in Art and Religion</i></a>. Brill. pp. 106–107. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9004185258" title="Special:BookSources/978-9004185258"><bdi>978-9004185258</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Buddhist+Caves+at+Aurangabad%3A+Transformations+in+Art+and+Religion&rft.pages=106-107&rft.pub=Brill&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=978-9004185258&rft.aulast=Brancaccio&rft.aufirst=Pia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dm_4pXm7dD78C%26pg%3DPA107&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a77–78-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a77–78_49-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a77–78_49-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFCohen2006a">Cohen 2006a</a>, pp. 77–78.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-50">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 139 and 3 (quote): "Going down into the ravine where the caves were cut, he scratched his inscription (John Smith, 28th Cavalry, 28th April, 1819) across the innocent chest of a painted Buddha image on the thirteenth pillar on the right in Cave 10..."</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19943-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19943_51-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFUpadhya1994">Upadhya 1994</a>, p. 3.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGordon2011231–234-52"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGordon2011231–234_52-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGordon2011">Gordon 2011</a>, pp. 231–234.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51–58-53"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51–58_53-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51–58_53-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFCohen2006a">Cohen 2006a</a>, pp. 51–58.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Nizam-54"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Nizam_54-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSur2018" class="citation news cs1">Sur, Aihik (3 July 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2018/jul/03/ajanta-cave-paintings-of-nizam-era-lie-in-a-state-of-neglect-1837405.html">"Ajanta cave paintings of Nizam era lie in a state of neglect"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/New_Indian_Express" class="mw-redirect" title="New Indian Express">New Indian Express</a></i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=New+Indian+Express&rft.atitle=Ajanta+cave+paintings+of+Nizam+era+lie+in+a+state+of+neglect&rft.date=2018-07-03&rft.aulast=Sur&rft.aufirst=Aihik&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fcities%2Fhyderabad%2F2018%2Fjul%2F03%2Fajanta-cave-paintings-of-nizam-era-lie-in-a-state-of-neglect-1837405.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51-55"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51_55-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a51_55-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFCohen2006a">Cohen 2006a</a>, p. 51.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-56"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-56">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFCohen2006a">Cohen (2006a)</a>, chapter 2 discusses the history and future of visitors to Ajanta.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-57"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-57">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120809232804/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-05/pune/33048793_1_caves-ellora-centre">"Tourist centre to house replicas of Ajanta caves"</a>, <a href="/wiki/The_Times_of_India" title="The Times of India">The Times of India</a>, 5 August 2012, accessed 24 October 2012; see <a href="#CITEREFCohen2006a">Cohen (2006a)</a>, p. 51 for an earlier version of the proposal, recreating caves 16, 17 and 21.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-58"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-58">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">"horizontally bedded alternate flows of massive and <a href="/wiki/Amygdule" title="Amygdule">amygdular</a> lava" is a technical description quoted by <a href="#CITEREFCohen2006a">Cohen (2006a)</a>, p. 37</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200713–14-59"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200713–14_59-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200713–14_59-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 13–14.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200728-60"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200728_60-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 28.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200910-61"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200910_61-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, p. 10.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEMichell2009340-62"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009340_62-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFMichell2009">Michell 2009</a>, p. 340.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200721–24,_38,_74–76,_115,_151–153,_280-63"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200721–24,_38,_74–76,_115,_151–153,_280_63-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 21–24, 38, 74–76, 115, 151–153, 280.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20075,_15,_32–33,_80,_249-64"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20075,_15,_32–33,_80,_249_64-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 5, 15, 32–33, 80, 249.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20075,_15,_32–33,_80,_126–130,_249–259-65"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20075,_15,_32–33,_80,_126–130,_249–259_65-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 5, 15, 32–33, 80, 126–130, 249–259.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200773–85,_100–104,_182-66"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200773–85,_100–104,_182_66-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 73–85, 100–104, 182.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200718,_37,_45–46-67"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200718,_37,_45–46_67-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 18, 37, 45–46.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007148-68"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007148_68-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 148.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEMichell2009335–343-69"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009335–343_69-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009335–343_69-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFMichell2009">Michell 2009</a>, pp. 335–343.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007142-70"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007142_70-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 142.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEMichell2009338-71"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009338_71-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFMichell2009">Michell 2009</a>, p. 338.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-72"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-72">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKleiner2016" class="citation book cs1">Kleiner, Fred S. (2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=UX9TCwAAQBAJ"><i>Gardner's Art through the Ages: A Concise Global History</i></a>. Cengage. pp. 467–468. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-305-57780-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-305-57780-0"><bdi>978-1-305-57780-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Gardner%27s+Art+through+the+Ages%3A+A+Concise+Global+History&rft.pages=467-468&rft.pub=Cengage&rft.date=2016&rft.isbn=978-1-305-57780-0&rft.aulast=Kleiner&rft.aufirst=Fred+S.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DUX9TCwAAQBAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19947–8,_10-73"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19947–8,_10_73-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19947–8,_10_73-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19947–8,_10_73-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19947–8,_10_73-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFUpadhya1994">Upadhya 1994</a>, pp. 7–8, 10.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-74"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-74">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJainGarg2004" class="citation journal cs1">Jain, Rajesh K.; Garg, Rajeev (2004). "Rock-Cut Congregational Spaces in Ancient India". <i>Architectural Science Review</i>. <b>47</b> (2): 199–203. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1080%2F00038628.2004.9697044">10.1080/00038628.2004.9697044</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:110386714">110386714</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Architectural+Science+Review&rft.atitle=Rock-Cut+Congregational+Spaces+in+Ancient+India&rft.volume=47&rft.issue=2&rft.pages=199-203&rft.date=2004&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1080%2F00038628.2004.9697044&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A110386714%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft.aulast=Jain&rft.aufirst=Rajesh+K.&rft.au=Garg%2C+Rajeev&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-75"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-75">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFVasant2000" class="citation journal cs1">Vasant, Suresh (2000). "Tulja Leni and Kondivte Caitya-gṛhas: A Structural Analysis". <i>Ars Orientalis</i>. <b>30</b>: 23–32. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/4629566">4629566</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Ars+Orientalis&rft.atitle=Tulja+Leni+and+Kondivte+Caitya-g%E1%B9%9Bhas%3A+A+Structural+Analysis&rft.volume=30&rft.pages=23-32&rft.date=2000&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F4629566%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.aulast=Vasant&rft.aufirst=Suresh&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-76"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-76">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFEfurd2013" class="citation book cs1">Efurd, David (2013). Rujivacharakul, Vimalin; Hahn, H. Hazel; et al. (eds.). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=FCoWAgAAQBAJ"><i>Architecturalized Asia: Mapping a Continent through History</i></a>. Hong Kong University Press. pp. 140–145. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-988-8208-05-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-988-8208-05-0"><bdi>978-988-8208-05-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Architecturalized+Asia%3A+Mapping+a+Continent+through+History&rft.pages=140-145&rft.pub=Hong+Kong+University+Press&rft.date=2013&rft.isbn=978-988-8208-05-0&rft.aulast=Efurd&rft.aufirst=David&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DFCoWAgAAQBAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-77"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-77">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBorn1943" class="citation journal cs1">Born, Wolfgang (1943). "The Origin and the Distribution of the Bulbous Dome". <i>The Journal of the American Society of Architectural Historians</i>. <b>3</b> (4): 32–48. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.2307%2F901122">10.2307/901122</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/901122">901122</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Journal+of+the+American+Society+of+Architectural+Historians&rft.atitle=The+Origin+and+the+Distribution+of+the+Bulbous+Dome&rft.volume=3&rft.issue=4&rft.pages=32-48&rft.date=1943&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.2307%2F901122&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F901122%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.aulast=Born&rft.aufirst=Wolfgang&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200712,_94,_161–162,_228-78"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200712,_94,_161–162,_228_78-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 12, 94, 161–162, 228.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-79"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-79">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBellows2008" class="citation book cs1">Bellows, Keith (2008). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=jNqDFSxR8-MC&pg=PA125"><i>Sacred Places of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Most Peaceful and Powerful Destinations</i></a>. National Geographic Society. p. 125. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4262-0336-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-4262-0336-7"><bdi>978-1-4262-0336-7</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Sacred+Places+of+a+Lifetime%3A+500+of+the+World%27s+Most+Peaceful+and+Powerful+Destinations&rft.pages=125&rft.pub=National+Geographic+Society&rft.date=2008&rft.isbn=978-1-4262-0336-7&rft.aulast=Bellows&rft.aufirst=Keith&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DjNqDFSxR8-MC%26pg%3DPA125&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-80"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-80">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">UNESCO, <i>Brief description</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEMichell2009339-81"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMichell2009339_81-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFMichell2009">Michell 2009</a>, p. 339.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200712–13-82"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200712–13_82-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 12–13.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-83"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-83">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 18, and in the accounts of individual caves; <a href="#CITEREFMichell2009">Michell 2009</a>, p. 336.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-84"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-84">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Arthur Anthony Macdonell (1909), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/41338504">"The Buddhist and Hindu Architecture of India"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181215174933/https://www.jstor.org/stable/41338504">Archived</a> 15 December 2018 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <i>Journal of the Royal Society of Arts</i>, Vol. 57, No. 2937 (5 March 1909), pp. 316–329</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–11,_14–15-85"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–11,_14–15_85-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–11,_14–15_85-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–11,_14–15_85-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFUpadhya1994">Upadhya 1994</a>, pp. 9–11, 14–15.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-86"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-86">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://amp.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/aug/15/mural-ajanta-caves-india-birth-indian-art">"The Ajanta cave murals: 'nothing less than the birth of Indian art' | Painting | The Guardian"</a>. <i>amp.theguardian.com</i>. 15 August 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">6 July</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=amp.theguardian.com&rft.atitle=The+Ajanta+cave+murals%3A+%27nothing+less+than+the+birth+of+Indian+art%27+%7C+Painting+%7C+The+Guardian&rft.date=2014-08-15&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Famp.theguardian.com%2Fartanddesign%2F2014%2Faug%2F15%2Fmural-ajanta-caves-india-birth-indian-art&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-RingWatson2012p17-87"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-RingWatson2012p17_87-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-RingWatson2012p17_87-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRingWatsonSchellinger2012" class="citation book cs1">Ring, Trudy; Watson, Noelle; Schellinger, Paul (2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=voerPYsAB5wC&pg=PA17"><i>Asia and Oceania: International Dictionary of Historic Places</i></a>. Routledge. pp. 17–19. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-136-63979-1" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-136-63979-1"><bdi>978-1-136-63979-1</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Asia+and+Oceania%3A+International+Dictionary+of+Historic+Places&rft.pages=17-19&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=2012&rft.isbn=978-1-136-63979-1&rft.aulast=Ring&rft.aufirst=Trudy&rft.au=Watson%2C+Noelle&rft.au=Schellinger%2C+Paul&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DvoerPYsAB5wC%26pg%3DPA17&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009147–148-88"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009147–148_88-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009147–148_88-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 147–148.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84-89"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84_89-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84_89-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84_89-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84_89-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84_89-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19949–14,_68–84_89-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFUpadhya1994">Upadhya 1994</a>, pp. 9–14, 68–84.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355-90"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355_90-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355_90-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFHarle1994">Harle 1994</a>, p. 355.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-91"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-91">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBrancaccio2010" class="citation book cs1">Brancaccio, Pia (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=m_4pXm7dD78C&pg=PA107"><i>The Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformations in Art and Religion</i></a>. Brill. p. 107. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9004185258" title="Special:BookSources/978-9004185258"><bdi>978-9004185258</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Buddhist+Caves+at+Aurangabad%3A+Transformations+in+Art+and+Religion&rft.pages=107&rft.pub=Brill&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=978-9004185258&rft.aulast=Brancaccio&rft.aufirst=Pia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dm_4pXm7dD78C%26pg%3DPA107&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994356-92"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994356_92-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFHarle1994">Harle 1994</a>, p. 356.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355–361-93"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355–361_93-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994355–361_93-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFHarle1994">Harle 1994</a>, pp. 355–361.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994359-94"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994359_94-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994359_94-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFHarle1994">Harle 1994</a>, p. 359.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994361-95"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994361_95-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFHarle1994">Harle 1994</a>, p. 361.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Spink_2008-96"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Spink_2008_96-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Spink_2008_96-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSpink2008" class="citation web cs1">Spink, Walter M. (May 2008) [revised September 2008]. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210618031156/http://www.walterspink.com/ajanta/ajanta-lecture">"Ajanta Lecture, Korea"</a>. <i>WalterSpink</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.walterspink.com/ajanta/ajanta-lecture">the original</a> on 18 June 2021<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">6 March</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=WalterSpink&rft.atitle=Ajanta+Lecture%2C+Korea&rft.date=2008-05&rft.aulast=Spink&rft.aufirst=Walter+M.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walterspink.com%2Fajanta%2Fajanta-lecture&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200728–29-97"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200728–29_97-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 28–29.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009148,_Figure_46-98"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009148,_Figure_46_98-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, p. 148, Figure 46.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009201–202-99"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009201–202_99-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009201–202_99-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 201–202.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-100"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-100">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMichellDavies1989" class="citation book cs1">Michell, George; Davies, Philip H. (1989). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=eqtNAAAAYAAJ"><i>The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India: Buddhist, Jain, Hindu</i></a>. Penguin. p. 340. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0670806966" title="Special:BookSources/978-0670806966"><bdi>978-0670806966</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Penguin+Guide+to+the+Monuments+of+India%3A+Buddhist%2C+Jain%2C+Hindu&rft.pages=340&rft.pub=Penguin&rft.date=1989&rft.isbn=978-0670806966&rft.aulast=Michell&rft.aufirst=George&rft.au=Davies%2C+Philip+H.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DeqtNAAAAYAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196291-101"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196291_101-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, p. 91.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20071–16-102"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20071–16_102-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 1–16.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20074–5-103"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20074–5_103-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 4–5.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20075–6-104"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20075–6_104-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 5–6.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20076-105"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20076_105-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 6.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-106"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-106">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, p. xx (quoted); <a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 15–16</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007180-107"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007180_107-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007180_107-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007180_107-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007180_107-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 180.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-AjantaASI-108"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-AjantaASI_108-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMitra2004" class="citation book cs1">Mitra, Debala (2004). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/ajanta00mitr"><i>Ajanta</i></a>. Archaeological Survey of India. pp. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/ajanta00mitr/page/94">94</a>–95. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788187780199" title="Special:BookSources/9788187780199"><bdi>9788187780199</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta&rft.pages=94-95&rft.pub=Archaeological+Survey+of+India&rft.date=2004&rft.isbn=9788187780199&rft.aulast=Mitra&rft.aufirst=Debala&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fajanta00mitr&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ASI_Ajanta-109"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-ASI_Ajanta_109-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ASI_Ajanta_109-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ASI_Ajanta_109-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ASI_Ajanta_109-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation book cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://nmma.nic.in/nmma/nmma_doc/Indian%20Archaeology%20Review/Indian%20Archaeology%202000-2001%20A%20Review.pdf"><i>Indian Archaeology 2000-2001 A Review</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. Archaeological Society of India. 2001. pp. 92–98. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://nmma.nic.in/nmma/nmma_doc/Indian%20Archaeology%20Review/Indian%20Archaeology%202000-2001%20A%20Review.pdf">Archived</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> from the original on 9 October 2022.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Indian+Archaeology+2000-2001+A+Review&rft.pages=92-98&rft.pub=Archaeological+Society+of+India&rft.date=2001&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fnmma.nic.in%2Fnmma%2Fnmma_doc%2FIndian%2520Archaeology%2520Review%2FIndian%2520Archaeology%25202000-2001%2520A%2520Review.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-The_Early_Development_of_the_Cave_2-110"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-The_Early_Development_of_the_Cave_2_110-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-The_Early_Development_of_the_Cave_2_110-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">"Recent excavations have unearthed valuable material including a brick monastery that had a stūpa, a gold coin of the Byzantine King Theodosius, an image of Mahiṣāsuramardinī, implements, vessels, and other objects. For a full report, see 'Excavation at Ajanta: District Aurangabad', in Indian Archaeology 2000 2001 A Review (New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India, 2006), pp. 92-97" in <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSingh2012" class="citation journal cs1">Singh, Rajesh Kumar (2012). "The Early Development of the Cave 26-Complex at Ajanta". <i>South Asian Studies</i>. <b>28</b> (1): 37–68. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1080%2F02666030.2012.659906">10.1080/02666030.2012.659906</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:161425050">161425050</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=South+Asian+Studies&rft.atitle=The+Early+Development+of+the+Cave+26-Complex+at+Ajanta&rft.volume=28&rft.issue=1&rft.pages=37-68&rft.date=2012&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1080%2F02666030.2012.659906&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A161425050%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft.aulast=Singh&rft.aufirst=Rajesh+Kumar&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200914_with_footnote_3-111"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200914_with_footnote_3_111-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, p. 14 with footnote 3.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-112"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-112">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFYokochi2004" class="citation book cs1">Yokochi, Yuko (2004). Bakker, Hans (ed.). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=7CFuAAAAMAAJ"><i>The Vākāṭaka Heritage: Indian Culture at the Crossroads</i></a>. Egbert Forsten. pp. 172, context: 167–178. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-6980-148-3" title="Special:BookSources/978-90-6980-148-3"><bdi>978-90-6980-148-3</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+V%C4%81k%C4%81%E1%B9%ADaka+Heritage%3A+Indian+Culture+at+the+Crossroads&rft.pages=172%2C+context%3A+167-178&rft.pub=Egbert+Forsten&rft.date=2004&rft.isbn=978-90-6980-148-3&rft.aulast=Yokochi&rft.aufirst=Yuko&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D7CFuAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200717,_31-113"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200717,_31_113-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 17, 31.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200717-114"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200717_114-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 17.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-115"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-115">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/g/019pho0001000s4u00462000.html">1869 photo by Robert Gill</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140323194744/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/g/019pho0001000s4u00462000.html">Archived</a> 23 March 2014 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> at the <a href="/wiki/British_Library" title="British Library">British Library</a>, showing the porch already rather less than "half-intact"</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-asicave1to29-116"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-7"><sup><i><b>h</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-8"><sup><i><b>i</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-9"><sup><i><b>j</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-10"><sup><i><b>k</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-11"><sup><i><b>l</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-12"><sup><i><b>m</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-13"><sup><i><b>n</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-14"><sup><i><b>o</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-15"><sup><i><b>p</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-16"><sup><i><b>q</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-17"><sup><i><b>r</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-18"><sup><i><b>s</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-19"><sup><i><b>t</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-20"><sup><i><b>u</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-21"><sup><i><b>v</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-22"><sup><i><b>w</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-23"><sup><i><b>x</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-24"><sup><i><b>y</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-25"><sup><i><b>z</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-26"><sup><i><b>aa</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-27"><sup><i><b>ab</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-28"><sup><i><b>ac</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-29"><sup><i><b>ad</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asicave1to29_116-30"><sup><i><b>ae</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120501151253/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_ajanta_caves.asp">"World Heritage Sites – About Ajanta Caves 01 to 29"</a>. Archaeological Survey of India. 2015. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_ajanta_caves.asp">the original</a> on 1 May 2012<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">22 October</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=World+Heritage+Sites+%E2%80%93+About+Ajanta+Caves+01+to+29&rft.pub=Archaeological+Survey+of+India&rft.date=2015&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fasi.nic.in%2Fasi_monu_whs_ajanta_caves.asp&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200717–21-117"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200717–21_117-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 17–21.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200720–23-118"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200720–23_118-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 20–23.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200729–31-119"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200729–31_119-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 29–31.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarle1994359–361-120"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarle1994359–361_120-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFHarle1994">Harle 1994</a>, pp. 359–361.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200978,_132–135-121"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200978,_132–135_121-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 78, 132–135.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-122"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-122">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://dcl.elevator.umn.edu/asset/viewAsset/56d1729c7d58aed50a8c4a98#56d1729d7d58aed50a8c4a9c">"Mahajanaka Jataka: Ajanta Cave 1"</a>. <i>University of Minnesota</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=University+of+Minnesota&rft.atitle=Mahajanaka+Jataka%3A+Ajanta+Cave+1&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fdcl.elevator.umn.edu%2Fasset%2FviewAsset%2F56d1729c7d58aed50a8c4a98%2356d1729d7d58aed50a8c4a9c&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-behlpaint-123"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-behlpaint_123-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-behlpaint_123-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-behlpaint_123-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Benoy Behl (2004), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2120/stories/20041008000106400.htm">Ajanta, the fountainhead</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221123135903/https://frontline.thehindu.com/">Archived</a> 23 November 2022 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Frontline, Volume 21, Issue 20</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196232–33,_Plate_XI-124"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196232–33,_Plate_XI_124-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 32–33, Plate XI.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan19628–9,_Plate_IV-125"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan19628–9,_Plate_IV_125-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 8–9, Plate IV.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009138–140-126"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009138–140_126-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 138–140.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-127"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-127">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSubramanian_Swaminathan" class="citation web cs1">Subramanian Swaminathan. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.saigan.com/heritage/painting/ajanta/ajanta15.html">"Paintings"</a>. <i>saigan.com</i>. <q>Kinnara playing Kachchapa Vina, Padmapani Panel, Cave 1</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=saigan.com&rft.atitle=Paintings&rft.au=Subramanian+Swaminathan&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.saigan.com%2Fheritage%2Fpainting%2Fajanta%2Fajanta15.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200974–75-128"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200974–75_128-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200974–75_128-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 74–75.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-picron245-129"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-picron245_129-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-picron245_129-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Claudine Bautze-Picron (2002), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/29757545">Nidhis and Other Images of Richness and Fertility in Ajaṇṭā</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180923163102/https://www.jstor.org/stable/29757545">Archived</a> 23 September 2018 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, East and West, Vol. 52, No. 1/4 (December 2002), pp. 245–251</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009150–152-130"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009150–152_130-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009150–152_130-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 150–152.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20077–8,_40–43-131"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20077–8,_40–43_131-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 7–8, 40–43.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200740–54-132"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200740–54_132-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200740–54_132-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 40–54.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196248–49,_Plates_XVII–XX-133"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196248–49,_Plates_XVII–XX_133-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196248–49,_Plates_XVII–XX_133-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 48–49, Plates XVII–XX.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2005b3–4,_91_footnote_59,_259-134"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2005b3–4,_91_footnote_59,_259_134-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2005b">Spink 2005b</a>, pp. 3–4, 91 footnote 59, 259.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20078-135"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078_135-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078_135-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 8.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-136"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-136">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">(Spink 2005–2013)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200758–61-137"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200758–61_137-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200758–61_137-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200758–61_137-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 58–61.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200953–55-138"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200953–55_138-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200953–55_138-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 53–55.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200781–82-139"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200781–82_139-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 81–82.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199410–11-140"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199410–11_140-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199410–11_140-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199410–11_140-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFUpadhya1994">Upadhya 1994</a>, pp. 10–11.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200783–89,_98–103-141"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200783–89,_98–103_141-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 83–89, 98–103.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200783–91-142"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200783–91_142-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 83–91.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200790–93-143"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200790–93_143-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 90–93.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200798–99-144"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200798–99_144-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 98–99.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2005b93,_193–194-145"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2005b93,_193–194_145-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2005b93,_193–194_145-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2005b">Spink 2005b</a>, pp. 93, 193–194.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200987,_169–170-146"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200987,_169–170_146-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200987,_169–170_146-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 87, 169–170.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200966–67-147"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200966–67_147-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 66–67.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196274–75-148"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196274–75_148-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 74–75.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196276–77-149"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196276–77_149-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 76–77.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink201497,_99_figures_32–33-150"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201497,_99_figures_32–33_150-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2014">Spink 2014</a>, pp. 97, 99 figures 32–33.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277-151"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277_151-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277_151-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277_151-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277_151-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, p. 77.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_87–89-152"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_87–89_152-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_87–89_152-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_87–89_152-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. xii, 87–89.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9-153"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9_153-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9_153-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9_153-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 8–9.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200987–89-154"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200987–89_154-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 87–89.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-155"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-155">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/ajanta-cave-no-8/nQHlGRr2Q_zX_w">ajanta-cave-no-8</a> <i>Google Arts & Culture</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9,_127–130-156"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9,_127–130_156-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20078–9,_127–130_156-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 8–9, 127–130.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200910,_88-157"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200910,_88_157-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 10, 88.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007131–132-158"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007131–132_158-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a 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href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007131–135_161-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 131–135.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_1–3-162"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii,_1–3_162-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. xii, 1–3.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277–78-163"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277–78_163-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196277–78_163-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 77–78.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-164"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-164">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/streetview/ajanta-cave-no-10/MQFuFVppaC4MXQ">ajanta-cave-no-10</a><sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot"><span title=" Dead link tagged June 2024">dead link</span></a></i><span style="visibility:hidden; color:transparent; padding-left:2px">‍</span>]</span></sup> <i>Google Arts & Culture</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20091-165"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20091_165-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20091_165-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20091_165-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20091_165-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20091_165-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, 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Grafikol. p. 108. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0984404308" title="Special:BookSources/978-0984404308"><bdi>978-0984404308</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Buddhist+Architecture&rft.pages=108&rft.pub=Grafikol&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=978-0984404308&rft.aulast=Le&rft.aufirst=Huu+Phuoc&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D9jb364g4BvoC%26pg%3DPA108&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-168"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-168">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSivaramamurti" class="citation book cs1">Sivaramamurti, C. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=buqSDwAAQBAJ&pg=PP31"><i>Vijaynagra Paintings</i></a>. Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. p. 31. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788123030005" title="Special:BookSources/9788123030005"><bdi>9788123030005</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Vijaynagra+Paintings&rft.pages=31&rft.pub=Publications+Division+Ministry+of+Information+%26+Broadcasting&rft.isbn=9788123030005&rft.aulast=Sivaramamurti&rft.aufirst=C.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DbuqSDwAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPP31&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-170"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-170">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBurgessIndrājī1881" class="citation book cs1">Burgess, James; Indrājī, Bhagvānlal (1881). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/stream/inscriptionsfro00indrgoog#page/n143/mode/2up"><i>Inscriptions from the Cave-temples of Western India: With Descriptive Notes &c</i></a>. Government Central Press. pp. 67–68.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Inscriptions+from+the+Cave-temples+of+Western+India%3A+With+Descriptive+Notes+%26c.&rft.pages=67-68&rft.pub=Government+Central+Press&rft.date=1881&rft.aulast=Burgess&rft.aufirst=James&rft.au=Indr%C4%81j%C4%AB%2C+Bhagv%C4%81nlal&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fstream%2Finscriptionsfro00indrgoog%23page%2Fn143%2Fmode%2F2up&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007101–103,_137–139,_184-171"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007101–103,_137–139,_184_171-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 101–103, 137–139, 184.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20092–3,_135–137-172"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20092–3,_135–137_172-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 2–3, 135–137.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-173"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-173">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSchlingloff1987" class="citation book cs1">Schlingloff, Dieter (1987). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=RsbqAAAAMAAJ"><i>Studies in the Ajanta paintings: identifications and interpretations</i></a>. South Asia Books. pp. 24–27. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120201736" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120201736"><bdi>978-8120201736</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Studies+in+the+Ajanta+paintings%3A+identifications+and+interpretations&rft.pages=24-27&rft.pub=South+Asia+Books&rft.date=1987&rft.isbn=978-8120201736&rft.aulast=Schlingloff&rft.aufirst=Dieter&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DRsbqAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEKramrisch1994293–295-174"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKramrisch1994293–295_174-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKramrisch1994293–295_174-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFKramrisch1994">Kramrisch 1994</a>, pp. 293–295.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-175"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-175">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/other/019xzz000000590u00005000.html">Ajunta. Interior of Chaitya Cave No 10</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221123135903/https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/other/019xzz000000590u00005000.html">Archived</a> 23 November 2022 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Dibdin, Thomas Colman (1810–1893) (1839), British Library Archives</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-176"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-176">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation journal cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/jiabs/article/viewFile/8536/2443">"An Exceptional Group of Painted Buddha Figures at Ajanṭā"</a>. <i>The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies</i>. <b>4</b> (I). 1981.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Journal+of+the+International+Association+of+Buddhist+Studies&rft.atitle=An+Exceptional+Group+of+Painted+Buddha+Figures+at+Ajan%E1%B9%AD%C4%81&rft.volume=4&rft.issue=I&rft.date=1981&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fjournals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de%2Findex.php%2Fjiabs%2Farticle%2FviewFile%2F8536%2F2443&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82-177"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82_177-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82_177-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82_177-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82_177-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196281–82_177-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 81–82.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESingh2021302-178"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESingh2021302_178-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSingh2021">Singh 2021</a>, p. 302.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20061-179"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20061_179-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2006">Spink 2006</a>, p. 1.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196282–83-180"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196282–83_180-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196282–83_180-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196282–83_180-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 82–83.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007178-181"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007178_181-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007178_181-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007178_181-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007178_181-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 178.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-182"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-182">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation book cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://nmma.nic.in/nmma/nmma_doc/Indian%20Archaeology%20Review/Indian%20Archaeology%201955-56%20%20A%20Review.pdf"><i>Indian Archaeology 1955-56 review</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. p. 72. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://nmma.nic.in/nmma/nmma_doc/Indian%20Archaeology%20Review/Indian%20Archaeology%201955-56%20%20A%20Review.pdf">Archived</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> from the original on 9 October 2022.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Indian+Archaeology+1955-56+review&rft.pages=72&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fnmma.nic.in%2Fnmma%2Fnmma_doc%2FIndian%2520Archaeology%2520Review%2FIndian%2520Archaeology%25201955-56%2520%2520A%2520Review.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-183"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-183">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/ajanta-cave-no-16/EQHGrRl_AS01EA">ajanta-cave-no-16</a> <i>Google Arts & Culture</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-184"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-184">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation book cs1 cs1-prop-script cs1-prop-foreign-lang-source"> <bdi lang="mr">९ . दक्षिण भारतातील प्राचिन राज्ये</bdi>. <i>History and Sociology class sixth</i> <bdi lang="mr">इतिहास आणि नागरिकशास्त्र इयत्ता सहावी</bdi> [<i>9 . Ancient kingdoms of South India</i>] (High-school Textbook) (in Marathi) (5th ed.). Pune: Maharashtra rajya pathyapustak nirmiti va sanshodhak mandal. 2021. p. 44.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=%E0%A5%AF+.+%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A3+%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B2+%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8+%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%87&rft.btitle=History+and+Sociology+class+sixth+%E0%A4%87%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8+%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%BF+%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0+%E0%A4%87%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%80&rft.place=Pune&rft.pages=44&rft.edition=5th&rft.pub=Maharashtra+rajya+pathyapustak+nirmiti+va+sanshodhak+mandal&rft.date=2021&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007179–181-185"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007179–181_185-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007179–181_185-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 179–181.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-186"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-186">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">For a full translation of the inscription see: <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBurgessBhagvānlal1881" class="citation book cs1">Burgess, James; Bhagvānlal, Indrājī (1881). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/inscriptionsfro00indrgoog"><i>Inscriptions from the Cave-temples of Western India: With Descriptive Notes &c</i></a>. Government Central Press. pp. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/inscriptionsfro00indrgoog/page/n148">71</a>–73.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Inscriptions+from+the+Cave-temples+of+Western+India%3A+With+Descriptive+Notes+%26c.&rft.pages=71-73&rft.pub=Government+Central+Press&rft.date=1881&rft.aulast=Burgess&rft.aufirst=James&rft.au=Bhagv%C4%81nlal%2C+Indr%C4%81j%C4%AB&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Finscriptionsfro00indrgoog&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-187"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-187">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Walter M. Spink (1975), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/4629287">Ajantā's Chronology: The Crucial Cave</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173420/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4629287">Archived</a> 15 December 2018 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Ars Orientalis, Vol. 10 (1975), Freer Gallery of Art, The Smithsonian Institution, pp. 143–169</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-188"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-188">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDhavalikar1969" class="citation journal cs1">Dhavalikar, M. K. (1969). "Sri Yugadhara: A Master-Artist of Ajanta". <i>Artibus Asiae</i>. <b>31</b> (4): 301–307. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.2307%2F3249338">10.2307/3249338</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3249338">3249338</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Artibus+Asiae&rft.atitle=Sri+Yugadhara%3A+A+Master-Artist+of+Ajanta&rft.volume=31&rft.issue=4&rft.pages=301-307&rft.date=1969&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.2307%2F3249338&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F3249338%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.aulast=Dhavalikar&rft.aufirst=M.+K.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007181–183-189"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007181–183_189-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 181–183.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196283–84-190"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196283–84_190-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196283–84_190-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196283–84_190-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 83–84.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009ix–xiii-191"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009ix–xiii_191-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. ix–xiii.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-192"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-192">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFrancisThomas2014" class="citation book cs1">Francis, H. T.; Thomas, E. J. (2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=WYjRAwAAQBAJ"><i>Jataka Tales</i></a>. Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–10, 168, 389 with footnotes. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-107-41851-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-107-41851-6"><bdi>978-1-107-41851-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Jataka+Tales&rft.pages=1-10%2C+168%2C+389+with+footnotes&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft.date=2014&rft.isbn=978-1-107-41851-6&rft.aulast=Francis&rft.aufirst=H.+T.&rft.au=Thomas%2C+E.+J.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DWYjRAwAAQBAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-193"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-193">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFYazdani1964" class="citation book cs1">Yazdani, G (1964). <i>Ajanta: Part I</i>. Oxford University Press. pp. 4–6. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/2980379">2980379</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta%3A+Part+I&rft.pages=4-6&rft.pub=Oxford+University+Press&rft.date=1964&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F2980379&rft.aulast=Yazdani&rft.aufirst=G&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196284–85-195"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196284–85_195-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196284–85_195-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 84–85.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196285–86-196"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196285–86_196-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 85–86.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Dehejia1997p210-197"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Dehejia1997p210_197-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Dehejia1997p210_197-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Dehejia1997p210_197-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Dehejia1997p210_197-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDehejia1997" class="citation book cs1">Dehejia, Vidya (1997). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Lb6fAAAAMAAJ"><i>Discourse in early Buddhist art: visual narratives of India</i></a>. Munshiram Manoharlal. pp. 210–229. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8121507363" title="Special:BookSources/978-8121507363"><bdi>978-8121507363</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Discourse+in+early+Buddhist+art%3A+visual+narratives+of+India&rft.pages=210-229&rft.pub=Munshiram+Manoharlal&rft.date=1997&rft.isbn=978-8121507363&rft.aulast=Dehejia&rft.aufirst=Vidya&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DLb6fAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88-198"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88_198-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88_198-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88_198-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88_198-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88_198-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196286–88_198-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 86–88.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200974-199"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200974_199-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, p. 74.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-200"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-200">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFYazdani1964" class="citation book cs1">Yazdani, G (1964). <i>Ajanta: Part III</i>. Oxford University Press. pp. 49–56. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/2980379">2980379</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta%3A+Part+III&rft.pages=49-56&rft.pub=Oxford+University+Press&rft.date=1964&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F2980379&rft.aulast=Yazdani&rft.aufirst=G&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-201"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-201">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/ajanta-cave-no-17/CwH58-jTd0lSdQ">ajanta-cave-no-17</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220603172232/https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/ajanta-cave-no-17/CwH58-jTd0lSdQ">Archived</a> 3 June 2022 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> <i>Google Arts & Culture</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007179–180,_203–209-202"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007179–180,_203–209_202-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 179–180, 203–209.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200967–68-203"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200967–68_203-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 67–68.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196288–90-204"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196288–90_204-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196288–90_204-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196288–90_204-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan196288–90_204-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 88–90.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEKramrisch1994299–300-205"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKramrisch1994299–300_205-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFKramrisch1994">Kramrisch 1994</a>, pp. 299–300.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007203–209,_213-206"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007203–209,_213_206-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 203–209, 213.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007209–214-207"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007209–214_207-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 209–214.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007209-208"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007209_208-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007209_208-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 209.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii–xiii,_41–51,_70–75-209"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009xii–xiii,_41–51,_70–75_209-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. xii–xiii, 41–51, 70–75.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-210"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-210">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Meena Talim (2007), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/42931451">The wheel of law of causation in Ajanta paintings</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180923162839/https://www.jstor.org/stable/42931451">Archived</a> 23 September 2018 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute, Vol. 66/67 (2006–2007), pp. 245–258</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009ix–xiii,_206-211"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009ix–xiii,_206_211-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. ix–xiii, 206.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-212"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-212">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNandagopal1990" class="citation book cs1">Nandagopal, Choodamani (1990). <i>Dance and Music in the Temple Architecture</i>. Agam Kala Prakashan. p. 47. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8171860005" title="Special:BookSources/978-8171860005"><bdi>978-8171860005</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Dance+and+Music+in+the+Temple+Architecture&rft.pages=47&rft.pub=Agam+Kala+Prakashan&rft.date=1990&rft.isbn=978-8171860005&rft.aulast=Nandagopal&rft.aufirst=Choodamani&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20079,_237–238-213"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20079,_237–238_213-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20079,_237–238_213-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 9, 237–238.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102-214"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102_214-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102_214-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102_214-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102_214-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102_214-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962101–102_214-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 101–102.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200926–27,_47–48-215"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200926–27,_47–48_215-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 26–27, 47–48.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200926–27,_34–35,_47–48,_56-216"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200926–27,_34–35,_47–48,_56_216-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 26–27, 34–35, 47–48, 56.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200744–46,_131–137,_231–239-217"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200744–46,_131–137,_231–239_217-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200744–46,_131–137,_231–239_217-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 44–46, 131–137, 231–239.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-218"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-218">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ic/id/6726">Mother and Child, Cave 19</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170428041327/http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ic/id/6726">Archived</a> 28 April 2017 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Washington University</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-219"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-219">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSmith2012" class="citation book cs1">Smith, V A (2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=WQ9gYUuP5acC&pg=PA137"><i>Art of India</i></a>. Parkstone. pp. 137 with footnote. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78042-880-2" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-78042-880-2"><bdi>978-1-78042-880-2</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Art+of+India&rft.pages=137+with+footnote&rft.pub=Parkstone&rft.date=2012&rft.isbn=978-1-78042-880-2&rft.aulast=Smith&rft.aufirst=V+A&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DWQ9gYUuP5acC%26pg%3DPA137&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-220"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-220">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFYazdani1961" class="citation book cs1">Yazdani, G (1961). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=_D9uAAAAMAAJ"><i>The early history of the Deccan, Vol. 2</i></a>. Oxford University Press. p. 766.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+early+history+of+the+Deccan%2C+Vol.+2&rft.pages=766&rft.pub=Oxford+University+Press&rft.date=1961&rft.aulast=Yazdani&rft.aufirst=G&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D_D9uAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962102–103-222"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962102–103_222-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962102–103_222-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962102–103_222-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962102–103_222-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 102–103.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Sharma-223"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Sharma_223-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSharma1994" class="citation book cs1">Sharma, Ramesh Chandra (1994). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=pIiOsQSUbBwC&pg=PA51"><i>Bharhut Sculptures</i></a>. Abhinav Publications. p. 51. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8170173083" title="Special:BookSources/978-8170173083"><bdi>978-8170173083</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Bharhut+Sculptures&rft.pages=51&rft.pub=Abhinav+Publications&rft.date=1994&rft.isbn=978-8170173083&rft.aulast=Sharma&rft.aufirst=Ramesh+Chandra&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DpIiOsQSUbBwC%26pg%3DPA51&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007249-224"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007249_224-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 249.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007249–251-225"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007249–251_225-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007249–251_225-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 249–251.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103-226"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103_226-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, p. 103.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007217–218-227"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007217–218_227-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 217–218.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-228"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-228">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFOwen2001" class="citation journal cs1">Owen, Nadine (2001). "Constructing Another Perspective for Ajaṇṭā's Fifth-Century Excavations". <i>Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies</i>. <b>24</b> (1): 42 with footnotes 40–42.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Journal+of+the+International+Association+of+Buddhist+Studies&rft.atitle=Constructing+Another+Perspective+for+Aja%E1%B9%87%E1%B9%AD%C4%81%27s+Fifth-Century+Excavations&rft.volume=24&rft.issue=1&rft.pages=42+with+footnotes+40-42&rft.date=2001&rft.aulast=Owen&rft.aufirst=Nadine&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007261–263-229"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007261–263_229-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007261–263_229-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 261–263.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104-230"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104_230-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104_230-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104_230-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104_230-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962103–104_230-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 103–104.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007273–311-231"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007273–311_231-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 273–311.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007288–290-232"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007288–290_232-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 288–290.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962259-233"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962259_233-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, p. 259.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007290–303-234"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007290–303_234-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 290–303.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007308–309-235"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007308–309_235-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 308–309.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200918_footnote_5-236"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200918_footnote_5_236-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 18 footnote 5.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200931–32,_60-237"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200931–32,_60_237-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 31–32, 60.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009243–244-238"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009243–244_238-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 243–244.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink201437–38,_42-239"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201437–38,_42_239-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201437–38,_42_239-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201437–38,_42_239-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2014">Spink 2014</a>, pp. 37–38, 42.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2007304–311-240"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2007304–311_240-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, pp. 304–311.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–106-241"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–106_241-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–106_241-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–106_241-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 104–106.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink20099–10-242"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink20099–10_242-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. 9–10.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink201434_with_footnote_30-243"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201434_with_footnote_30_243-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201434_with_footnote_30_243-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2014">Spink 2014</a>, p. 34 with footnote 30.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink201464–65,_88–96_with_footnotes-244"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201464–65,_88–96_with_footnotes_244-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2014">Spink 2014</a>, pp. 64–65, 88–96 with footnotes.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-245"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-245">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSingh2012" class="citation journal cs1">Singh, Rajesh Kumar (2012). "The Early Development of the Cave 26-Complex at Ajanta". <i>South Asian Studies</i>. <b>28</b> (1): 37–68. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1080%2F02666030.2012.659906">10.1080/02666030.2012.659906</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:161425050">161425050</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=South+Asian+Studies&rft.atitle=The+Early+Development+of+the+Cave+26-Complex+at+Ajanta&rft.volume=28&rft.issue=1&rft.pages=37-68&rft.date=2012&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1080%2F02666030.2012.659906&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A161425050%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft.aulast=Singh&rft.aufirst=Rajesh+Kumar&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink201453–57,_33–42,_Figures_on_88–96_(plus_cover_page),_311–324-246"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink201453–57,_33–42,_Figures_on_88–96_(plus_cover_page),_311–324_246-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2014">Spink 2014</a>, pp. 53–57, 33–42, Figures on 88–96 (plus cover page), 311–324.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2014311–339,_Figures_on_88–93,_with_footnotes-247"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2014311–339,_Figures_on_88–93,_with_footnotes_247-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2014">Spink 2014</a>, pp. 311–339, Figures on 88–93, with footnotes.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2006336-248"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2006336_248-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2006">Spink 2006</a>, p. 336.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009xvii,_29–30-249"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009xvii,_29–30_249-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, pp. xvii, 29–30.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962105–106-250"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962105–106_250-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962105–106_250-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 105–106.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–105-251"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962104–105_251-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, pp. 104–105.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Le_112-252"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Le_112_252-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Le_112_252-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLe2010" class="citation book cs1">Le, Huu Phuoc (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=9jb364g4BvoC&pg=PA112"><i>Buddhist Architecture</i></a>. Grafikol. p. 112. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0984404308" title="Special:BookSources/978-0984404308"><bdi>978-0984404308</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Buddhist+Architecture&rft.pages=112&rft.pub=Grafikol&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=978-0984404308&rft.aulast=Le&rft.aufirst=Huu+Phuoc&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D9jb364g4BvoC%26pg%3DPA112&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-253"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-253">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://vmis.in/upload/Assets/Archive/379/1.jpg">"A view of Cave 30, photographed by Walter Spink"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171107003356/http://vmis.in/upload/Assets/Archive/379/1.jpg">Archived</a> from the original on 7 November 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">31 October</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=A+view+of+Cave+30%2C+photographed+by+Walter+Spink&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fvmis.in%2Fupload%2FAssets%2FArchive%2F379%2F1.jpg&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962106-254"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962106_254-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGupteMahajan1962106_254-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGupteMahajan1962">Gupte & Mahajan 1962</a>, p. 106.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-255"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-255">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Walter Spink (1966), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/4629225">Ajantā and Ghatotkacha: A Preliminary Analysis</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181215224207/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4629225">Archived</a> 15 December 2018 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Ars Orientalis, Vol. 6 (1966), pp. 135–155</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2005a100–101-256"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2005a100–101_256-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2005a100–101_256-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2005a">Spink 2005a</a>, pp. 100–101.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19942–3-258"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19942–3_258-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19942–3_258-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFUpadhya1994">Upadhya 1994</a>, pp. 2–3.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-259"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-259">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGordon2011">Gordon 2011</a>, pp. 234–238; Conserving the copies of the Ajanta cave paintings at the V&A</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-260"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-260">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Detail from this <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O115444/copy-of-painting-inside-the-oil-painting-gill-robert/">painting in the V&A</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180414100711/http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O115444/copy-of-painting-inside-the-oil-painting-gill-robert">Archived</a> 14 April 2018 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-261"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-261">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/journals/conservation-journal/issue-52/conserving-the-copies-of-the-ajanta-cave-paintings-at-the-v-and-a/">Conserving the copies of the Ajanta cave paintings at the V&A</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121018201728/http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/journals/conservation-journal/issue-52/conserving-the-copies-of-the-ajanta-cave-paintings-at-the-v-and-a/">Archived</a> 18 October 2012 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <a href="/wiki/Victoria_%26_Albert_Museum" class="mw-redirect" title="Victoria & Albert Museum">Victoria & Albert Museum</a>, Conservation Journal, Spring 2006 Issue 52, accessed 24 October 2012</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a50–51-262"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a50–51_262-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFCohen2006a">Cohen 2006a</a>, pp. 50–51.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-263"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-263">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation book cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/ajanta-murals-album-of-eighty-five-reproductions-in-colour-NAL459/"><i>Ajanta Murals (An Album of Eighty-Five Reproductions in Colour)</i></a>. Archaeological Survey of India. 1996. p. Fig. 2.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta+Murals+%28An+Album+of+Eighty-Five+Reproductions+in+Colour%29&rft.pages=Fig.+2&rft.pub=Archaeological+Survey+of+India&rft.date=1996&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.exoticindiaart.com%2Fbook%2Fdetails%2Fajanta-murals-album-of-eighty-five-reproductions-in-colour-NAL459%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-264"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-264">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.burlington.org.uk/magazine/back-issues/2010/201004/">Rupert Richard Arrowsmith, "An Indian Renascence and the rise of global modernism: William Rothenstein in India, 1910–11"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130509065716/http://www.burlington.org.uk/magazine/back-issues/2010/201004/">Archived</a> 9 May 2013 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <i><a href="/wiki/The_Burlington_Magazine" title="The Burlington Magazine">The Burlington Magazine</a></i>, vol.152 no.1285 (April 2010), pp.228–235.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGordon2011236-265"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGordon2011236_265-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGordon2011">Gordon 2011</a>, p. 236.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-266"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-266">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/g/019pho0001000s4u00478000.html">example from the British Library</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131221033636/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/g/019pho0001000s4u00478000.html">Archived</a> 21 December 2013 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (search on "Gill, Robert Ajanta")</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Tillotson-267"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Tillotson_267-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Tillotson_267-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFTillotson2006" class="citation book cs1">Tillotson, Giles Henry Rupert (2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=kmfxexeX3pIC&pg=PA156"><i>Jaipur Nama: Tales from the Pink City</i></a>. Penguin Books India. p. 156. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780144001002" title="Special:BookSources/9780144001002"><bdi>9780144001002</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Jaipur+Nama%3A+Tales+from+the+Pink+City&rft.pages=156&rft.pub=Penguin+Books+India&rft.date=2006&rft.isbn=9780144001002&rft.aulast=Tillotson&rft.aufirst=Giles+Henry+Rupert&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DkmfxexeX3pIC%26pg%3DPA156&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-268"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-268">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation book cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=0jzrAAAAMAAJ"><i>Wall Paintings of Rajasthan</i></a>. Jawahar Kala Kendra. 1998. p. 23. <q>artist Murali and Kishan are good examples of 19th C. painting</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Wall+Paintings+of+Rajasthan&rft.pages=23&rft.pub=Jawahar+Kala+Kendra&rft.date=1998&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D0jzrAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-269"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-269">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">M. L. Ahuja,<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=GQWcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT51"><i>Eminent Indians: Ten Great Artists,</i></a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221123135902/https://books.google.it/books?id=GQWcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT51">Archived</a> 23 November 2022 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> Rupa Publications, 2012 p.51.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-270"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-270">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBon_ValsassinaIoele2014" class="citation book cs1">Bon Valsassina, Caterina; Ioele, Marcella (2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Z81lcQNAg8kC&pg=PA150"><i>Ajanta Dipinta – Painted Ajanta Vol. 1 e 2</i></a>. Gangemi Editore Spa. pp. 150–152. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-88-492-7658-9" title="Special:BookSources/978-88-492-7658-9"><bdi>978-88-492-7658-9</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta+Dipinta+%E2%80%93+Painted+Ajanta+Vol.+1+e+2&rft.pages=150-152&rft.pub=Gangemi+Editore+Spa&rft.date=2014&rft.isbn=978-88-492-7658-9&rft.aulast=Bon+Valsassina&rft.aufirst=Caterina&rft.au=Ioele%2C+Marcella&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DZ81lcQNAg8kC%26pg%3DPA150&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-271"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-271">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFinkel2007" class="citation book cs1">Finkel, Irving L. (2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=B20NAQAAMAAJ"><i>Ancient Board Games in Perspective</i></a>. British Museum Press. pp. 183, 226. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7141-1153-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-7141-1153-7"><bdi>978-0-7141-1153-7</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ancient+Board+Games+in+Perspective&rft.pages=183%2C+226&rft.pub=British+Museum+Press&rft.date=2007&rft.isbn=978-0-7141-1153-7&rft.aulast=Finkel&rft.aufirst=Irving+L.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DB20NAQAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-272"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-272">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Lisa N. Owen (2010), Review: Ajanta: History and Development: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture – Year by Year by Walter M. Spink, The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 69, No. 1 (FEBRUARY 2010), pages 317–319</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-273"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-273">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSchlingloff2000" class="citation book cs1">Schlingloff, Dieter (2000). <i>Ajanta – Handbuch der Malereien</i>. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3447042482" title="Special:BookSources/978-3447042482"><bdi>978-3447042482</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta+%E2%80%93+Handbuch+der+Malereien&rft.pub=Otto+Harrassowitz+Verlag&rft.date=2000&rft.isbn=978-3447042482&rft.aulast=Schlingloff&rft.aufirst=Dieter&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-274"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-274">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLynchStrauss2014" class="citation book cs1">Lynch, Annette; Strauss, Mitchell D. (2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=tiEvBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA256"><i>Ethnic Dress in the United States: A Cultural Encyclopedia</i></a>. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 256. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7591-2150-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-7591-2150-8"><bdi>978-0-7591-2150-8</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ethnic+Dress+in+the+United+States%3A+A+Cultural+Encyclopedia&rft.pages=256&rft.pub=Rowman+%26+Littlefield+Publishers&rft.date=2014&rft.isbn=978-0-7591-2150-8&rft.aulast=Lynch&rft.aufirst=Annette&rft.au=Strauss%2C+Mitchell+D.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DtiEvBQAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPA256&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199412–14-275"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya199412–14_275-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFUpadhya1994">Upadhya 1994</a>, pp. 12–14.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Mehta199539-276"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Mehta199539_276-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Mehta199539_276-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMehta1995" class="citation book cs1">Mehta, Tarla (1995). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=l7naMj1UxIkC&pg=PA39"><i>Sanskrit Play Production in Ancient India</i></a>. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 39, 42, 65, 102, 173–178, 207–213. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-208-1057-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-208-1057-0"><bdi>978-81-208-1057-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Sanskrit+Play+Production+in+Ancient+India&rft.pages=39%2C+42%2C+65%2C+102%2C+173-178%2C+207-213&rft.pub=Motilal+Banarsidass&rft.date=1995&rft.isbn=978-81-208-1057-0&rft.aulast=Mehta&rft.aufirst=Tarla&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dl7naMj1UxIkC%26pg%3DPA39&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-277"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-277">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGoetz1955" class="citation book cs1">Goetz, Hermann (1955). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=kMwUAAAAIAAJ"><i>The Early Wooden Temples of Chamba</i></a>. Brill Academic. pp. 101–111.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Early+Wooden+Temples+of+Chamba&rft.pages=101-111&rft.pub=Brill+Academic&rft.date=1955&rft.aulast=Goetz&rft.aufirst=Hermann&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DkMwUAAAAIAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a119-278"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a119_278-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFCohen2006a">Cohen 2006a</a>, p. 119.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-279"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-279">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Dalrymple, William (2015), <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.openthemagazine.com/article/open-essay/the-familiar-faces-of-ajanta">The familiar faces of Ajanta</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171107022940/http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/open-essay/the-familiar-faces-of-ajanta">Archived</a> 7 November 2017 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></i>, Open, September 2015</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Lannoy1971-280"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Lannoy1971_280-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLannoy1971" class="citation book cs1">Lannoy, Richard (1971). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/speakingtreestud0000lann"><i>The speaking tree: a study of Indian culture and society</i></a></span>. Oxford University Press. pp. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/speakingtreestud0000lann/page/46">46</a>–53. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-215177-3" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-19-215177-3"><bdi>978-0-19-215177-3</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+speaking+tree%3A+a+study+of+Indian+culture+and+society&rft.pages=46-53&rft.pub=Oxford+University+Press&rft.date=1971&rft.isbn=978-0-19-215177-3&rft.aulast=Lannoy&rft.aufirst=Richard&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fspeakingtreestud0000lann&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-asher4-281"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-asher4_281-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-asher4_281-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFAsherMetcalf1994" class="citation book cs1">Asher, Catherine; Metcalf, Thomas R. (1994). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=HDluAAAAMAAJ"><i>Perceptions of South Asia's visual past</i></a>. American Institute of Indian Studies, New Delhi, Swadharma Swarajya Sangha, Madras, and Oxford & IBH Publishing Company. pp. 4–5, 17–21, 26–29, 47–63. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-204-0883-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-204-0883-8"><bdi>978-81-204-0883-8</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Perceptions+of+South+Asia%27s+visual+past&rft.pages=4-5%2C+17-21%2C+26-29%2C+47-63&rft.pub=American+Institute+of+Indian+Studies%2C+New+Delhi%2C+Swadharma+Swarajya+Sangha%2C+Madras%2C+and+Oxford+%26+IBH+Publishing+Company&rft.date=1994&rft.isbn=978-81-204-0883-8&rft.aulast=Asher&rft.aufirst=Catherine&rft.au=Metcalf%2C+Thomas+R.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DHDluAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a119–120-282"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a119–120_282-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a119–120_282-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFCohen2006a">Cohen 2006a</a>, pp. 119–120.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19943–4-283"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya19943–4_283-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFUpadhya1994">Upadhya 1994</a>, pp. 3–4.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTECohen2006a120–131-284"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECohen2006a120–131_284-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFCohen2006a">Cohen 2006a</a>, pp. 120–131.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Williams1981-285"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Williams1981_285-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSpink1981" class="citation book cs1">Spink, Walter M. (1981). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=-qoeAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA109">"Ajanta's Chronology: Politics and Patronage"</a>. In Williams, Joanna Gottfried (ed.). <i>Kalādarśana: American Studies in the Art of India</i>. BRILL Academic. p. 109. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-06498-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-90-04-06498-0"><bdi>978-90-04-06498-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Ajanta%27s+Chronology%3A+Politics+and+Patronage&rft.btitle=Kal%C4%81dar%C5%9Bana%3A+American+Studies+in+the+Art+of+India&rft.pages=109&rft.pub=BRILL+Academic&rft.date=1981&rft.isbn=978-90-04-06498-0&rft.aulast=Spink&rft.aufirst=Walter+M.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D-qoeAAAAIAAJ%26pg%3DPA109&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-286"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-286">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSherwani1966" class="citation book cs1">Sherwani, Harron Khan (1966). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=tK7de_DTsW8C"><i>Dr. Ghulam Yazdani commemoration volume</i></a>. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Oriental Research Institute. p. 186.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Dr.+Ghulam+Yazdani+commemoration+volume&rft.pages=186&rft.pub=Maulana+Abul+Kalam+Azad+Oriental+Research+Institute&rft.date=1966&rft.aulast=Sherwani&rft.aufirst=Harron+Khan&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DtK7de_DTsW8C&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-287"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-287">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Ajanta History and Development</i> Vol IV p.153 Fig.27</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200729-288"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200729_288-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200729_288-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200729_288-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 29.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-289"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-289">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Visible on Streetview <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/maps/@20.5524934,75.702265,2a,75y,243.85h,120.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sczdf3FBMVCcAAAQWjJFwRQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en">here</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink2009132-290"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009132_290-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink2009132_290-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2009">Spink 2009</a>, p. 132.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-291"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-291">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Jas. Fergusson (1879), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/25196825">On the Identification of the Portrait of Chosroes II among the Paintings in the Caves at Ajanta</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181215172716/https://www.jstor.org/stable/25196825">Archived</a> 15 December 2018 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Cambridge University Press, Vol. 11, No. 2 (Apr. 1879), pages 155–170</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTESpink200727-292"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200727_292-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200727_292-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200727_292-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200727_292-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpink200727_292-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSpink2007">Spink 2007</a>, p. 27.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-293"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-293">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Anand Krishna (1981), An exceptional group of painted Buddha figures at Ajanta, The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, Volume 4, Number 1, pages 96–100 with footnote 1;<br /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSchlingloff1976" class="citation journal cs1">Schlingloff, Dieter (1976). "Kalyanakarin's Adventures. The Identification of an Ajanta Painting". <i>Artibus Asiae</i>. <b>38</b> (1): 5–28. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.2307%2F3250094">10.2307/3250094</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3250094">3250094</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Artibus+Asiae&rft.atitle=Kalyanakarin%27s+Adventures.+The+Identification+of+an+Ajanta+Painting&rft.volume=38&rft.issue=1&rft.pages=5-28&rft.date=1976&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.2307%2F3250094&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F3250094%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.aulast=Schlingloff&rft.aufirst=Dieter&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Brancaccio_81-294"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-7"><sup><i><b>h</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-8"><sup><i><b>i</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-9"><sup><i><b>j</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-10"><sup><i><b>k</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_294-11"><sup><i><b>l</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBrancaccio2010" class="citation book cs1">Brancaccio, Pia (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=m_4pXm7dD78C&pg=PA81"><i>The Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformations in Art and Religion</i></a>. BRILL. pp. 80–82, 305–307 with footnotes. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9004185258" title="Special:BookSources/978-9004185258"><bdi>978-9004185258</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Buddhist+Caves+at+Aurangabad%3A+Transformations+in+Art+and+Religion&rft.pages=80-82%2C+305-307+with+footnotes&rft.pub=BRILL&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=978-9004185258&rft.aulast=Brancaccio&rft.aufirst=Pia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dm_4pXm7dD78C%26pg%3DPA81&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-DK-295"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-DK_295-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation book cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=TTcnDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT126"><i>DK Eyewitness Travel Guide India</i></a>. Dorling Kindersley Limited. 2017. p. 126. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780241326244" title="Special:BookSources/9780241326244"><bdi>9780241326244</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=DK+Eyewitness+Travel+Guide+India&rft.pages=126&rft.pub=Dorling+Kindersley+Limited&rft.date=2017&rft.isbn=9780241326244&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DTTcnDwAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPT126&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-MC40-296"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-MC40_296-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCompareti2014" class="citation journal cs1">Compareti, Matteo (2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.academia.edu/10060191">"Some Examples of Central Asian Decorative Elements in Ajanta and Bagh Indian Paintings"</a>. <i>The Silk Road</i>. <b>12</b>: 41.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Silk+Road&rft.atitle=Some+Examples+of+Central+Asian+Decorative+Elements+in+Ajanta+and+Bagh+Indian+Paintings&rft.volume=12&rft.pages=41&rft.date=2014&rft.aulast=Compareti&rft.aufirst=Matteo&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academia.edu%2F10060191&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-297"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-297">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRead1912" class="citation journal cs1">Read, Charles Hercules (1912). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://zenodo.org/record/1551870">"XI.—On a Silver Sassanian Bowl of about the year 400 A. D., found in the NW. Provinces of India"</a>. <i>Archaeologia</i>. <b>63</b>: 251–256. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1017%2Fs0261340900011656">10.1017/s0261340900011656</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Archaeologia&rft.atitle=XI.%E2%80%94On+a+Silver+Sassanian+Bowl+of+about+the+year+400+A.+D.%2C+found+in+the+NW.+Provinces+of+India&rft.volume=63&rft.pages=251-256&rft.date=1912&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1017%2Fs0261340900011656&rft.aulast=Read&rft.aufirst=Charles+Hercules&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fzenodo.org%2Frecord%2F1551870&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-298"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-298">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBrancaccio2010" class="citation book cs1">Brancaccio, Pia (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=m_4pXm7dD78C&pg=PA86"><i>The Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformations in Art and Religion</i></a>. BRILL. p. 86. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9004185258" title="Special:BookSources/978-9004185258"><bdi>978-9004185258</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Buddhist+Caves+at+Aurangabad%3A+Transformations+in+Art+and+Religion&rft.pages=86&rft.pub=BRILL&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=978-9004185258&rft.aulast=Brancaccio&rft.aufirst=Pia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dm_4pXm7dD78C%26pg%3DPA86&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-300"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-300">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBrancaccio2010" class="citation book cs1">Brancaccio, Pia (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=m_4pXm7dD78C"><i>The Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformations in Art and Religion</i></a>. BRILL. pp. 83–87 with footnotes. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9004185258" title="Special:BookSources/978-9004185258"><bdi>978-9004185258</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Buddhist+Caves+at+Aurangabad%3A+Transformations+in+Art+and+Religion&rft.pages=83-87+with+footnotes&rft.pub=BRILL&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=978-9004185258&rft.aulast=Brancaccio&rft.aufirst=Pia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dm_4pXm7dD78C&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-301"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-301">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=m_4pXm7dD78C&pg=PA305">here</a>, or <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/maps/@20.5536289,75.6995709,2a,50.3y,252.37h,86.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXMNqbnhNZc0AAAQfCOmgaQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en">full view</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Brancaccio_81_and_Note_27-303"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_and_Note_27_303-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Brancaccio_81_and_Note_27_303-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBrancaccio2010" class="citation book cs1">Brancaccio, Pia (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=m_4pXm7dD78C&pg=PA81"><i>The Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformations in Art and Religion</i></a>. BRILL. p. 81 and Note 27. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9004185258" title="Special:BookSources/978-9004185258"><bdi>978-9004185258</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Buddhist+Caves+at+Aurangabad%3A+Transformations+in+Art+and+Religion&rft.pages=81+and+Note+27&rft.pub=BRILL&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=978-9004185258&rft.aulast=Brancaccio&rft.aufirst=Pia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dm_4pXm7dD78C%26pg%3DPA81&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-304"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-304">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBhandarkar1989" class="citation book cs1">Bhandarkar, D. R. (1989). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=gUAvuYu-otEC&pg=PA60"><i>Some Aspects of Ancient Indian Culture</i></a>. Asian Educational Services. p. 60. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788120604575" title="Special:BookSources/9788120604575"><bdi>9788120604575</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Some+Aspects+of+Ancient+Indian+Culture&rft.pages=60&rft.pub=Asian+Educational+Services&rft.date=1989&rft.isbn=9788120604575&rft.aulast=Bhandarkar&rft.aufirst=D.+R.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DgUAvuYu-otEC%26pg%3DPA60&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEUpadhya1994135-306"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEUpadhya1994135_306-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFUpadhya1994">Upadhya 1994</a>, p. 135.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-307"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-307">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBrancaccio2010" class="citation book cs1">Brancaccio, Pia (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=m_4pXm7dD78C&pg=PA307"><i>The Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformations in Art and Religion</i></a>. BRILL. p. 307. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9004185258" title="Special:BookSources/978-9004185258"><bdi>978-9004185258</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Buddhist+Caves+at+Aurangabad%3A+Transformations+in+Art+and+Religion&rft.pages=307&rft.pub=BRILL&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=978-9004185258&rft.aulast=Brancaccio&rft.aufirst=Pia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dm_4pXm7dD78C%26pg%3DPA307&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-PB305-308"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-PB305_308-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-PB305_308-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBrancaccio2010" class="citation book cs1">Brancaccio, Pia (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=m_4pXm7dD78C&pg=PA305"><i>The Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformations in Art and Religion</i></a>. BRILL. p. 305. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9789004185258" title="Special:BookSources/9789004185258"><bdi>9789004185258</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Buddhist+Caves+at+Aurangabad%3A+Transformations+in+Art+and+Religion&rft.pages=305&rft.pub=BRILL&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=9789004185258&rft.aulast=Brancaccio&rft.aufirst=Pia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dm_4pXm7dD78C%26pg%3DPA305&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-309"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-309">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">"The central figure is of colossal size and, whether it represents the Bodhisattva Padmapani or Prince Siddhartha, it bears the marks of both high rank and great spiritual stature. (...) The handmaid in long blue velvet coat and high embroidered cap appears, from her features, to be of Persian origin..."<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation book cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.462549/page/n113/mode/2up"><i>Encyclopedia Of World Art Vol. 1</i></a>. New-York, Toronto, London: McGRAW-HILL. 1959. p. 165.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Encyclopedia+Of+World+Art+Vol.+1&rft.place=New-York%2C+Toronto%2C+London&rft.pages=165&rft.pub=McGRAW-HILL&rft.date=1959&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fin.ernet.dli.2015.462549%2Fpage%2Fn113%2Fmode%2F2up&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-310"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-310">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://buddhism.lib.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-BH/bh117550.htm">"The Imprint of Ajanta in Tibetan Art, Eva Fernanadez del Campo Barbadillo, Buddhist Himalaya: A Journal of Nagarjuna Institute of Exact Methods, Vol. IX No. I & II (1998)"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140728064417/http://buddhism.lib.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-BH/bh117550.htm">Archived</a> from the original on 28 July 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">24 July</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=The+Imprint+of+Ajanta+in+Tibetan+Art%2C+Eva+Fernanadez+del+Campo+Barbadillo%2C+Buddhist+Himalaya%3A+A+Journal+of+Nagarjuna+Institute+of+Exact+Methods%2C+Vol.+IX+No.+I+%26+II+%281998%29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbuddhism.lib.ntu.edu.tw%2FFULLTEXT%2FJR-BH%2Fbh117550.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-311"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-311">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">[The Imperial Guptas: Cultural history, Volume 2 of The Imperial Guptas, Parmeshwari Lal Gupta, Vishwavidyalaya Prakashan, 1979 p. 221]</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-BR156-312"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-BR156_312-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRowland1975" class="citation book cs1">Rowland, Benjamin (1975). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/artofcentralasia00rowl/page/156/mode/2up"><i>The art of Central Asia</i></a>. New York, Crown. p. 156.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+art+of+Central+Asia&rft.pages=156&rft.pub=New+York%2C+Crown&rft.date=1975&rft.aulast=Rowland&rft.aufirst=Benjamin&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fartofcentralasia00rowl%2Fpage%2F156%2Fmode%2F2up&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-313"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-313">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Vasudev Sharan Agrawal, Kala aur Sanskriti, 1952, p. 282–299</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-314"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-314">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Robert H. Stacy, <i>India in Russian Literature</i> (Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1985, p.92.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-315"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-315">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLakshmi_Shreeram2020" class="citation web cs1">Lakshmi Shreeram (21 January 2020). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.firstpost.com/living/the-pavlova-project-a-unique-exhibition-presents-the-life-and-work-of-legendary-ballerina-through-her-costumes-7928291.html">"The Pavlova Project: A unique exhibition presents the life and work of legendary ballerina through her costumes"</a>. <i>Firstpost</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">21 March</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Firstpost&rft.atitle=The+Pavlova+Project%3A+A+unique+exhibition+presents+the+life+and+work+of+legendary+ballerina+through+her+costumes&rft.date=2020-01-21&rft.au=Lakshmi+Shreeram&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.firstpost.com%2Fliving%2Fthe-pavlova-project-a-unique-exhibition-presents-the-life-and-work-of-legendary-ballerina-through-her-costumes-7928291.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-316"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-316">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBergman2010" class="citation journal cs1">Bergman, David (Fall 2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/40800579">"Ajanta and the Rukeyser Imbroglio"</a>. <i>American Literary History</i>. <b>22</b> (3): 553–583. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Falh%2Fajq040">10.1093/alh/ajq040</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/40800579">40800579</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">4 July</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=American+Literary+History&rft.atitle=Ajanta+and+the+Rukeyser+Imbroglio&rft.ssn=fall&rft.volume=22&rft.issue=3&rft.pages=553-583&rft.date=2010&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1093%2Falh%2Fajq040&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F40800579%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.aulast=Bergman&rft.aufirst=David&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F40800579&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Bibliography">Bibliography</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=53" title="Edit section: Bibliography"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>"ASI": <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_ajanta.asp">Archaeological Survey of India</a> website, with a concise entry on the Caves, accessed 20 October 2010</li> <li>Burgess, James and Fergusson J. <i>Cave Temples of India</i>. (London: W.H. Allen & Co., 1880. Delhi: <a href="/wiki/Munshiram_Manoharlal" title="Munshiram Manoharlal">Munshiram Manoharlal</a> Publishers, 2005). <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/81-215-0251-9" title="Special:BookSources/81-215-0251-9">81-215-0251-9</a></li> <li>Burgess, James and <a href="/wiki/Bhagwan_Lal_Indraji" title="Bhagwan Lal Indraji">Indraji, Bhagwanlal</a>. <i>Inscriptions from the Cave Temples of Western India</i>, Archaeological Survey of Western India, Memoirs, 10 (Bombay: Government Central Press, 1881).</li> <li>Burgess, James. <i>Buddhist Cave Temples and Their Inscriptions</i>, Archaeological Survey of Western India, 4 (London: Trubner & Co., 1883; Varanasi: Indological Book House, 1964).</li> <li>Burgess, James. "Notes on the Bauddha Rock Temples of Ajanta, Their Paintings and Sculptures," Archaeological Survey of Western India, 9 (Bombay: Government Central Press, 1879).</li> <li>Behl, Benoy K. <i>The Ajanta Caves</i> (London: Thames & Hudson, 1998. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1998).</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><span id="CITEREFCohen2006" class="citation">Cohen, Richard S. "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://profcohen.net/publications/ajanta-inscriptions-1.pdf">Ajanta's Inscriptions</a>". In <a href="#CITEREFSpink2006">Spink (2006)</a>, pp. 273–339.</span>.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCohen2006a" class="citation book cs1">Cohen, Richard S. (2006a). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=R5IPMKb4WFUC"><i>Beyond Enlightenment: Buddhism, Religion, Modernity</i></a>. Routledge. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-134-19205-2" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-134-19205-2"><bdi>978-1-134-19205-2</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Beyond+Enlightenment%3A+Buddhism%2C+Religion%2C+Modernity&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=2006&rft.isbn=978-1-134-19205-2&rft.aulast=Cohen&rft.aufirst=Richard+S.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DR5IPMKb4WFUC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Cohen, Richard S. "Nāga, Yaksinī, Buddha: Local Deities and Local Buddhism at Ajanta," <i>History of Religions</i>. 37/4 (May 1998): 360–400.</li> <li>Cohen, Richard S. "Problems in the Writing of Ajanta's History: The Epigraphic Evidence," <i>Indo-Iranian Journal</i>. 40/2 (April 1997): 125–48.</li> <li>Cohen, Richard S. <i>Setting the Three Jewels: The Complex Culture of Buddhism at the Ajanta Caves.</i> A PhD dissertation (Asian Languages and Cultures: Buddhist Studies, University of Michigan, 1995).</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Edward_Byles_Cowell" title="Edward Byles Cowell">Cowell, E.B.</a> <i>The Jataka,</i> I-VI (Cambridge: Cambridge, 1895; reprint, 1907).</li> <li>Dhavalikar, M.K. <i>Late Hinayana Caves of Western India</i> (Pune: 1984).</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGordon2011" class="citation thesis cs1">Gordon, Sophie (2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/12776/"><i>Monumental visions: architectural photography in India, 1840–1901</i></a> (PhD thesis). <a href="/wiki/SOAS" class="mw-redirect" title="SOAS">SOAS</a>, University of London.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adissertation&rft.title=Monumental+visions%3A+architectural+photography+in+India%2C+1840%E2%80%931901&rft.inst=SOAS%2C+University+of+London&rft.date=2011&rft.aulast=Gordon&rft.aufirst=Sophie&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Feprints.soas.ac.uk%2F12776%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGupteMahajan1962" class="citation book cs1">Gupte, Ramesh Shankar; Mahajan, B. D. (1962). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=478MAQAAIAAJ"><i>Ajanta, Ellora and Aurangabad Caves</i></a>. D. B. Taraporevala.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta%2C+Ellora+and+Aurangabad+Caves&rft.pub=D.+B.+Taraporevala&rft.date=1962&rft.aulast=Gupte&rft.aufirst=Ramesh+Shankar&rft.au=Mahajan%2C+B.+D.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D478MAQAAIAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Griffiths, J. <i>Paintings in the Buddhist Cave Temples of Ajanta,</i> 2 vols. (London: 1896–1897).</li> <li>Halder, Asit Kumar. "AJANTA" Edited and annotated by Prasenjit Dasgupta and Soumen Paul, with a foreword by Gautam Halder LALMATI. Kolkata. 2009</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHarle1994" class="citation cs2">Harle, James C. (1994), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/artarchitectureo00harl"><i>The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent</i></a> (2nd ed.), Yale University Press, <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-300-06217-5" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-300-06217-5"><bdi>978-0-300-06217-5</bdi></a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Art+and+Architecture+of+the+Indian+Subcontinent&rft.edition=2nd&rft.pub=Yale+University+Press&rft.date=1994&rft.isbn=978-0-300-06217-5&rft.aulast=Harle&rft.aufirst=James+C.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fartarchitectureo00harl&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKramrisch1994" class="citation book cs1">Kramrisch, Stella (1994). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=bxPeWwFz9MkC"><i>Exploring India's Sacred Art</i></a>. Motilal Banarsidass. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-208-1208-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-208-1208-6"><bdi>978-81-208-1208-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Exploring+India%27s+Sacred+Art&rft.pub=Motilal+Banarsidass&rft.date=1994&rft.isbn=978-81-208-1208-6&rft.aulast=Kramrisch&rft.aufirst=Stella&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DbxPeWwFz9MkC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Kramrisch, Stella. <i>A Survey of Painting in the Deccan</i> (Calcutta and London: The <a href="/wiki/India_Society" class="mw-redirect" title="India Society">India Society</a> in co-operation with the Dept. of Archaeology, 1937). Reproduced: "Ajanta," <i>Exploring India's Sacred Art: Selected Writings of Stella Kramrisch,</i> ed. Miller, Barbara Stoler (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press: 1983), pp. 273–307; reprint (New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, 1994), pp. 273–307.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMichell2009" class="citation cs2">Michell, George (2009), <i>The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India, Volume 1: Buddhist, Jain, Hindu</i>, Penguin Books, <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-14-008144-2" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-14-008144-2"><bdi>978-0-14-008144-2</bdi></a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Penguin+Guide+to+the+Monuments+of+India%2C+Volume+1%3A+Buddhist%2C+Jain%2C+Hindu&rft.pub=Penguin+Books&rft.date=2009&rft.isbn=978-0-14-008144-2&rft.aulast=Michell&rft.aufirst=George&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Majumdar, R.C. and A.S. Altekar, eds. <i>The Vakataka-Gupta Age.</i> New History of Indian People Series, VI (Benares: Motilal Banarasidass, 1946; reprint, Delhi: 1960).</li> <li>Mirashi, V.V. "Historical Evidence in Dandin's Dasakumaracharita," <i>Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute</i>, 24 (1945), 20ff. Reproduced: Studies in Indology, 1 (Nagpur: Vidarbha Samshodhan Mandal, 1960), pp. 164–77.</li> <li>Mirashi, V.V. <i>Inscription of the Vakatakas</i>. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Series, 5 (Ootacamund: Government Epigraphist for India, 1963).</li> <li>Mirashi, V.V. <i>The Ghatotkacha Cave Inscriptions with a Note on Ghatotkacha Cave Temples by Srinivasachar, P</i>. (Hyderabad: Archaeological Department, 1952).</li> <li>Mirashi, V.V. <i>Vakataka inscription in Cave XVI at Ajanta</i>. Hyderabad Archaeological Series, 14 (Calcutta: Baptist mission Press for the Archaeological Department of His Highness the Nizam's Dominions, 1941).</li> <li>Mitra, Debala. <i>Ajanta</i>, 8th ed. (Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India, 1980).</li> <li>Nagaraju, S. <i>Buddhist Architecture of Western India</i> (Delhi: 1981)</li> <li>Parimoo, Ratan; et al. <i>The Art of Ajanta: New Perspectives</i>, 2 vols (New Delhi: Books & Books, 1991).</li> <li>Schlingloff, Dieter. <i>Guide to the Ajanta Paintings, vol. 1; Narrative Wall Paintings</i> (Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 1999)</li> <li>Schlingloff, Dieter. <i>Studies in the Ajanta Paintings: Identifications and Interpretations</i> (New Delhi: 1987).</li> <li>Shastri, Ajay Mitra, ed. <i>The Age of the Vakatakas</i> (New Delhi: Harman, 1992).</li> <li>Singh, Rajesh Kumar. 'The Early Development of the Cave 26-Complex at Ajanta,' <i>South Asian Studies</i> (London: March 2012), vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 37–68.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSingh2021" class="citation book cs1">Singh, Rajesh Kumar (2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355021687">"Circa 465 CE and the Stupa-Shrine of the Ajanta Cave 11"</a>. In Dziekan, Marek M.; Filipowska, Sylwia; Siemieniec-Gołaś, Ewa (eds.). <i>Myth, Image, Metaphor in the Cultures of Asia and Africa, Proceedings of the 6th All-Polish Conference of Oriental Studies</i>. Warsaw: Elipsa. pp. 301–373<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">15 April</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Circa+465+CE+and+the+Stupa-Shrine+of+the+Ajanta+Cave+11&rft.btitle=Myth%2C+Image%2C+Metaphor+in+the+Cultures+of+Asia+and+Africa%2C+Proceedings+of+the+6th+All-Polish+Conference+of+Oriental+Studies&rft.place=Warsaw&rft.pages=301-373&rft.pub=Elipsa&rft.date=2021&rft.aulast=Singh&rft.aufirst=Rajesh+Kumar&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchgate.net%2Fpublication%2F355021687&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Singh, Rajesh Kumar. (2024). <i>Ajanta's Evolution: From Sāvakayāna to Bodhisatvayāna amid Hunnic Turmoil.</i> Oxford: Archaeopress Archaeology.</li> <li>Singh, Rajesh Kumar. 2021a. Early Hunnic Invasions and Abandonment of Buddhist Temples in India. = Ajanta Mahāpiṭaka I.4. Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers.</li> <li>Singh, Rajesh Kumar. 2020a. Khiṅgīla vs. Buddhist Caves: A Synchronised Chronology of the Early Alchon Hūṇs, Early Guptas, Vākāṭakas, Traikūṭakas, and Buddhist Caves (ca. 451–480 CE) =Ajanta Mahāpiṭaka I.2. Baroda: Hari Sena Press.</li> <li>Singh, Rajesh Kumar. 2019b. Ajanta Paintings: A Compilation of 84 Abridged Narratives. 2nd. Baroda: Hari Sena Press.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSpink2005a" class="citation book cs1">Spink, Walter M. (2005a). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Fjgq2OivwmkC"><i>Ajanta: The end of the Golden Age</i></a>. Brill. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-14832-1" title="Special:BookSources/978-90-04-14832-1"><bdi>978-90-04-14832-1</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta%3A+The+end+of+the+Golden+Age&rft.pub=Brill&rft.date=2005&rft.isbn=978-90-04-14832-1&rft.aulast=Spink&rft.aufirst=Walter+M.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DFjgq2OivwmkC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSpink2005b" class="citation book cs1">Spink, Walter M. (2005b). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=v2lyNi_K8P4C"><i>Ajanta: The arrival of the uninvited</i></a>. Brill. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-14833-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-90-04-14833-8"><bdi>978-90-04-14833-8</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta%3A+The+arrival+of+the+uninvited&rft.pub=Brill&rft.date=2005&rft.isbn=978-90-04-14833-8&rft.aulast=Spink&rft.aufirst=Walter+M.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dv2lyNi_K8P4C&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSpink2006" class="citation book cs1">Spink, Walter M. (2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=RbYnAAAAYAAJ"><i>Ajanta: History and Development, Volume 2: Arguments about Ajanta</i></a>. Leiden: Brill. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-15072-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-90-04-15072-0"><bdi>978-90-04-15072-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta%3A+History+and+Development%2C+Volume+2%3A+Arguments+about+Ajanta&rft.place=Leiden&rft.pub=Brill&rft.date=2006&rft.isbn=978-90-04-15072-0&rft.aulast=Spink&rft.aufirst=Walter+M.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DRbYnAAAAYAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSpink2009" class="citation book cs1">Spink, Walter M. (2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=3me7pY6zJyEC"><i>Ajanta: History and Development, Volume 4: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Year by Year</i></a>. Leiden: Brill. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-14983-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-90-04-14983-0"><bdi>978-90-04-14983-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta%3A+History+and+Development%2C+Volume+4%3A+Painting%2C+Sculpture%2C+Architecture%2C+Year+by+Year&rft.place=Leiden&rft.pub=Brill&rft.date=2009&rft.isbn=978-90-04-14983-0&rft.aulast=Spink&rft.aufirst=Walter+M.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D3me7pY6zJyEC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSpink2007" class="citation book cs1">Spink, Walter M. (2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=UPqUHXlwXdcC"><i>Ajanta: History and Development, Volume 5: Cave by Cave</i></a>. Leiden: Brill. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-15644-9" title="Special:BookSources/978-90-04-15644-9"><bdi>978-90-04-15644-9</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta%3A+History+and+Development%2C+Volume+5%3A+Cave+by+Cave&rft.place=Leiden&rft.pub=Brill&rft.date=2007&rft.isbn=978-90-04-15644-9&rft.aulast=Spink&rft.aufirst=Walter+M.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DUPqUHXlwXdcC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSpink2014" class="citation book cs1">Spink, Walter M. (2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=PdlXAwAAQBAJ"><i>Ajanta: History and Development, Volume 6: Defining Features</i></a>. Brill Academic. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-474-4465-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-90-474-4465-7"><bdi>978-90-474-4465-7</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ajanta%3A+History+and+Development%2C+Volume+6%3A+Defining+Features&rft.pub=Brill+Academic&rft.date=2014&rft.isbn=978-90-474-4465-7&rft.aulast=Spink&rft.aufirst=Walter+M.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DPdlXAwAAQBAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Spink, Walter M. "A Reconstruction of Events related to the development of Vakataka caves," <i>C.S. Sivaramamurti felicitation volume</i>, ed. M.S. Nagaraja Rao (New Delhi: 1987).</li> <li>Spink, Walter M. "Ajanta's Chronology: Cave 1's Patronage," <i>Chhavi</i> 2, ed. Krishna, Anand (Benares: Bharat Kala Bhawan, 1981), pp. 144–57.</li> <li>Spink, Walter M. "Ajanta's Chronology: Cave 7's Twice-born Buddha," <i>Studies in Buddhist Art of South Asia</i>, ed. Narain, A.K. (New Delhi: 1985), pp. 103–16.</li> <li>Spink, Walter M. "Ajanta's Chronology: Politics and Patronage," <i>Kaladarsana</i>, ed. Williams, Joanna (New Delhi: 1981), pp. 109–26.</li> <li>Spink, Walter M. "Ajanta's Chronology: The Crucial Cave," <i>Ars Orientalis</i>, 10 (1975), pp. 143–169.</li> <li>Spink, Walter M. "Ajanta's Chronology: The Problem of Cave 11," <i>Ars Orientalis</i>, 7 (1968), pp. 155–168.</li> <li>Spink, Walter M. "Ajanta's Paintings: A Checklist for their Dating," <i>Dimensions of Indian Art, Pupul Jayakar Felicitation Volume</i>, ed. Chandra, Lokesh; and Jain, Jyotindra (Delhi: Agam Kala Prakashan, 1987), p. 457.</li> <li>Spink, Walter M. "Notes on Buddha Images," <i>The Art of Ajanta: New Perspectives</i>, vol. 2, ed. Parimoo, Ratan, et al. (New Delhi: Books & Books, 1991), pp. 213–41.</li> <li>Spink, Walter M. "The Achievement of Ajanta," <i>The Age of the Vakatakas</i>, ed. Shastri, Ajaya Mitra (New Delhi: Harman Publishing House, 1992), pp. 177–202.</li> <li>Spink, Walter M. "The Vakataka's Flowering and Fall," <i>The Art of Ajanta: New Perspectives</i>, vol. 2, ed. Parimoo, Ratan, et al. (New Delhi: Books & Books, 1991), pp. 71–99.</li> <li>Spink, Walter M. "The Archaeology of Ajanta," <i>Ars Orientalis</i>, 21, pp. 67–94.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFUpadhya1994" class="citation book cs1">Upadhya, Om Datt (1994). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=LCPx0R1TqOMC"><i>The Art of Ajanta and Sopoćani: A Comparative Study: an Enquiry in Prāṇa Aesthetics</i></a>. Motilal Banarsidass. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-208-0990-1" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-208-0990-1"><bdi>978-81-208-0990-1</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Art+of+Ajanta+and+Sopo%C4%87ani%3A+A+Comparative+Study%3A+an+Enquiry+in+Pr%C4%81%E1%B9%87a+Aesthetics&rft.pub=Motilal+Banarsidass&rft.date=1994&rft.isbn=978-81-208-0990-1&rft.aulast=Upadhya&rft.aufirst=Om+Datt&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DLCPx0R1TqOMC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAjanta+Caves" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Weiner, Sheila L. <i>Ajanta: Its Place in Buddhist Art</i> (Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1977).</li> <li>Yazdani, Gulam. <i>Ajanta: the Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescos Based on Photography</i>, 4 vols. (London: Oxford University Press, 1930 [31?], 1955).</li> <li>Yazdani, Gulam. <i>The Early History of the Deccan</i>, Parts 7–9 (Oxford: 1960).</li> <li>Zin, Monika. <i>Guide to the Ajanta Paintings, vol. 2; Devotional and Ornamental Paintings</i> (Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 2003)</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ajanta_Caves&action=edit&section=54" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; 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William Dalrymple, New York Review of Books (23 Oct 2014)</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242/">Ajanta Caves in UNESCO List</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/m0_z7">Google Streetview Tours of each Cave of Ajanta</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.profcohen.net/publications/ajanta-inscriptions-1.pdf">Inscriptions with Translations: Ajanta Caves</a>, Richard Cohen</li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output 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Fort</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fatehpur_Sikri" title="Fatehpur Sikri">Fatehpur Sikri</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Great_Himalayan_National_Park" title="Great Himalayan National Park">Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Humayun%27s_Tomb" title="Humayun's Tomb">Humayun's Tomb, Delhi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Keoladeo_National_Park" title="Keoladeo National Park">Keoladeo National Park</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kalka%E2%80%93Shimla_railway" class="mw-redirect" title="Kalka–Shimla railway">Kalka–Shimla railway</a>^</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nanda_Devi_and_Valley_of_Flowers_National_Parks" title="Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks">Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Qutb_complex" class="mw-redirect" title="Qutb complex">Qutub Minar and its Monuments, Delhi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Red_Fort" title="Red Fort">Red Fort Complex</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Taj_Mahal" title="Taj Mahal">Taj Mahal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Architectural_Work_of_Le_Corbusier" title="The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier">The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chandigarh_Capitol_Complex" title="Chandigarh Capitol Complex">Complexe du Capitole</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Northeast_India" title="Northeast India">Northeast</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kaziranga_National_Park" title="Kaziranga National Park">Kaziranga National Park</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Khangchendzonga_National_Park" title="Khangchendzonga National Park">Khangchendzonga National Park</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manas_National_Park" title="Manas National Park">Manas Wildlife Sanctuary</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moidam" title="Moidam">Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/South_India" title="South India">South</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Great_Living_Chola_Temples" title="Great Living Chola Temples">Great Living Chola Temples</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Airavatesvara_Temple" title="Airavatesvara Temple">Airavatesvara Temple</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Brihadisvara_Temple,_Gangaikonda_Cholapuram" title="Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram">Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Brihadisvara_Temple" title="Brihadisvara Temple">Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hampi" title="Hampi">Group of Monuments at Hampi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Group_of_Monuments_at_Mahabalipuram" title="Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram">Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pattadakal" title="Pattadakal">Group of Monuments at Pattadakal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nilgiri_Mountain_Railway" title="Nilgiri Mountain Railway">Nilgiri Mountain Railway</a>^</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ramappa_Temple" title="Ramappa Temple">Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sacred_Ensembles_of_the_Hoysalas" title="Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas">Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chennakeshava_Temple,_Belur" title="Chennakeshava Temple, Belur">Chennakeshava Temple</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hoysaleswara_Temple" title="Hoysaleswara Temple">Hoysaleswara Temple</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chennakeshava_Temple,_Somanathapura" title="Chennakeshava Temple, Somanathapura">Keshava Temple</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Western_Ghats" title="Western Ghats">Western Ghats</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/West_India" class="mw-redirect" title="West India">West</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Ajanta Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Champaner-Pavagadh_Archaeological_Park" title="Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park">Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chhatrapati_Shivaji_Terminus" title="Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus">Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Churches_and_convents_of_Goa" title="Churches and convents of Goa">Churches and convents of Goa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dholavira" title="Dholavira">Dholavira:a Harappan city</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Elephanta_Caves" title="Elephanta Caves">Elephanta Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ellora_Caves" title="Ellora Caves">Ellora Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hill_Forts_of_Rajasthan" title="Hill Forts of Rajasthan">Hill Forts of Rajasthan</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Amer_Fort" class="mw-redirect" title="Amer Fort">Amer Fort</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chittor_Fort" title="Chittor Fort">Chittor Fort</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gagron_Fort" title="Gagron Fort">Gagron Fort</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jaisalmer_Fort" title="Jaisalmer Fort">Jaisalmer Fort</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kumbhalgarh" title="Kumbhalgarh">Kumbhalgarh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ranthambore_Fort" title="Ranthambore Fort">Ranthambore Fort</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Historic_City_of_Ahmadabad" title="Historic City of Ahmadabad">Historic City of Ahmadabad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jaipur" title="Jaipur">Jaipur City, Rajasthan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rani_ki_vav" class="mw-redirect" title="Rani ki vav">Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen's Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jantar_Mantar_(Jaipur)" class="mw-redirect" title="Jantar Mantar (Jaipur)">The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Western_Ghats" title="Western Ghats">Western Ghats</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Victorian_Gothic_and_Art_Deco_Ensembles_of_Mumbai" title="Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai">Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div>^part of <a href="/wiki/Mountain_Railways_of_India" class="mw-redirect" title="Mountain Railways of India">Mountain Railways of India</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Aurangabad_district_topics" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="3"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Aurangabad_district,_Maharashtra_topics" title="Template:Aurangabad district, Maharashtra topics"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Aurangabad_district,_Maharashtra_topics" title="Template talk:Aurangabad district, Maharashtra topics"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Aurangabad_district,_Maharashtra_topics" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Aurangabad district, Maharashtra topics"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Aurangabad_district_topics" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_district,_Maharashtra" title="Aurangabad district, Maharashtra">Aurangabad district</a> topics</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">History</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Satavahana_dynasty" title="Satavahana dynasty">Satavahana dynasty</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rashtrakuta_dynasty" class="mw-redirect" title="Rashtrakuta dynasty">Rashtrakuta dynasty</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kalachuris_of_Mahishmati" title="Kalachuris of Mahishmati">Kalachuri dynasty</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pulakeshin_II#Pulakeshin's_death_and_legacy" title="Pulakeshin II">Chalukyas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Malik_Ambar" title="Malik Ambar">Malik Ambar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ahmadnagar_Sultanate" title="Ahmadnagar Sultanate">Ahmadnagar Sultanate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deccan_sultanates" title="Deccan sultanates">Deccan sultanates</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Neher_water_system" title="Neher water system">Neher water system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shahaji" title="Shahaji">Shahaji</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hyderabad_State" title="Hyderabad State">Hyderabad State</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aurangzeb" title="Aurangzeb">Aurangzeb</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Muhammad_bin_Tughluq" title="Muhammad bin Tughluq">Muhammad bin Tughluq</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nizam-ul-Mulk,_Asaf_Jah_I" title="Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I">Asaf Jah I</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nasir_Jung" title="Nasir Jung">Nasir Jung</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nizam_Ali_Khan,_Asaf_Jah_II" title="Nizam Ali Khan, Asaf Jah II">Asaf Jah II</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Abul_Hasan_Qutb_Shah" title="Abul Hasan Qutb Shah">Abul Hasan Qutb Shah</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Namantar_Andolan" title="Namantar Andolan">Namantar Andolan</a></li></ul> </div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="14" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Aurangabad_in_Maharashtra_(India).svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Aurangabad_in_Maharashtra_%28India%29.svg/70px-Aurangabad_in_Maharashtra_%28India%29.svg.png" decoding="async" width="70" height="51" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Aurangabad_in_Maharashtra_%28India%29.svg/105px-Aurangabad_in_Maharashtra_%28India%29.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Aurangabad_in_Maharashtra_%28India%29.svg/140px-Aurangabad_in_Maharashtra_%28India%29.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1233" data-file-height="901" /></a></span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Geography</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Jayakwadi_Dam" title="Jayakwadi Dam">Jayakwadi dam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Salim_Ali_Lake" title="Salim Ali Lake">Salim Ali Lake</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Monuments</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Ajanta Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_Caves" title="Aurangabad Caves">Aurangabad Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Neher_water_system" title="Neher water system">Neher water system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bibi_Ka_Maqbara" title="Bibi Ka Maqbara">Bibi Ka Maqbara</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Daulatabad_Fort" title="Daulatabad Fort">Daulatabad Fort</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ellora_Caves" title="Ellora Caves">Ellora Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gates_in_Aurangabad" title="Gates in Aurangabad">Gates in Aurangabad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Grishneshwar_Temple" title="Grishneshwar Temple">Grishneshwar Temple</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Himayat_Bagh" title="Himayat Bagh">Himayat Bagh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Naukhanda_palace" title="Naukhanda palace">Naukhanda Palace</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Panchakki" title="Panchakki">Panchakki</a></li> <li>Soneri Mahal</li> <li>Sant Dhyaneshwar garden, Paithan</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Culture</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Himroo" title="Himroo">Himroo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paithani" title="Paithani">Paithani</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Naan_qalia" title="Naan qalia">Naan qalia</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sufi_saints_of_Aurangabad&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Sufi saints of Aurangabad (page does not exist)">Sufi saints of Aurangabad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Urdu_in_Aurangabad" title="Urdu in Aurangabad">Urdu in Aurangabad</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Education</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dr._Babasaheb_Ambedkar_Marathwada_University" title="Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University">Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Government_College_of_Engineering,_Aurangabad" title="Government College of Engineering, Aurangabad">Government College of Engineering</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hi-Tech_Institute_of_Technology,_Aurangabad" title="Hi-Tech Institute of Technology, Aurangabad">Hi-Tech Institute of Technology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jawaharlal_Nehru_Engineering_College" title="Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College">Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kendriya_Vidyalaya_Aurangabad" title="Kendriya Vidyalaya Aurangabad">Kendriya Vidyalaya Aurangabad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Maulana_Azad_College_of_Arts_and_Science" title="Maulana Azad College of Arts and Science">Maulana Azad College of Arts and Science</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Marathwada_Institute_of_Technology" title="Marathwada Institute of Technology">Marathwada Institute of Technology</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Transport</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Express" title="Ajanta Express">Ajanta Express</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_Airport" title="Aurangabad Airport">Aurangabad Airport</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dadar_Central%E2%80%93Jalna_Jan_Shatabdi_Express" class="mw-redirect" title="Dadar Central–Jalna Jan Shatabdi Express">Dadar Central–Jalna Jan Shatabdi Express</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Devagiri_Express" title="Devagiri Express">Devagiri Express</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hyderabad%E2%80%93Godavari_Valley_Railways" class="mw-redirect" title="Hyderabad–Godavari Valley Railways">Hyderabad–Godavari Valley Railways</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Marathwada_Express" title="Marathwada Express">Marathwada Express</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mumbai%E2%80%93Nagpur_Expressway" title="Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway">Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Cities and towns</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad" title="Aurangabad">Aurangabad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gangapur,_Maharashtra" title="Gangapur, Maharashtra">Gangapur</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kannad" title="Kannad">Kannad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Khuldabad" title="Khuldabad">Khuldabad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paithan" title="Paithan">Paithan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sillod" title="Sillod">Sillod</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vaijapur" title="Vaijapur">Vaijapur</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Neighbourhoods</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Neighborhoods_of_Aurangabad" title="Neighborhoods of Aurangabad">Neighborhoods of Aurangabad City</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_Cantonment" title="Aurangabad Cantonment">Aurangabad Cantonment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_CIDCO" title="Aurangabad CIDCO">Aurangabad CIDCO</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Industrial projects</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_Industrial_City" title="Aurangabad Industrial City">Aurangabad Industrial City</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shendra_MIDC" title="Shendra MIDC">Shendra MIDC</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Waluj_MIDC" title="Waluj MIDC">Waluj MIDC</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Chikalthana_Software_Technology_Park_of_India_MIDC&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Chikalthana Software Technology Park of India MIDC (page does not exist)">Chikalthana Software Technology Park of India MIDC</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Lok_Sabha" title="Lok Sabha">Lok Sabha</a> constituencies</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_(Maharashtra_Lok_Sabha_constituency)" class="mw-redirect" title="Aurangabad (Maharashtra Lok Sabha constituency)">Aurangabad LS constituency</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jalna_Lok_Sabha_constituency" title="Jalna Lok Sabha constituency"> Jalna LS constituency </a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Maharashtra_Legislative_Assembly" title="Maharashtra Legislative Assembly">Assembly</a><br />constituencies</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_Central_Assembly_constituency" title="Aurangabad Central Assembly constituency">Aurangabad Central</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_East_Assembly_constituency" title="Aurangabad East Assembly constituency">Aurangabad East</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_West_Assembly_constituency" title="Aurangabad West Assembly constituency">Aurangabad West</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gangapur,_Maharashtra_Assembly_constituency" title="Gangapur, Maharashtra Assembly constituency">Gangapur</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kannad_Assembly_constituency" title="Kannad Assembly constituency">Kannad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vaijapur_Assembly_constituency" title="Vaijapur Assembly constituency">Vaijapur</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paithan_Assembly_constituency" title="Paithan Assembly constituency">Paithan</a> (Jalna LS)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sillod_Assembly_constituency" title="Sillod Assembly constituency">Sillod</a> (Jalna LS)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Judiciary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bombay_High_Court#Aurangabad_bench" title="Bombay High Court">Bombay High Court bench</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Harsul_Central_Jail" title="Harsul Central Jail">Harsul Central Jail</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Sports</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_District_Cricket_Association_Stadium" title="Aurangabad District Cricket Association Stadium">Aurangabad District Cricket Association Stadium</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Marathwada_University_Ground" title="Marathwada University Ground">Marathwada University Ground</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other topics</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Audi_India" class="mw-redirect" title="Audi India">Audi India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bidkin" title="Bidkin">Bidkin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Prozone_Mall_Aurangabad" title="Prozone Mall Aurangabad">Prozone Mall</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/%C5%A0koda_Auto_India" class="mw-redirect" title="Škoda Auto India">Škoda Auto</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Videocon_Group" title="Videocon Group">Videocon Group</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:People_from_Aurangabad,_Maharashtra" title="Category:People from Aurangabad, Maharashtra">People from Aurangabad</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Indian_Buddhist_caves" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background:#FFA500;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Indian_Buddhist_Caves" title="Template:Indian Buddhist Caves"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Indian_Buddhist_Caves" title="Template talk:Indian Buddhist Caves"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Indian_Buddhist_Caves" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Indian Buddhist Caves"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Indian_Buddhist_caves" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Buddhist_caves_in_India" title="Buddhist caves in India">Indian Buddhist caves</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh" title="Andhra Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Nandalur" title="Nandalur">Adapur Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Belum_Caves" title="Belum Caves">Belum Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chandavaram_Buddhist_site" title="Chandavaram Buddhist site">Chandavaram</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Erravaram_Caves" title="Erravaram Caves">Erravaram Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Guntupalli_Group_of_Buddhist_Monuments" title="Guntupalli Group of Buddhist Monuments">Guntupalli Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kotturu_Dhanadibbalu" title="Kotturu Dhanadibbalu">Kotturu Dhanadibbalu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Peddapuram" title="Peddapuram">Pandavula Metta Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ramateertham" title="Ramateertham">Ramateertham</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bojjannakonda" title="Bojjannakonda">Sankaram</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Undavalli_Caves" title="Undavalli Caves">Undavalli Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Bihar" title="Bihar">Bihar</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Indrasala_Cave" title="Indrasala Cave">Indrasala Cave</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vulture_Peak" title="Vulture Peak">Vulture Peak</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Saptaparni_Cave" title="Saptaparni Cave">Saptaparni Cave</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lomas_Rishi_Cave" title="Lomas Rishi Cave">Lomas Rishi Cave</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Gujarat" title="Gujarat">Gujarat</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dhank_Caves" title="Dhank Caves">Dhank Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Junagadh_Buddhist_Cave_Groups" title="Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups">Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Khapra_Kodiya_Caves" title="Khapra Kodiya Caves">Khapra Kodiya Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bava_Pyara_Caves" title="Bava Pyara Caves">Bava Pyara Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uparkot_Caves" title="Uparkot Caves">Uparkot Caves</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kadia_Dungar_Caves" title="Kadia Dungar Caves">Kadia Dungar Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Khambhalida_Caves" title="Khambhalida Caves">Khambhalida Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sana_Caves" title="Sana Caves">Sana Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Siyot_Caves" title="Siyot Caves">Siyot Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Talaja_Caves" title="Talaja Caves">Talaja Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Karnataka" title="Karnataka">Karnataka</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aihole" title="Aihole">Aihole</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Badami_cave_temples" title="Badami cave temples">Badami cave temples</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pandava_Caves" title="Pandava Caves">Pandava Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Madhya_Pradesh" title="Madhya Pradesh">Madhya Pradesh</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bagh_Caves" title="Bagh Caves">Bagh Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dhamnar_Caves" title="Dhamnar Caves">Dhamnar Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Saru_Maru" title="Saru Maru">Saru Maru</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Maharashtra" title="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Ajanta Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ambivali_Caves" title="Ambivali Caves">Ambivali Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_Caves" title="Aurangabad Caves">Aurangabad Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bahrot_Caves" title="Bahrot Caves">Bahrot Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bedse_Caves" title="Bedse Caves">Bedse Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bhaja_Caves" title="Bhaja Caves">Bhaja Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dharashiv_Caves" title="Dharashiv Caves">Dharashiv Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ellora_Caves" title="Ellora Caves">Ellora Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gandharpale_Caves" title="Gandharpale Caves">Mahad/Gandharpale Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ghatotkacha_Caves" title="Ghatotkacha Caves">Ghatotkacha Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ghorawadi_Caves" title="Ghorawadi Caves">Ghorawadi/Shelarwadi Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Karla_Caves" title="Karla Caves">Karla Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Karad_Caves" title="Karad Caves">Karad Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Khed_Caves" title="Khed Caves">Khed Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kondana_Caves" title="Kondana Caves">Kondana Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kuda_Caves" title="Kuda Caves">Kuda Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nenavali_Caves" title="Nenavali Caves">Nenavali Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nasik_Caves" title="Nasik Caves">Nasik/Pandavleni Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Panhalakaji_Caves" title="Panhalakaji Caves">Panhalakaji Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patan_caves" title="Patan caves">Patan caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pitalkhora" title="Pitalkhora">Pitalkhora</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pohale_Caves" title="Pohale Caves">Pohale Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shirwal_Caves" title="Shirwal Caves">Shirwal Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thanale_Caves" title="Thanale Caves">Nadsur/Thanale Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vijasan_Caves" title="Vijasan Caves">Vijasan Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wai_Caves" title="Wai Caves">Wai Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yerphal_Caves" title="Yerphal Caves">Yerphal Caves</a></li></ul> <p><b>In the <a href="/wiki/Mumbai" title="Mumbai">Mumbai</a> area:</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Elephanta_Caves" title="Elephanta Caves">Elephanta Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jogeshwari_Caves" title="Jogeshwari Caves">Jogeshwari Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mahakali_Caves" title="Mahakali Caves">Kondivite/Mahakali Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mandapeshwar_Caves" title="Mandapeshwar Caves">Mandapeshwar Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kanheri_Caves" title="Kanheri Caves">Kanheri Caves</a></li></ul> <p><b>In the <a href="/wiki/Junnar" title="Junnar">Junnar</a> area:</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lenyadri" title="Lenyadri">Lenyadri</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manmodi_Caves" title="Manmodi Caves">Manmodi Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shivneri_Caves" title="Shivneri Caves">Shivneri Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tulja_Caves" title="Tulja Caves">Tulja Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Rajasthan" title="Rajasthan">Rajasthan</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Binnayaga_Buddhist_Caves" title="Binnayaga Buddhist Caves">Binnayaga Buddhist Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hathiagor_Buddhist_Caves" title="Hathiagor Buddhist Caves">Hathiagor Buddhist Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kolvi_Caves" title="Kolvi Caves">Kolvi Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox authority-control" aria-labelledby="Authority_control_databases_frameless&#124;text-top&#124;10px&#124;alt=Edit_this_at_Wikidata&#124;link=https&#58;//www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q184427#identifiers&#124;class=noprint&#124;Edit_this_at_Wikidata" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Authority_control_databases_frameless&#124;text-top&#124;10px&#124;alt=Edit_this_at_Wikidata&#124;link=https&#58;//www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q184427#identifiers&#124;class=noprint&#124;Edit_this_at_Wikidata" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Help:Authority_control" title="Help:Authority control">Authority control databases</a> <span class="mw-valign-text-top noprint" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q184427#identifiers" title="Edit this at Wikidata"><img alt="Edit this at Wikidata" 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class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><ul><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://id.loc.gov/authorities/sh95005354">United States</a></span></li><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb11991135w">France</a></span></li><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://data.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb11991135w">BnF data</a></span></li><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://id.ndl.go.jp/auth/ndlna/00953325">Japan</a></span></li><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://catalogo.bne.es/uhtbin/authoritybrowse.cgi?action=display&authority_id=XX453632">Spain</a></span></li><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://olduli.nli.org.il/F/?func=find-b&local_base=NLX10&find_code=UID&request=987007551672005171">Israel</a></span></li></ul></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Geographic</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><ul><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/308085066">Pleiades</a></span></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <!-- NewPP limit report Parsed by mw‐web.codfw.main‐6b7f745dd4‐t7k9b Cached time: 20241125133428 Cache expiry: 2592000 Reduced expiry: false Complications: [vary‐revision‐sha1, show‐toc] CPU time usage: 2.999 seconds Real time usage: 3.494 seconds Preprocessor visited node count: 29957/1000000 Post‐expand include size: 418391/2097152 bytes Template argument size: 44465/2097152 bytes Highest expansion depth: 17/100 Expensive parser function count: 58/500 Unstrip recursion 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