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| Famous Paintings of Ajanta
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| Celebrated for its archaic wonder and laced with the series of carved artistry Ajanta cave paintings echo the aura of Indian creativity in perhaps the subtlest way. The temples are excavated out of batholitic cliffs on the inner side of a 70-foot valley in the Wagurna River vale, at a site where beauty dropped her image. The optimum illustration of some of the age-old Buddhist architecture, paintings and sculptures, Ajanta Cave is indeed an awe-inspiring site. The paintings that adorn the walls and ceilings of the caves portray occurrences from Buddha`s life.
The following are some of the famous paintings of Ajanta: .
Dying princess: In this painting a princess has been represented lying on the death bed round which her relations are standing. The dying princess is very sadly looking towards her relation. The painting is so lively and natural that for a moment it appears that in fact, there is a real dying person lying. The pathos, the melancholy of this painting has moved everybody since time immemorial.
Leaving home by lord Buddha: The painting of the cave no. XVII is very natural. Yashodhara and Rahul are living asleep and Gautam is leaving home with serenity. No signs of sorrow or uneasiness are on the face of Gautam. Praising this painting sister Nivedita has remarked, "This picture is perhaps the greatest imagination presentment of Buddha that the world ever saw. Such a conception could hardly occur twice."
Picture of a king and golden goose: This picture is also in cave no. XVII in this picture a king has been represented talking smilingly to a golden goose. According to sister Nivedita this is the most beautiful picture in the world. She writes: "Nowhere in the world could more beautiful painting be found than in the king listening to the golden goose in cave seventeen."
The painting of mother and child before Buddha: In cave no XVII there is also a beautiful painting of mother and son. The mother is giving charity of lord Buddha. There are several pieces of stone in hand of the child and one piece of stone in the hand of the mother. The child is naked and the mother is wearing a thin cloth. It is a fine representation of simplicity and poverty. According to some scholar it is the picture of Yashodhara and Rahul. But other scholars do not agree with the view. It is a very lovely, natural and beautiful painting. The expression of seriousness on the face of mother and simplicity on the face of the child has been beautifully represented. A scholar has observed, "We can see in the best Ajanta paintings especially in those of the caves numbered 16 and 17. The same intense love of nature and spiritual devotion as are evident in the sculpture of Barabudur. I must content myself with reproducing from Mr. Griffith`s work the very precious fragment of the mother and child before Buddha from cave 17, which in its exquisite sentiment, is comparable with, the wonderful Madonnas of Giovavni Bellini."
The painting of royal life: This picture represents many men and women wearing beautiful dresses and ornaments. Some men have umbrellas over their hands and some men are carrying musical instruments. Some woman are wearing garlands of flowers.
Thus the art of Ajanta is the classical art of India, the beauty of the paintings, the simplicity of the representation and those vivacious and varied designs make Ajanta paintings a memoir, ideally etched in colors.
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