An Introduction To The Ajant Caves

This book presents the latest and updated information about the Ajanta caves, their histories, and painted themes. For the first time, a book accommodates-within the space of a single volume-many dimensions and components of the caves. It includes the latest research by the author on the gradual development of the caves. historical framework formulated by Walter M. Spink. identifications of the narrative paintings by Dieter Schlingloff. identifications of the devotional and ornamental paintings by Monika Zin. summaries of nearly all the narrative paintings (84 stories). corpus of photo documentation on the paintings, sculptures, and architecture. attempt on long exposure photography in poorly lit conditions. The language is so crafted as to help the students, travellers, and general readers grasp the beauty and complexities of Ajanta and the times. At the same time the content is so packed, and the issues discussed in such a manner, as to keep the expert readers engaged.

Volume Five comprises, along with introductory comments, two "cave by cave" guides. One which, very briefly, describes the character of each cave and its patronage, is intended to be useful for the general visitor to the site. The other, very detailed, discusses the position and peculiarities of each cave in relation to the overall, year by year, development of the site. This volume also contains a complete set of cave plans, and various illuminating charts, graphs, outlines, and maps.

Volume 7 of Walter Spink's monumental and still controversial study of the famous Ajanta caves considers the many connections between the Bagh caves and its “sister site”, Ajanta, particularly emphasizing the leading role that Bagh plays in the crucial matter of Buddhist shrine development and the transition from the aniconic to iconic forms of worship. He also explains the relationships between certain caves and solstices, as well as changing technologies, especially in the development of the door fittings in the monks’ cells.

This book is designed for students, educators, libraries, and general readers with keen interest in the subject of Indian or South Asian art, architecture, history, and culture. It is work of the author's fifteen years of on-site research. The uniqueness of the book lies on several counts. If you are looking for the most up to date information on the ancient caves of Ajanta (a World Heritage Monument) and want to learn about the subject matter of the paintings, sculptures, and how the caves were actually excavated step by step, year by year, and not willing to miss a single jataka, or a painted theme from the life of the Buddha, then this is the book for you. The book has about 70,000 words of texts and nearly 380 high quality photographs taken by the author himself. Each photo depicts either the whole or a part of larger narrative episode that are painted on the walls of the ancient Buddhist caves of Ajanta. Each photograph has a caption providing the latest and authentic identification of the theme depicted, which corpus is based on the world acclaimed researches by Professor Dieter Schlingloff. The identifications of the decorative themes are based on the researches by Professor Monika Zin. For the first time, we have a book that clears much confusion, and answers many questions: who were the people who created these magnificent caves? Which sects of Buddhism did they belong to? What was the period when the caves were excavated? What kinds of patronages were involved? What are the historical sources and evidence to give us a holistic overview of the caves and their times? What were the problems encountered during the excavation? The book sets aside many prevalent misconceptions and errors created by earlier historians and archaeologists. Here, a new and fresh perspective is given to the history and socio-cultural and political context. The book is a summary of the latest research carried out in the last three decades by many acclaimed scholars including that of the author. The language is carefully crafted so that the content is accessible to the general reader and students as well as the there is enough content, analysis, insights, and facts to keep the advanced reader engaged.

Some of the world's most beautiful frescos and sculptures- Buddhist, Hindu and Jain- are found here. Beautiful photographs capture the richness of an ancient ethos.

The exquisite murals and stone sculptures of India's Ajanta caves--located some 200 miles northeast of Bombay--rank among the world's most important cultural treasures. In his photographs, using long exposures that capture the natural ambient light, Benoy Behl recreates the experience of visiting the caves with an accuracy and detail never before thought possible. 250 illustrations, 225 in color. 2 maps.

The twenty-nine Buddhist caves near Ajanta form a devotional complex which ranks as one of the world's most startling achievements, created at the very apogee of India's Golden Age. "Ajanta: History and Development," appears as part of the series Handbook of Oriental Studies, present the reader with a systematic treatment of all aspects of the site, the result of forty years of painstaking research "in situ" by Walter M. Spink. Volume one deals with the historical context in which this dramatic burst of pious activity took place under the reign of Vakataka emperor Harisena, (c. 460 - 477 A.D.), and with the sudden halt of activity almost immediately following the death of the emperor. In surprising detail the relative and absolute chronology of the site can be established from a careful reading of the physical evidence, with consequences for our dating of India's Golden Age. Ajanta, it appears, is a veritable illustrated history of Harisena's times, crowded with information on its history, development and how it was used.