Riddhi Bhatt: Visit to an Art Gallery: Ajanta Exhibition

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Visit to an Art Gallery: Ajanta Exhibition

Hello Monk..

I am Riddhi Bhatt from Department of English. This blog is the Sunday reading task. On 26th September, 2021 Ajanta Exhibition held by Shree Khodidas Parmar Art Foundation from 24 to 26 September.IN this exhibition many artist displayed various paintings and art of the caves. Unfortunately, I am not able to visited physically this Art gallery. But some of my friends and professor were going for a visit and they shared the experience and photos of gallery visit ‘Ajanta Art Gallery at Bhavnagar.

These are some photos and news cuttings on this Art Gallery and Shree Khodidas Parmar Art Foundation.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION ABOUT AJANTA CAVES :

Panoramic view of Ajanta Caves from the nearby hill

Ajanta Caves, Buddhist rock-cut cave temples and monasteries, located near Ajanta village, north-central Maharashtra state, western India, that are celebrated for their wall paintings. The temples are hollowed out of granite cliffs on the inner side of a 70-foot (20-metre) ravine in the Wagurna River valley 65 miles (105 km) northeast of Aurangabad, at a site of great scenic beauty. The group of some 30 caves was excavated between the 1st century BCE and the 7th century CE and consists of two types, caityas (“sanctuaries”) and viharas (“monasteries”). Although the sculpture, particularly the rich ornamentation of the caitya pillars, is noteworthy, it is the fresco-type paintings that are the chief interest of Ajanta. These paintings depict colourful Buddhist legends and divinities with an exuberance and vitality that is unsurpassed in Indian art. The caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

(FOR MORE … WIKIPEDEA)

IN ART GALLERY :

Buddha-Yashodhara-Rahul painting in (Ajanta Cave 17)

At the far end of the cave, beside the sanctum sanctorum was a painting that depicted a poignant episode in the life of Buddha.

It is well-known fact that Prince Siddhartha deserted his wife Yashodhara and newborn son Rahul when he left home to meditate and achieve enlightenment. After Siddhartha came back to Kapilavastu on attaining enlightenment and becoming the Buddha, he came to meet his wife at her door. Yashodhara sent their son, young Rahul to Buddha for seeking his father’s inheritance and the little boy left with him to become a monk. This moment was beautifully visualized in the painting in this cave.

Painting of One of four frescos for the Mahajanaka Jataka tale: the king announces his abdication to become an ascetic

In the upper left, King Mahājanaka sits with his wife and attendants. Immediately the right of this, there is a dance performance accompanied by various musical instruments. In the upper right, King Mahājanaka listens to an ascetic, perhaps Nārada. Beneath this, the king is seen leaving the palace gates on an elephant with soldiers.

Paintings of The Bodhisattva of compassion Padmapani with lotus

Padmapani is a Bodhisattva or someone who is on the path of enlightenment or becoming a Buddha. He is the epitome of compassion and is a popular character in Buddhist iconography. In Indian illustrations, he holds the Padma or the lotus flower thus being called Padmapani or the “One who holds a lotus in his hand”. The Sanskrit word “pani” means hand.

Painting of Vajrapani

Vajrapani is a Bodhisattva who is known to be the protector. He holds a thunderbolt or the Vajra in his right hand and is thus called Vajrapani or the “One who holds the thunder in his hand”. Padmapani, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Vajrapani, the Bodhisattva of Protection are frequently found flanking statues and images of the Buddha.

Manushi Buddhas painting in Cave 16