Aurangabad Caves |  Linking Ajanta and Ellora Art
Channel: el Liven
Date: 2022-09-15

Hidden in the sanctum of Aurangabad Caves are unique carvings not seen anywhere else in the sub-continent. These early Buddhist caves have transitional art and architecture linking the nearby Ajanta and Ellora Caves.
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Just outside Aurangabad at the Sihayachal foothills paved steps lead up to our next destination, the Aurangabad Caves. These were an important time-link between the Ajanta and Ellora caves They linked the period from the 3rd to 7th centuries CE

The Chaityagriha is the only cave of the earlier Hinayana phase. A series of plain octagonal columns pass around the dagoba at the rear. The austere cylinder of the dagoba has a bulbous dome with a harmika and inverted pyramid on the top. Stone ribs carved out of the vault are an imitation of wooden beams. The soft basalt entrance has collapsed revealing its interior.

Cave 3 is the finest of this complex. A vihara, but without the individual cells for monks
Salbhanjikas sway from pillar capitals. Hidden in the dark recesses are devotees,
hands folded; gazes transfixed in adoration through the centuries. Pillars and pilasters are carved with floral and geometric motifs. A flautist… dancing musicians… and percussion.
Medallions on the shaft show cameos of couples and groups.

Cave 2 is a worship hall. Seated on a lotus stool Buddhas halo reflects golden sunlight
Padmapani, attended by a Naga, grasps a lotus stalk with a Buddha at the top and also on his forehead. On the other side Vajrapani has a lightning bolt in his right hand
and a deer on his left shoulder. A pradakshinpath around the shrine is cut out of the living rock. This circumambulatory feature is borrowed from structural temples. It evolved from the Chaityagriha in Mahayana Buddhism. The walls are covered with figures of seated buddhas in various hand gestures.

Only the shrine with an image of Buddha exists in Cave 5. The rest of the soft rock has collapsed and crumbled

So, this was Aurangabad Caves, and as you can see this also displayed some of the transitional art forms from the traditional forms of earlier. Don't forget to like and to subscribe. See you at our next destination!

More Maharashtra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rn4hpT3m8c&list=PLNhefwrejMZztbFe4k7egDT9blt1M5ggX
Badami Caves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emiITbqcySU&t=171s

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:40 Cave 4
1:15 Cave 3
2:45 Cave 2
3:45 Cave 5
3:55 Outro

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Credits
🎬 Shotcut https://www.shotcut.org/
🎵 Ether Real - Destiny & Time
🎛🎚🎧 Audacity https://www.audacityteam.org/

📚 References:
1. Pushkar Sohoni - Aurangabad with Daulatabad, Khuldabad and Ahmadnagar (2015)
2. https://archive.org/details/cavetemplesofind00ferguoft/page/384/mode/2up?view=theater
3. https://asi.nic.in/aurangabad-caves/
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurangabad_Caves