The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-05
THE CAVERNS OF AJUNTA.
ANTIQUARIANS sTRIvING TO DECI-
PIER the HIEROG
beautiful Carvings. sculptures. and Figures
that have rtood In the solid Rock for
ARes-W Wonderful Curiosities Of the Orient.
From the Obserrer.

ARes-W onderfui Curiosties Of the Orient.
From ne ooserrer.
The celebrated Ajunta caves nre locate ed
about 200 miles from Bombav, IN the Chandor
range. near the ancient town Of Fardapur. II is
a retired place away from the course OF travel.
me Government has pr provided h9nss a., W
but that IL all. Aunt Is a Rhaut or pass In the
great Chandor range which separates the basin
Of the Ioptee from that Of the God veri.
In n deep glen away up the mountain there Ia
a group OF cave temples which are the most
wonderiul caverns on the earth. ~ Is not KNOWN
at the present age how many OF these exist In
the deep recesses OF the mountains. but twenty
seven h We been explored, surveyed, and. TO
some extent, cleared OF rubbish. There are
doubtless many Others. 1t Is hard TO realize
with what iudefatigabie toll these wonderful
caves have been hewn from the solid rock OF
Buddhist In their origin. and were used for
purposes Of worship and asceticism. They rank
feet along a bigh cliff. and are carved IN the
most curious manner, exhibiting wonderful
try OF the HindOo sculptors.
These cave temples are beautifully cut and
isbed most elaboratelv, and decorated with a
vast prOfurion OF sculptures aud paintings.
These long deserted temples have suffered from
ua'npness ana neglect, and the Awnings and
fiessoes are not what they were hundreds Of
years 9go. But the cOlors are stil brilliant, aud
scenes gay anu festive stu appear upon the
walls. Some of the figures cut In the rock are
taken Tor marriage PROFESSIONS and scenes IN
domestic life that are represented as joyful.
me female figures are beautiful, delicate, and
TAR as Europeans. Every Que OF these repre-
sent .tions Is artistic, and all Of them are I'M
polluted ny any grOssness or Obscenity generally
80 prominent In IS ahmincal representations OF
similar character.
These caves are visited by a great number OF
sntiquarans. VINO are STRIVING to decipher the
hierOglyphics ms ribed on the walls ana de-
terinine tue age OF these curious temples.
The runs Of the ancient city Oi Aurungabad
are not very far from these caves. 1t was "a
" lleo city " great repute. but is now deserted
There are not only broken walls, but crumbling
palaces. They were built OF immense strength,
qua some of the walls appear as solid AS the
everlasting hills. The tomb OF the kings
daughter Is among the ruins. IL was once a
grand tomb, something like the TaI at Agra.
The kings fayOrite daughter was buried here,
DRY. For centuries IL has been the fashion aud
practice to erect elaborate aud costly tOmbs IN
memory OF the favorite of the ruling monarch.
There are a great many places Ia this vicinity
where there are llirdOo remains, consisting Of
deep caves and rpck-cut TEMPLES. Many of these
TEN les are surrounded by "A circular enclOs.re
which Is often adorned With statues and col
umns. the hgure of AN elephant IL very com
mon, placed before or beside tue opening OF the
temple, us sort Of sentinel. Hundreds aud
thUus .nds Of inches are beautifully cut In the
sofia rock, aud when these temples were thrOng-
ed With worsnippers eacn biche had statue or
Image, usually IN the ford st ls Of these Orien-
tai sculptures. Il Is asa truth IN almost ev-
cry In. ge here Is sh .mefully defaced and M L.
Hated. IL Is often said that no liindoo will
bow down to IN imperfect Image, and that the
Mohhnmedans, knOwing this. pufpO-ely mutt
litcu oil ihesc Images 10 prevent the linuOOs
from worshlpping them. 4 uis ~ regarded by
the Hindous AS = .crilegiOus ana bldsphemUus,
awakenins the keenest aDimOsities wutch every
HtndOO inherts from his father aud winch cen
turi have not been able to enace.
Before tnis country WAS conquered by the
MOnammedans the HiudUus gathered at these
wonderful cave TEMPLES for worship. 1hey
c iule from all parts Of the empire ty thousands,
aud perhaps millions, and encamped ON these
hills, anu remained for may days to worship.
lhase places were regarded AS holy places where,
II one wOrshippeu. his sins were all wished
away, and he returned from his pilgrimage to
his Il slant home n new man.
Here also are the remains OF buried cities-
sad ruins-gener ,Iiy without single innaOitant.
In the grand y ,laces VIII re royalty once gathered
aud held festivals, VIVID beasts nni their hiding
places. In several places the track of the rail-
way nus been constructed over or through tnese
RUNE. ana the mater Al has been used for the
bed OF the road. lness hills are covered with
architectural remains OF tue early races. Enor-
nous stones nave remained in their places for
thousands OF wears, and probably will for thou
sands Of years to come. These rock-cut temples,
as well as these INITIATED statues, show "A work-
nauves can equal. IL Is very evident that hun
dreds Of year since tUese bills we're alive with
aVast multitude. where now 1t Is alt utter desc
latiOn, without Guilty. ton or Inhabitants, and
kiyrn over to wiiI tie sts.
IL Is good hunting ground and. as the English
are mighty huuteIr, theb may prefer To nave
these mOunt.ius ana Iuins remain Without
change.