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1. Beginning of Rock-cut Architecture:
Sudama Cave, Lomas Rishi, Bhaja,
Kondane, Nasik, Pitalkhora, Karle
Khandgiri, Ajanta and Elephanta
Dr. Virag Sontakke

2. Mauryan Caves

3. Rock-Cut Caves
• The Mauryan period saw the beginning of rock cut architecture
• The caves are located in the Nagarjuni and Barabar hills to the north of
Bodhgaya.
• These caves are hollowed out from the living rock, later developing into
what is called a Chaitya Hall.
• The Buddhist monks used the chaitya as their place of retreat
• Ashoka built three caves and gifted them to the Ajivikas, and in the
neighbouring Nagarjuni hills, one of his successors, Dasharatha, did the
same.
• Ashokan caves are unornamented and functional.
• Three caves in Barabar hills have dedicatory inscriptions of Ashoka and
three in the Nagarjuni hills have inscriptions of his successor Dasaratha.

4. Sudama Cave,

5. Interior (floor and ceiling) of Lomas Rishi cave

6. Sudama Cave, Interior

7. Sudama Cave

8. • The Barabar Caves are the
oldest surviving rock
• These caves are situated in the
twin hills of Barabar (4 caves)
and Nagarjuni (3 caves)
• Inscriptions of Asoka and
Dasaratha" dated to Maurya
period
• The caves were constructed for
Aajivikas
• Most caves at Barabar consist
of two chambers, carved
entirely out of granite.
• These caves are consist highly
polished internal surface
• Barabar Caves
1. Karan Chaupar,
2. Lomas Rishi,
3. Sudama and
4. Visvakarma
The Barabar
Caves

9. Lomas Rishi Cave
• Lomus Rishi Cave at Barabar Hills near
Gaya.
• The cave entrance is decorated with a
semicircle chaitya arch.
• An elephant is carved in high relief on the
chaitya.
• The interior hall of the cave is rectangular;
it also has a circular chamber at the back.
• Ashoka patronised this cave for the Ajivika
sect.

10. Vivaskarma cave and a way

11. Plan of Vivaskarma cave

13. Bhaja
• The caves are 400 feet above the village of Bhaja
• In Pune district of Maharashtr
• Dating back to the 2nd century BC
• The most prominent excavation, its chaitya (or chaityagrha –
Cave XII)
• It is a good example of the early development of this form from
wooden architecture, with a vaulted horseshoe ceiling.

17. Kondana Caves
• The Kondana Caves are located in the small village of Kondana
• In the Pune district of Maharashtra
• It has a group of 16 Buddhist caves
• Datable to 1st century BCE
• The construction of wooden pattern is notable.
• Showing gradual development of rock-cut architecture

20. Nasik Caves
• The Nasik Caves also known as Trirashmi Leni
• Here 23 caves carved between the 1st century BCE and the 3rd century
CE
• Cave 18 which is a Chaitya of the 1st century BCE
• Cave No. 3, is much older and finer in detail.
• It is considered nearly as old as the Karla Cave near Lonavala.
• Further development of rock-cut architecture

24. Karla Caves
• In Pune district
• It is just 11 Kilometers away from Lonavala.
• Period: from the 2nd century BCE
• The oldest of the cave shrines is believed to date back to
160 BCE,

30. Khandagiri Caves
• Formerly called Kattaka Caves or Cuttack caves
• Partly natural & partly artificial caves
• Period during the 1st century BCE.
• Carved out as residential blocks for Jain monks during the reign
of King Kharvela.
• Udayagiri means “Sunrise Hill” and has 18 caves while
• Khandagiri has 15 caves.

32. Cave of Ananta Gumpha.

34. Ajanta Caves

36. Introduction
• One of the unique Buddhist Rock–cut Architecture in the World
• Caves were carved out Rock was Basaltic (Igneous formation)
• Bears over 600 years of construction history
• Different dynastic patronage
• Individual, guilds donations
• Not only famous for architecture but also for their paintings
• Its current name is derived from a neighbouring village, the local
pronunciation of which is Ajintha.
• Ajita is the colloquial name of Maitreya Buddha.
• Declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO since 1983.

37. Ajanta Caves
Location
Discovery
Period
Architecture
Paintings
Significance

38. Location
• Ajanta situated in Maharashtra
• In Aurangabad district
• 100 km from Aurangabad city
• 420 km from Bombay
• On Wagora river
• Total 30 Caves
• Numbers are given from 1 to 30.
• Not related to chronological
sequence

39. Numberings of the Caves

41. Elements of Ajanta caves
Chaitya Vihara
Paintings
Sculptures,
Facades, Pillars etc.
Ajanta

42. Ajanta Cave: Period
1st Phase
(Early period)
Hinayan
Satavahana
Period
100 BCE-
100 CE
Guilds and
Merchants
donations
2nd Phase
(Later period)
Mahayan
Vakataka
Period
460-480
CE
Royal
Patronage

43. Early Caves
Satavahana
Hinayana
Cave no.8
Cave no.9
Cave no.10
Cave no.12
Cave no. 13
Cave no. 15A
Late Caves
Vakataka
Mahayana
Cave no.1, 2,3
Cave no. 4,5,6
Cave no. 7,11,14
Cave no.15, 16, 17
Cave no. 18,19,20
Cave no. 21 to 29

44. Dynastic
Affiliations
Ajanta Caves
Vakataka
Vakataka King
Harisena
Risika king
Upendragupta
Prime
Minister
Varahadeva
Asmaka monk
Buddhabhadra
Satavahana
Guilds and
Merchants
donations

45. Re-discovery of the Ajanta
• Accidental Discovery
• 28th April 1819
• By John Smith
• Cave no:1o

46. Structural Elements
• Total 30 Rock Cut Caves
• 5 chaityas, which are basically
prayer halls (9, 10, 19, 26, and
29).
• 24 caves are known as Viharas,
which are monasteries with
residents.
• Thought to have been occupied
by some 200 monks and
artisans.

47. Chaitya
• Five Caves (9, 10, 19, 26, and 29)
• Early Stupa: 9,10 (No image of
Buddha)
• Later Stupa: 19,26 (Buddha
sculpted on the front face)
• A chaitya is apsidal or rectangular
in form.
• Has a aisles on either side
• A nave with a barrel roof.
• Each aisle is separated by a row of
pillars.
• At the end the nave contains
a stupa.
• The early chaityas meticulously
imitated contemporary wooden
structures.
• Can be seen in the vaulted roof
decorations and pillars.

49. CAVE-26
CAVE-10

52. Vihara
• A vihara, called Sangharama.
• A monastic abode consisting of a
central hall with adjoining residential
cells.
1. A pillared porch or verandah.
2. A central hall, mostly squarish in plan
3. Cells for monks hewn into its sides.
• An antechamber connects to
the garbhagriha containing an image
of Buddha.
• architectural development proceeded
from early sober to richly ornamented
pillared viharas.

54. Viharas
Cave no 4

55. Cave 12 plan: an early type of
vihara (1st century BCE)
without internal shrine
Plan of Viharas

56. Sculptures of Ajanta
• Belongs to 2nd Phase (Vakataka)
• Buddha was main subject
• Various poses of Buddha
• Inspiration from Jataka tales
• Sculptures were both plastered
and painted.
• The garbhagriha of the vihara
contains Buddha in a seated
posture
(dharmachakra pravartana
mudra)
• Sub-deities, Gana, dwarapala,
Naga Kings etc.

59. Facade
• This was the front of the cave.
• The façade of the caves were
delicately carved.
• Façade also had pillars and
pilasters,
• Decorative motifs on rows
of chaitya arches
• Central chaitya arches remain
open for light and air

63. Pillars
• Initially pillars were just to support ceiling of the cave.
• Subsequently, pillars became more and more
decorative.
• Also contain designs or figures of Buddha
• Some pillars were carved with floral, geometric
designs
• Motifs like dwarf holding pillars or with musical
instrument.
• Painted pillars were found in four caves (Caves 2, 9,
10, 17 and 26).
• Base of the pillars were painted with yaksha, nagas,
and ganas.

65. Decoration
on
Pillars

66. Paintings
• Currently paintings are intact in both the earlier and later phase
• Cave no 9 & 10 are belongs to Satavahana period
• Paintings of early caves are represented only symbolically by the Bodhi
tree, paduka (wooden footwear), wheel etc.
• Later period paintings are survived in Cave no 1,2, 16 & 17
• Later caves depicting Buddha murals,
including Kinnara, Vidyadhara, Gandharva etc.
• Painters were mastered in an easy and fluent naturalistic style
• The paintings prominently narrate the Jataka stories.
• The narratives flow unrestricted from one cave wall to the next with effortless
flexibility.
• Artist had a deep understanding of nature, gestures, life, expressions etc.
• Buddhist legends describe the previous births of the Buddha.

69. Any Questions