Ajanta and Ellora Caves A marvel of Indian Architecture [Hindi] Infinity Stream

India's history presents a unique panorama of its culture here The vibrant essence of India's religion civilization and culture is vidly expressed in this Great progress has been made in the fields of art and architecture today But if you look back toward the Ajanta and Ellora caves you'll see They won't be able to help but be amazed Because it is incredibly wonderful in and of itself These caves are an outstanding example of ancient Indian art and architecture Two of India's most famous and unique archaeological sites are Ajanta and Ellora Caves Having seen it you will truly appreciate India's art religion and history You can understand it very clearly These caves emerged after long years of remaining hidden in obscurity They are full of mystery in themselves Where are these caves located and how do they symbolize religion How old are they You should definitely know this to understand just how rich India's art heritage truly is Its ancient works are our heritage which must be preserved and cherished And there's also a need to be proud of them Today in this episode we'll explore the caves of Ajanta and Ellora On InfinityStream tv So let's get started The caves of Ajanta and Ellora are included in UNESCO's World Heritage Sites The influence of religious art and imagery here Has a profound impact on the development of art in India Yun is considered to be the same as Ajanta and Ellora caves But there is a difference among these Both of these caves are temples and monasteries carved directly into the rock Yet they still differ from one another The caves of Ajanta and Ellora are approximately one hundred kilometers apart The Ajanta caves are based solely on a religion Let's begin by learning about the caves of Ajanta And then about the caves of Ellora Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district of Maharashtra state India That is from Aurangabad The Ajanta Caves are located approximately one hundred kilometers away These caves shaped like the rim of a cart wheel They are astonishing in themselves Because at such ancient time Using tools such as hoes spades and axes How the cliff was cu This lingering question still arises in the mind of every visitor who comes here today The caves of Ajanta surrounded by wild vegetation Amidst rugged cliffs and lush greenery A calm and beautiful place lies ahead It is considered one of the finest examples of Buddhist religious art These caves are named after the nearby village of Ajanta Located approximately 12 kilometers from here These vibrant caves are a living testament to the art of Buddhist religion fearing attacks by wild animals and the Bhils as well as the dense forests Remained unknown for thousands of years But in 1819 they were recognized once again When a British official named John Smith set out into this region for hunting Then he arrived among the hills of Sayadri There he also spotted a river called Vagura Smith prowling the edge in search of prey The entrance to the cave on the hills above the river began to come into view He thought maybe there had been a hunt in that cave Smith stepped into the cave stunned by the very thought When he lit the torch and looked inside the cave And discovered that these are the Ajanta caves Seeing the breathtaking and unique spectacle of art and architecture He was stunned This news spread rapidly in all directions And once again the Ajanta Caves began to regain their lost identity And for modern Bharat this was no less than a priceless gift from history Information about these caves is also found in the travel accounts of the Buddhist pilgrims Faxian and Xuanzang During the reign of Emperor Chandragupta II Fahian traveled through the region And during the reign of King Harsha Vardhana the kingdom of Hengyang prospered Shaiso had come to India between Shaiso Setalievesvi and ASV The construction of these caves spans from the second century BCE to the second century CE Over the years it has been done Their creation is a collaborative effort by the Forest Department and The vote was held on the specified date Sāthavāhan Pūrā ancient Hindu dynasty of Bhārat was Who ruled for a hundred years with unmatched authority And the Vakataka dynasty was also an Indian royal lineage that upheld the ideals of Brahmanical religion And played a crucial role in advancing social institutions toward the south The artworks created at Ajanta reflect the Gandhara and Mathura art traditions of the Kushan period In addition numerous artistic specimens from the Gupta period as well as from the Amaravati style of the Satavahana era are also found here There are 30 caves at Ajanta one of which is unfinished Thus a total of 29 caves are considered here These are all Buddhist caves including 25 monasteries and 4 shrines Monastic dwellings serve as residences for Buddhist monks The construction of these caves was carried out in two phases The initial stage of the Hīnayāna path followed by the later stage of the Mahāyāna path The Hinayana caves were constructed between the second century BCE and the first century CE While the Great Cave Temples were constructed during the 5th and 6th centuries CE The cave designs in the Hien Yen Chuan area are relatively simple While the Mahāyāna caves are extensive Among them are the Ceylonese caves including the Chaitya Hall Half-spherical in shape And which Buddhist monks used as a place of worship The walls of this hall are adorned with paintings and sculptures They come to the great cave temples of Vihara Mahayana Those that are rectangular in shape And they used it as a dwelling place for monks Their walls are also adorned with paintings and sculptures Hīna and Mahāyāna are actually two major traditions within Buddhism Among them the one named Hien Ya is the oldest They follow the original teachings of Buddha And its principles are strict They consider themselves humble followers of the Buddha That Mahatma Buddha is not God Rather he was a human being Those who have found the path to enlightenment The same great vessel follows the disciples of the Buddha Buddha is a divine being Those who came to Earth to help cross the ocean of life Looking at the design of these caves it seems tha These were likely vast centers of Buddhist education Some of the chambers in these caves were even designed for sleeping Even small modest rooms appear suitable for meditation Here there are rooms of various sizes Used for various different tasks As it has consistently been done for rest and meditation Hundreds of Buddhist monks could have lived here And they didn’t need to rely on anyone for food or water Carving into the cliffs of the hills Among them are the ceiling pillars vast halls assembly buildings gates walls and countless statues Buddha's statues are found in the Ajanta caves Here are several statues of Buddhist deities Carved out of the rock itself And placed within the alcoves carved into the cave walls Buddha's statues are found in nearly all caves depicted in various postures Among them are wall paintings which are paintings created directly on walls The paintings found on the ceilings and walls of caves made on damp plaster Both fresco and tempera techniques were used to create the artwork here Fresco painting is the oldest technique in the art of painting And these are painted directly onto fresh plaster on any wall And creating images using the Tempra technique Watercolor is used with a binding material such as gum arabic Such paintings can be created on walls fabric paper and canvas The paintings at Ajanta are truly exceptional They are made from natural pigments Those with an abundance of red and the absence of blac Intricate vast and exquisite paintings are carved into the walls of Ajanta It is said that the walls must have been cleaned before these were made Then a layer of rice paste glue leaves and certain chemicals was applied to the wall So that the brilliance of the images may endure for centuries These wall paintings also depict scenes from Jataka tales Stories about the Buddha's previous lives It is believed that Gautama Buddha remembered many of his past lives These images are adorned with Buddhist Jataka tales animals and birds flowers and leaves and tree motifs It is believed that many Buddhist monks It took a long time because at that point they had been ordered not to travel regarding it Some of the world-famous statues and wall paintings here are these In the first cave a mural eight feet long and one foot high depicts Sadhartha absorbed in meditation with the army of Kama also known as Maara and his daughter attempting to disrupt his ascetic focus A beautiful depiction of Padmapani Avalokiteshvara in the first cave shows the Buddha standing with a blue lotus in his right hand his face radiating profound compassion Inside the cave among the honeybees there is also a painting depicting a couple of honey collectors with one man climbing a tree to reach the hive The cave contains a large mural depicting Siddhartha Gautama renouncing worldly life In this poignant scene Rahul lies asleep beside his wife Yasodhara Those who last saw Siddharth This image of moving forward by letting go of attachment reveals much about their life Cave 19 at Ajanta is one of the most exquisite artistic masterpieces The cave is adorned with beautiful paintings In a painting a princess is helping her servant mount a horse Another depiction of alms-giving In which the Buddha is depicted arriving at the gate of Yasodhara to receive alms In it Yashodhara tells her son Rahul: That you claim your inheritance from your father Buddha then handed the begging bowl to Rahul enrolling him as well into the monastic community Yashodhara and Rahul's portraits are damaged But the image of the Buddha is enormous The incomparable alms offered by Yasodhara to the Buddha as Rahula This painting from Ajanta vidly portrays the ultimate act of self-surrender Standing in front of Cave 26 one could survey all the other caves The largest of the caves found at Ajanta is this one A large statue of the Buddha lies in the lotus position within this cave That indicates their entry into fairy nirvana The fairy's nirvana is the great liberation achieved after death What Mahatma Buddha had attained The colossal reclining statue of Gautama Buddha It clearly portrays the sharpness and serenity of his expressions The image of Princess Marnasana is also found in this very cave Separated from her beloved husband In truth the prince's wife Sundari was married to Nanda the brother of Buddha Nand had become completely absorbed in his wife's presence And once he had to return from the Buddha's door without receiving alms Later after receiving ordination from the Buddha he renounced his worldly life Then his wife fell into a state of unconsciousness In this cave depictions of men wearing turbans and female figures illustrate the ornamental headwear of that era Abushan is depicted as a beautiful and emotionally expressive woman rendered in graceful gestures Only 28 of Ajanta's caves contain a double-storied vihara In Ajnita's sculptures and paintings the Jataka Kathas hold a prominent place Each image tells a story drawn from the Jataka tales The scenes from these Jataka tales can be seen depicted in the first cave the second cave the tenth cave and the eleventh cave However the largest number of Jataka tales has been discovered in the Satavahana cave It vidly portrays numerous events from the life of the Buddha Moreover the great Jataka tales relating to their previous births The Monkey Jataka the Elephant Jataka the Swan Jataka Vaisakha Jataka Mahish Jataka Shivi Jataka and others like them You may be familiar with some of these Jataka tales So you can see these in the caves of Ajanta We can clearly understand this The Mahakapi Jataka is one of the Jataka tales stories about the Buddha's previous lives When Vehe was the king of the merchants a man of wisdom According to this story intelligence first emerged in the form of a monkey The king of 80 000 monkeys All the porters lived near the Ganges at a certain place And they ate fruit from a massive banyan tree King Brahmadatta of Banaras desiring to obtain a mango Surrounded the tree with his soldiers to kill the animals But Wisdom crafted a bridge over the river from her own body And enabled them to flee from there while keeping their entire tribe safe Intent on saving others without regard for her own life Soya's resolve remains unwavering The purpose of the life of Lord Buddha was to attain enlightenment regardless of the form in which he was born Similarly according to the tale of the Chandat Jataka long ago in the dense forests of the Himalayas The elephant was enormous with large tusks which is why it was called a "chandta " His king lived in the Kanchan Cave with his two wives Mahā Subhā and Chullā Subhā Once when the king vigorously shook a large branch of a tree the blossoms upon it began to fall onto Queen Mahasubhada delighting her immensely The same happy branch fell onto the second queen Chullu Subhada Unknowingly ChulL Subhada took the incident as an insult and walked away leaving Gajraj behind Some time later she passed away and was reborn as the princess of Maddhara State When she was young she married the king of Varanasi and became queen Even after rebirth she never forgot the insult she had suffered by the careless act of the king and continued to plot her revenge Taking advantage of a chance one day he incited the king of Varanasi to seize the throne of Chandt Raj through force After that the king sent a group led by Sonutar After a journey of nearly a year Sonutara finally arrived at Gajraj's residence He dug a large pit a short distance from Gajraj's dwelling to capture him and make him his prey He covered the hole with leaves and small twigs to hide it then concealed himself beneath a pile of blankets As Gajraj approached the ditch Sonutar swiftly drew his celestial arrow and aimed it directly at the king After being wounded by an arrow when Gajraj's eyes fell upon Sonutar hidden among the reeds he rushed forward to claim him Thus Gajraj granted Sonutar a life-saving boon Grateful for the gift of life Sonutar's heart changed and he confessed to Gajraj the entire story—why he had aimed his weapon at him in the first place Upon learning this Raj shed tears and personally broke off his tusks giving them to Sonutar After doing so the elephant king passed away With the tusks in hand Sonutar filled with joy returned to Varanasi and placed the tusks before the queen At the same time Sonutar also told the queen how Gajraj had given him life by sacrificing his own tusks leading to his death After learning the full truth the queen could not bear Gajraj’s passing and overcome with grief and self-blame fell into a deep despair The desire for revenge clouded the queen's ability to think and reason with devastating consequences This Jataka tale conveys the message that we should not harbor feelings of revenge as the consequences are always dire Born in the Nagaloka as King Chame also known as the King of the Nagas due to a desire from a previous life this image illustrates that very story Similarly the Vasantara Jataka tells the story of a generous and magnanimous prince named Vasantara who gives away everything he has including his children in charity Thus Buddhist Jataka tales impart life lessons and advocate living with sincerity love and generosity beautifully and clearly depicted on the devotional walls of Ajanta so that the Buddha may There are caves 34 of which are open to visitors What makes Ellora unique is that 17 of its 34 caves are dedicated to Hinduism Twelve caves are associated with Buddhism and five are dedicated to Jainism These caves carved into the rock cliffs form a complex of Hindu Buddhist and Jain shrines The three religious cave temples at Ellora make the site a remarkable testament to religious harmony The first cave temples were built related to Hinduism followed by those associated with Buddhism and finally Statues and paintings based on both Hindu and Jain religions were created Each of these three groups—Hindu Buddhist and Jain—has its own distinct architecture and artistic style Elora's intricate carvings sculptures and architectural style give it a distinctive identity These caves are newer than the caves of Ajanta Their construction spans from the 12th to the 15th century CE This site spread over a two-kilometer area features cave temples and monasteries The construction of the Ellora Caves carved out of 62 rock faces by the skilled hands of the Jyotirlinga artisans The Rashtrakuta dynasty the Kalachuri dynasty the Chalukya dynasty and the Yadava dynasty all contributed In Ellora there are also small cell-like caves as well as large multi-shrined temples The early caves of Ellora which were Hindu caves Among them are gods such as Lord Shiva Vishnu and Goddess Durga Numerous statues of Hindu deities can be seen These caves are numbered from 13 to 29 It is also important for you to know here that the numbering of these caves is They were not provided according to the time of their creation Among these the famous caves are Cave 14 Cave 16 and Cave 17 These were crafted and completed across different centuries Cave 14 dates to the 7th century while Cave 16 is from the 8th century And Cave 17 is a rock-cut temple dating back to the 9th century In addition to their statues these caves feature intricate carvings And the decorations come together instantly The wall paintings created here are related to religious subjects But you can also see depictions of ancient myths here There are the Baudh caves numbered from 1 to 12 Created during the 8th and 9th centuries by Buddhist monks They are renowned for their sculptures and carvings carved directly into the rock Depicting the lives of Buddha and other Buddhist figures and events The caves contain statues and paintings of Buddha Buddhism and other Buddhist deities In these caves scenes depicting the birth enlightenment and attainment of liberation by the Buddha can be seen Among them are also statues of the Buddha along with those of many disciples and followers Some of these caves are among the most renowned caves The cave is a stupa the cave complex consists of a stupa and a monastery And it's about the cave that serves as a stupa and monastery The caves numbered 23 to 34 at Ellora are Jain caves These are renowned for their statues of Jain Tirthankaras Considered a spiritual leader in the Jain religion These caves also feature depictions of various religious and philosophical aspects of Jainism Some of these caves are among the most famous caves Caves 32 33 and 34 are Jain temples During the tenth century following the collapse of the Rashtrakuta dynasty The Ajanta Caves were left behind After that it vanished somewhere into history And subsequently the Archaeological Survey of India conducted Along with studying its essence It was also sharpened and prepared for the pilgrims Here are some notable caves of Ellora Cave Number 10 Ellora Also known as the World Cave Due to the structure of the rock formation it is known as the cobbler's apron Also known as the Cave of the Rising the cave is famed for its majestic formations This cave is the sole chaitya at Ellora A large carved statue of the Buddha is featured here The caves known as Gyaraha and Baraha are recognized by the names Two Tal and Three Tal Because Cave Gyarrah is two stories high and Cave Barreh is three stories high Cave number 4 at Ellora also holds special significance It is known as Ravana's Pit Although the reason behind this name remains unclear to date On the wall of this cave Mahishasura the demon king is depicted as a buffalo-headed figure Lord Shiva and Parvati playing chausar Lord Shiva is seen performing a divine dance in the posture of Nataraja Ravana's attempt to uproot Mount Kailash and later seeking forgiveness from Lord Shiva is also depicted here There's so much to see here including statues of Madurga Gajalakshmi Varaha Avatar Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi The Naseedik Ravansh cave pit is a natural depression believed to have been used by Ravan as a training ground for his army Like Lord Ganesha Goddess Parvati Sun Shiva and Parvati Mahishasuramardini and Ardhanarishvara Inside this cave you can see artworks ranging from flowers to snakes and the statues of Bonos also draw attention These caves are renowned for their extraordinary architecture Cave 16 at Ellora is the most remarkable so we'll discuss it in greater detail later on in this journey So learn now about Cave 21 at Ellora a Hindu temple also known as the Rameshvara Cave This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and in front of the cave a statue of Nandi is placed on a raised platform In this cave beautiful depictions of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers are carved Caves 29 at Ellora known locally as Sita Kund are famously referred to as Dumrulena This site was carved out of the Elanga River's rock face and bears a striking resemblance to Maharashtra's Elephanta Caves featuring several extraordinary sculptures It features beautiful pillars large sculptural panels and intricate paintings on the ceilings and walls Among all the caves at Ellora the Jain caves boast the most extensive ceiling and wall paintings Similarly Cave 33 and Cave 34 at Ellora are dedicated to Jainism Cave 33 is known as Jagannatha Sabha and is located directly adjacent to Indra Sabha It is the second-largest cave among the Jain caves following Indra Sabha Inside the images of Bahubali and Parshvanatha are enshrined The idols are of Jain deities and Tirthankaras There is also a small temple within where beautifully carved idols of the goddess Siddhika protector of the temple and Lord Matanga the divine elephant are placed at the temple's entrance These idols are remarkable for their artistry and spiritual significance This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva houses the world's largest continuous flame These temples are not only historic examples of Indian architecture but also astonishing feats of construction Because this massive temple is the largest structure in the world made from a single piece of stone And the reason is that this temple was carved directly out of a single rock The rock is estimated to weigh approximately 40 000 tons People from around the world come here to admire the intricate carvings sculptures and scenes based on Hindu mythology adorning this temple Approximately 300 feet long 175 feet wide and 100 feet high the Kailasa Temple It is a vast temple complex designed to resemble Mount Kailash considered the abode of Lord Shiva There are various opinions regarding how long it took to build this magnificent temple Many believe it took over a century to build this historic temple Approximately 7 000 workers contributed to the construction of this temple each working a day at a time Another account claims that this vast temple was completed and ready in just a few weeks And the reason for it being built so quickly is this temple's In Nirman which divine powers are these Being an alien was their fate Some say that beneath this temple lies They are hidden divine layers Built from those stones Another unique aspect related to the temple is that this shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva There is no priest here nor any information available about a place of worship So many bewildering things and yet this is just the beginning What makes this temple even more unique is that it is said to be the only one of its kind During construction the rock was neither cut from below nor Carved from the front rather than cut from top to bottom through the rock You're probably stunned just hearing this—how could something like this even be possible and what could possibly have driven someone to do it The correct answer to this remains unknown for now but there's a story linked to its creator according to which there once existed a kingdom named Alajapurna whose king was named Elu Once Alu fell gravely ill and in her concern his queen went into the forest to worship Lord Ghrineshwar And she prayed that if the king were to recover she would build a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva Queen shortly after offering her prayer saw the king's illness miraculously cured And then the queen told the king to initiate the construction of this Shiva temple in Ellora Now the challenge arises that constructing the massive Shiva Temple will take a very long time How could Queen Bhuki possibly endure until she reaches the pinnacle In such a situation the king instructed his craftsmen to construct the temple from top to bottom So that the temple's pinnacle could be reached first and the queen could complete her vow Some believe the queen prayed to Lord Shiva for help and was granted divine support Even this thin layer could suffocate a stone Thus the temple was constructed in a remarkably short time using this foundation And the queen's vow was finally fulfilled Later this layer was concealed beneath the ground According to ancient scholars this temple was constructed between 800 and 1000 CE It took 18 years to build this temple with construction carried out during the reigns of different kings Initially the temple was known as Krittinath and later it came to be called the Kailash Temple The temple has been painted white to make it resemble Mount Kailash The temple features an entrance gate a hall and statues This two-storied temple is richly adorned with sculptures both inside and out In front of the temple within the open mandapa stands Nandi flanked on both sides by massive stone pillars and carved beams Pictures related to ancient scriptures are depicted on the temple's walls Just as Ravana attempted to uproot Mount Kailash as he tried to abduct Goddess Sita and as Lord Rama met Hanuman—countless legendary scenes are carved into these walls And in addition to scenes from the Ramayana the temple also features depictions from the Mahabharata The sanctum houses a lingam representing Lord Shiva Aurangzeb a devout pilgrim who once visited the site made numerous attempts to damage the temple but he was unable to do so Did not reach the peak And even today this Kailash Temple is not only a place of worship Yet it stands firm as a witness to history so remarkable that the Kailasa Temple is a masterpiece of intricate carving and architectural artistry This proves that an advanced civilization has existed in India for thousands of years These caves of Ellora are rich in mystery romance and a splendid heritage It conveys a message of tolerance and harmony among the three religions united in their mutual coexistence If you've come to see the caves of Ajanta and Ellora don't miss these as well You can also explore a few other nearby tourist attractions around them Here you can also enjoy the Ajanta Festival a classical music and dance festival You must visit here at least once to truly appreciate these historic treasures of Ajanta and Ellora up close This time come to Ajanta and Ellora and see history not just in books but up close within these caves We'll be back with you very soon through a new documentary—until then share your thoughts on how you found this one in the common section Also on InfinityStream tv you'll discover more documentaries like these that you can explore So I'll say thank you to Ruby Parike for now