Which of the following about Ajanta paintings is/are true?
1. Ajanta Caves constitute ancient monasteries and worship halls of different Buddhist traditions.
2. Paintings of Ajanta date from late fifth to early seventh century.
3. The ceiling of Ajanta caves didn’t have any painting.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
1 and 3 only
Incorrect Answer 1 and 2 only
Correct Answer 1, 2 and 3
Incorrect AnswerExplanation:
The caves at Ajanta date from the 2nd century B.C.E. to 650 C.E and were cut into the mountainside in two distinct phases. Discovered by chance in 1819 by British soldiers on a hunt, the Ajanta Caves have become an icon of ancient Indian art, and have influenced subsequent artists and styles. The caves at the site are not numbered chronologically. Instead, their numbering based on location, beginning with cave 1 on the north side of the horseshoe. All of the caves at Ajanta fall into the category of Vihara (monasteries with residence halls), or Chaitya-grihas (sanctuaries/stupa monument halls). Nevertheless, each cave has its own unique characteristics, making it difficult to write about Ajanta as a whole.The Ajanta caves are engulfed in darkness. In fact, this lack of light is crucial to the experience at Ajanta; demanding the viewer’s time while intensifying a sense of the mysterious. There may have been dim artificial lighting created by oil lamps in the past. However, even today, the majority of the caves remain almost completely dark and without the help of artificial lighting, the caves remain in their original state.
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By: Abhipedia