Important Cave Paintings: Ancient Treasures of Indian Cultural Heritage

Introduction

Cave paintings in India are significant cultural treasures, offering insights into ancient societies, religious beliefs, and artistic techniques spanning thousands of years.

Bagh Caves

It has Buddhist mural paintings and is located near the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. 

• They closely resemble the actual Ajanta caves in terms of design, execution, and decoration..
• Cave No. 4, known as Rang Mahal, murals depicting Buddhist Jataka tales.

Badami Caves

• Location: It is located in Karnataka. 
• Period: These murals date to the 6th-7th century AD following the traditions of Ajanta and Bagh. 
• Vakataka Style: Chalukyas adopted the Vakataka style in painting in Badami. 
  • Paintings are found in a cave temple dedicated to Vishnu in Badami. 
  • Many of the paintings are of incarnations of Vishnu.
• Depictions include scenes of Chalukyan kings, Jain saints renouncing worldly life, Shiva and Parvati, Puranic events and various deities.
• Cave No. 3: Mural featuring a four-armed Brahma on his swan.
• Cave No. 4: Painting showing Kirtivarman, son of Pulakesi I and elder brother of Mangalesha, seated in the palace with his wife and feudatories, observing a dance performance.

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Sittannavasal: 

• Location: It is located in Tamil Nadu.
• Period: These murals date from 1st Century BC-10th Century AD and also known as Arivarkovil or Temple of the Arhats,
• Theme: These rock-cut cave temples are renowned for their Jainism-themed paintings.
• Resemblance: These murals bear a striking resemblance to the paintings in Bagh and Ajanta.
• Dominant theme is Jain Samavasarana or Samosharana (“Refuge to All”), a divine preaching hall of the Tirthankara.
• Patronage: It was earlier considered to be an excavation of Pallava king Mahendravarman I (AD 580-630). 
  • However, this cave-temple is now assigned to the reign of Pandya kings Maran Sendan AD 654- 670) and Arikesari Maravarman (AD 670-700).

Ellora Paintings

• Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain cave temples were excavated between the 8th and 10th centuries AD.
• Mural paintings are present in five caves, primarily in Cave No. 16, i.e. the Kailasha Temple.
• There are 12 Buddhist caves with numerous images associated with Vajrayana Buddhism, including figures like Tara, Mahamayuri, Akshobhya, Avalokiteshwara, Maitreya, Amitabha, etc.

Key Features:

• Compositions: It was in contrast to the more open style of Ajanta.
• Cave No. 14: Only double-storey cave of the Brahmanical faith.
• Other paintings include Depictions of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu, Scenes featuring Lord Shiva and his retinue etc.

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Conclusion

• The cave paintings of India constitute invaluable records of human history, showcasing the creativity, spirituality, and cultural diversity of ancient civilizations, enriching our understanding of the past and inspiring contemporary artistry.