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Mural/Wall Painting: 1.ajanta Cave Paintings

Murals, or wall paintings, have been an important art form in India dating back to the 2nd century BC. Some of the most significant examples of ancient Indian mural paintings can be found in the Ajanta, Ellora, Bagh, Arnamalai, and Sittanavasal caves. The Ajanta cave paintings from the 4th century BC are considered some of the oldest and feature Buddhist religious themes and depictions of social life. Ellora cave paintings contain representations of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism and include figures like Shiva, Vishnu, and Laxmi. Bagh cave paintings are stylistically similar to Ajanta but contain more secular, materialistic themes rather than

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117 views6 pages

Mural/Wall Painting: 1.ajanta Cave Paintings

Murals, or wall paintings, have been an important art form in India dating back to the 2nd century BC. Some of the most significant examples of ancient Indian mural paintings can be found in the Ajanta, Ellora, Bagh, Arnamalai, and Sittanavasal caves. The Ajanta cave paintings from the 4th century BC are considered some of the oldest and feature Buddhist religious themes and depictions of social life. Ellora cave paintings contain representations of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism and include figures like Shiva, Vishnu, and Laxmi. Bagh cave paintings are stylistically similar to Ajanta but contain more secular, materialistic themes rather than

Uploaded by

sravan kumar
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Mural/Wall Painting

Mural comes from the Latin word ‘murus’ which means wall.
• Murals are significant as they bring art into a large public sphere as they are put up on
a. large wall and hence an effective tool for social emancipation.
• Also murals can add to the scenic beauty of a place where they are painted
• It started from around 2nd century BC to 10th century AD.
• They were basically rock cut chambers.
• They were also found in natural caves earlier.
• Examples of mural paintings include Jogimara caves, Ajanta caves etc.
• In India they are of sheer size, found in Ajanta, Ellora, caves and temple walls etc.

1.AJANTA CAVE PAINTINGS

• They are oldest in India.


• They were found in 4th century BC in 1829 in Aurangabad.
• They are horse shoe shaped.
• They are found in volcanic rocks.
• They are basically Buddhist in theme
• They are carved in perpendicular cliff.
• There are 4 chaityas and 25 viharas. Hence total of 29 caves are present in Ajanta.
• There was social fabric along with costume and ornaments.
• Animal and birds figures can be found here in these paintings/
• Female figures had unique hairstyles.
• Red ochre was in outline while contours had black, brown etc
• The great Bodhisattvas are painted upon the walls of Ajanta.
The centrepiece of Ajanta: Cave 1. The most beautiful cave in the
entire series, it contains two world art masterpieces: Padmapani
[top] and Vajrapani [right] painted on either side of the main
sanctum.

• The ancient tradition of painting is documented as the Chitrasutra of the


Vishnudharmottara Purana.

2. ELLORA CAVE PAINTINGS


• These are the largest rock cut paintings.
• 34 caves are present here.
• It has trends of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.
• There are 5 caves in total.
• Kailash temples are one of them.
• Shiva is depicted in many forms.
• Vishnu, Laxmi, Garuda are found too.
3. BAGH CAVE PAINTINGS
• They are found in Madhya Pradesh.
• It is an extension of Ajanta school.
• There are 9 rock cut caves.
• They are tightly modeled.
• These are more earthly and humane.
• These are Materialistic paintings rather than anything spiritual or religious
themes.
• Reddish brown gritty and thick mud and plaster is found.
• Lime priming also found.
• Buddhist and jataka tales are also found.
PAINTING IN BAGH CAVE 2 Bodhisattva.
• Paintings are both secular and religious.
4. ARNAMALAI CAVE PAINTINGS
• Found in places like Ambur, Vellore, Tamil nadu etc.
• They are basically Jain temples.
• Found in 8th century AD.
• Fresco and tempera techniques were used.
• Tamil brahmi inscriptions were found
• Images of asthika palaces are found here too.
5. SITTANAVASAL CAVES
• These are found in Tamil nadu
• Jain temples are the main features here.
• These are abode of great saints
• Vegetable and mineral dyes used
• During pallava period these caves were found.
Sittanavasal Cave

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