Reading Response 4: Buddhism Foundations in the Ajanta Caves

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The 'caves' at Ajanta are the largest group of Buddhist rock-cut meditation chambers and dormitories found anywhere in South Asia. Carved from a cliff edge that was formed by the Waghora River, there are about 30 different caves following the horse-shoe shaped ridge (seen above).

 

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 The caves in the center (seen above) are the oldest, dating from about 390CE and the outer ones that fan out are newer and more elaborate, with greater decoration and architectural forms signifying Buddhist principles that were more common and evolved as Buddhism itself evolved.

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The Buddhist monks were encouraged to create Buddha figures and decorate the interiors of the caves. The columns are sculptural with floral and figural representations. This symbolism stems from the original garden where Buddha preached and gained enlightenment. Most surfaces were painted and decorated, integrating art, sculpture and architecture.

This is a key point of humans shaping the world around them to reflect their own needs: by carving architecture into stone (an eternal medium that endured more than the typical regional use of mud and wood) and decorating with symbolism. Interestingly, caves draw a parallel to the foundations of human habitation, which were in natural caves that were also decorated.

One of the most interesting aspect of this site to me is the architectural interior plan of the caves seen below:

There are several parallels of this plan with those seen in Roman and Egyptian cultures, including, but not limited to:
-hypostyle hall
-centrality with a strong center axis
-repetition of circles and squares
-clear division of interior space using a bay and columns
-circles as sacred places

This last point can also be seen with the horseshoe shaped ceiling found above the central figure of Buddha in the cave image below:

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For me, the foundations of architecture resonates across all cultures and sacred spaces. The inclusion of circles, squares, and figures can be seen in cultures that are traditionally considered vastly different. When looking at the similarities of how humans have decorated their sacred interior spaces, I think a strong case can be made for various cultures having stronger similarities than differences.