Ajanta Cave paintings-

को नु हासो किमानन्दो निच्चं पज्जलिते सति

अंधकारेन ओनद्धा पदीपं न गवेस्सथ

What laughter, why joy,

When constantly burning?

Enveloped in darkness,

don't you look for a lamp?

Are the lines from Jaravagga Gātha, it is an ardent call for the ones who are immersed in empirical pleasure to show them reality of worldly life i.e. suffering which is described in words like burning & darkness. It incites to go on search of light to erase the darkness. And Ajanta caves was the place of seclusion away from pleasure & pain of social life, wherein those soaring souls who desired nothing but Nibbāna i.e. Salvation made an unparalleled attempt to achieve that highest stage. In dark caves of Ajanta they searched for lamp through art to dispel the darkness. What the artists of Ajanta have painted on walls of cave is not mere a representation, they expressed their inner spiritual vision that they attained in their vigorous training of meditation. Through a sculpture of Buddha, as S. Dasgupta wrote, ‘the artist wanted to suggest was not the Buddha of flesh and blood, but his spirit which was in a sense identical with his message’

For viewers as well these paintings and sculptures are more that just beautiful pictures. As renowned Art Historian Benoy Behl while explaining painting of Vajrapani said, “Now this Bodhisattva with his glorious crown brings before you the majesty of spirit within us. It is always about the Spirit within us which is the focus of philosophy and therefore focus of the art.” It connotes that art aims at communicating with viewer. Symbols which were carved and painted, they suggest the Buddhist ideals, for example Lotus in the hand of Padmapani is a symbol of enlightened mind, the way lotus bloom out of mud, a mind must rise out of samsara, is the direct message to viewer.

In short, carvings and paintings of Ajanta reflect the great vision of life set by the Buddha, in which beauty of life is celebrated. Faith, love, compassion & knowledge that was preached by Buddha precisely reflect on facial expressions & postures of sculptures that are carved & painted in Ajanta caves.

Centuries have passed, art of Ajanta have suffered ravages of time, most of the paintings are damaged, nevertheless whatever have remained is enough to connote the great vision of life that those artists had, and as one walks in those dimly lighted caves of Ajanta one could here walls whispering -

को नु हासो किमानन्दो निच्चं पज्जलिते सति

अंधकारेन ओनद्धा पदीपं न गवेस्सथ

What laughter, why joy,

When constantly burning?

Enveloped in darkness,

don't you look for a lamp?