The exquisite Buddhist paintings and sculptures at Ajanta, 200 miles north-east of Bombay, ranging in date from the 2nd century BC to the 6th century AD rank among the world's most important cultural treasures. The early followers of the Buddha created a haven where they could meditate in peace, amongst lithe and graceful figures carved from stone and exquisite murals that depict the "Jutakas" (tales of previous incarnations) of the Lord Buddha. Since the rediscovery of the caves by a group of British soldiers in 1819, ...
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The exquisite Buddhist paintings and sculptures at Ajanta, 200 miles north-east of Bombay, ranging in date from the 2nd century BC to the 6th century AD rank among the world's most important cultural treasures. The early followers of the Buddha created a haven where they could meditate in peace, amongst lithe and graceful figures carved from stone and exquisite murals that depict the "Jutakas" (tales of previous incarnations) of the Lord Buddha. Since the rediscovery of the caves by a group of British soldiers in 1819, numerous attempts have been made to photograph the paintings accurately, but these works of art must have been created using only the glow of lamps as a source of illumination. Now, using long exposures which pick up the available natural light, Benoy K. Behl captures some of the finest examples of early Buddhist art. The beauty of the paintings is illustrated in a series of narrative scenes from the four best-preserved caves, together with highlights from several others. In his introductory text and descriptive notes, Benoy K. Behl pays tribute to the Ajanta caves, now on UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites, and a vibrant symbol of India's rich artistic past.
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