Detail of a Facade of a Cave

Detail of a Facade of a Cave

 Ajanta Caves.Gupta Period, 3rd Century CE

          Although the Ajanta Caves are said to be the pinnacle of "Gupta art", but the ruling dynasty of the area was the Vakataka dynasty.  How built these Caves,  why were they constructed in this area can only be guessed. It seems no royal patronage was their for the construction of these Buddhist caves.  According to many historians, the construction was commissioned by wealthy businessmen. According to the historians this area was on a trade route and was a prosperous area. However, there are no known city which has been discovered so far near thus locality. This raises a number of questions: since the Buddhist monks survive on alms, who gave them alms on daily basis, especially when there were large number of monks living in the monks' quarters ( Viharas)? Where did the labourers live who carved out and sculpted and painted these caved?  Who fed them? The questions about the logistics need to be explored.

            What we do have is a finished product which is unsurpassable in its beauty, serenity, and spirituality.  It is a testimony of the human genius in the fields of art and science.  The solid rocks have been transformed into intricate designs and lively sculptures.  The walls have been painted with all the variety of the social strata. It is a journey into the mind and soul of a civilisation.