Themes
Jataka Stories
The subjects of the paintings are mostly fromthe jataka-s, Buddhist mythological stories of the previous lives of the Master
Here is a scene from the story of King Shibi,
who offered his own flesh to save a pigeon
Jataka Stories
A Scene from Shibi Jataka, Cave 1
Episodes from the life of the Buddha form the next important
theme.
Life of the Buddha
Gautama was meditating under the Bodhi tree to attain enlightenment.
Mara, the Evil Spirit, made many attempts to dislodge Gautama from His resolve.
Mara sent his three most beautiful daughtersto distract Him. This failed.
Then Mara summoned his demons to dislodge Gautama.
But Gautama was calm and unmoved.
Life of the Buddha
Mara’s Episode, Cave 1
On the way to Her parent’s houseMayadevi gave birth to Siddharta in Lumbini grove of shaala trees.
Brahma, Indra and other gods descendedto pay their respects to the new-born.
Life of the Buddha
Maya Devi giving birth to Siddharta, Cave 2
Solo PicturesReligious
There area few compositions
of divinities,but not partof any story
Bodhisattva AvalokiteshvaraCave 1
Solo PicturesSecular
A few of the solo-pictures do not seem to have any religious import.
Lady doing her make-up, Cave 17
Decorative
The paintings in the last category are decorative and secular.
They fill up all the available space on the ceilings pillars, etc.
Mythical birdsClown
Hilarious
Geometrical Animals
Geometrical
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