This book presents the latest and updated information about the Ajanta caves, their histories, and painted themes. For the first time, a book accommodates-within the space of a single volume-many dimensions and components of the caves. It includes the latest research by the author on the gradual development of the caves. historical framework formulated by Walter M. Spink. identifications of the narrative paintings by Dieter Schlingloff. identifications of the devotional and ornamental paintings by Monika Zin. summaries of nearly all the narrative paintings (84 stories). corpus of photo documentation on the paintings, sculptures, and architecture. attempt on long exposure photography in poorly lit conditions. The language is so crafted as to help the students, travellers, and general readers grasp the beauty and complexities of Ajanta and the times. At the same time the content is so packed, and the issues discussed in such a manner, as to keep the expert readers engaged.

This book is designed for students, educators, libraries, and general readers with keen interest in the subject of Indian or South Asian art, architecture, history, and culture. It is work of the author's fifteen years of on-site research. The uniqueness of the book lies on several counts. If you are looking for the most up to date information on the ancient caves of Ajanta (a World Heritage Monument) and want to learn about the subject matter of the paintings, sculptures, and how the caves were actually excavated step by step, year by year, and not willing to miss a single jataka, or a painted theme from the life of the Buddha, then this is the book for you. The book has about 70,000 words of texts and nearly 380 high quality photographs taken by the author himself. Each photo depicts either the whole or a part of larger narrative episode that are painted on the walls of the ancient Buddhist caves of Ajanta. Each photograph has a caption providing the latest and authentic identification of the theme depicted, which corpus is based on the world acclaimed researches by Professor Dieter Schlingloff. The identifications of the decorative themes are based on the researches by Professor Monika Zin. For the first time, we have a book that clears much confusion, and answers many questions: who were the people who created these magnificent caves? Which sects of Buddhism did they belong to? What was the period when the caves were excavated? What kinds of patronages were involved? What are the historical sources and evidence to give us a holistic overview of the caves and their times? What were the problems encountered during the excavation? The book sets aside many prevalent misconceptions and errors created by earlier historians and archaeologists. Here, a new and fresh perspective is given to the history and socio-cultural and political context. The book is a summary of the latest research carried out in the last three decades by many acclaimed scholars including that of the author. The language is carefully crafted so that the content is accessible to the general reader and students as well as the there is enough content, analysis, insights, and facts to keep the advanced reader engaged.

Walter Spink’s intense concern with the development of the Ajanta caves and their architectural, sculptural and painted features finds its most insistent reflection in his present richly illustrated study. In part 1, Spink explains the many connections between the Bagh caves and its “sister site”, Ajanta. He particularly emphasizes the leading role that Bagh plays in establishing the “short chronology” and in the crucial matter of Buddhist shrine development from the aniconic to iconic forms of worship. In part 2, along with his colleague Professor Naomichi Yaguchi, who also provided the photographs and the newly informative plans, the authors show how, over the course of a mere decade, better and better ways were discovered to fit the doors in the cells where the monks lived. Such an analysis reveals the vigor of the conceptual and technical changes that characterize Ajanta’s evolution from its start in the early 460s to its traumatic collapse in about 470. Moving from Ajanta’s beginning to its ending, the evolution of door fittings parallels the precise and dramatic development of Indian history in the remarkable course of the emperor Harisena’s reign.

Short summaries of 84 Buddhist legends painted on the walls of the ancient Ajanta caves, illustrated with 108 colour photographs, a primer for students and general reader.