CAVE 7

The Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra,India are 29 rock-cut cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE. The caves include paintings and sculptures considered to be masterpieces of both Buddhist religious art and frescoes depicting the Jataka.The caves were built in two phases starting around 200 BCE, with the second group of caves built around 600 CE.

The first phase was the construction of Hinayana Buddhist sanctuaries built during the period 100 BCE to 100 CE, probably under the patronage of the Satavahana dynasty (230 BCE – c. 220 CE) in the canyons of the Waghora River. The caves 9, 10, 12 and 15A were constructed during this period. Murals preserved from this time belong to the oldest monuments of painted art in India.

The second phase around 460 to 480 CE, during the reign of Emperor Harishena of theVakataka dynasty. Some 20 cave temples were simultaneously created.Each of cave temples seem to be patronised by influential authority.

The Ajanta Caves appear to have been abandoned shortly after the fall of Harishena c. 480 CE. Since then, these temples have been abandoned and gradually forgotten. During the intervening centuries, the jungle grew back and the caves were hidden, unvisited and undisturbed. In 1819, a British officer hunting tiger, accidentally discovered the entrance to one of the cave temples deep within the tangled undergrowth. Shortly after this discovery, the Ajanta Caves became renowned for their exotic setting, impressive architecture, historic artwork, and long-forgotten history.

Cave 7 honored the miracle of Sarasvati, the yoga goddess of music, art and wisdom. The structure of Cave 7 cave id unique from the other structures. This is the cave that has two beautiful sculpture-panels showing Miracle of Srāvasti on both the left and right of the antechamber. The Miracle of Srāvasti paintings are

in Cave 2.