Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v3.c12.s25: The Demons in Front of a Monastery: Not Identified
Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v3.c12.s25
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The Demons in Front of a Monastery: Not Identified
v3.c12.s25.1
Plate XLVIII *a
v3.c12.s25.2
The subject is painted inside Cave XVI, in the front corridor above the small door to the left of the main entrance. As the subject is very dim, it is reproduced in outline only.
v3.c12.s25.3
THE painting was so thickly covered with smoke and dirt that previous investigators thought that the fresco was completely defaced; but recent cleaning operations carried out by the Department have exposed the drawing of the entire piece, which has survived other destructive agencies such as insects, bats, and moisture. The scene represents perhaps a monastery, in the court of which seven cows or oxen are seen, each of them being painted in a different style. Two of them are sitting, but the neck of one of them is turned to one side, while the other is looking straight ahead. The poses of both are easy and natural. Below them two more animals are standing and looking in the opposite direction to the other two. The muzzle and horns of one of them show that it is younger than its companion. The artist has used fine brush-lines to indicate wrinkles on the necks of these two animals. Farther down there are three more oxen or cows, two of which have chains as ornaments round their necks, while the third, which is in the middle, has lowered its neck in characteristic style. In the middle of the court near the door are three ogres, whose short ugly noses, protruding curved teeth, large bellies, and dishevelled hair show the artist's imagination in depicting their sinister character. Above these monsters is a *bhikshu*, but as his head is broken his expression cannot be studied. In the door another *bhikshu* is to be seen; he is dressed in a loose cloak. The door of the monastery is indicated by two neat square pillars adorned by plain bands of carving. Inside the monastery four figures can be made out, all of them representing monks. The figure at the top, although damaged, has a rod or some other article in the left hand.
v3.c12.s25.4
In this subject the hair of the monsters show fine brush-work. The scene apparently represents some episode from a *jātaka* which has not been identified as yet.