Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v3.c12.s29.3

v3.c12.s29.3

FOUR episodes of the story can easily be made out in the painting. The first represents the celebration of Nanda’s consecration as heir apparent, and perhaps also his marriage, which took place at the time of the Buddha’s visit to Kapilavastu after his enlightenment.³ Starting from the top right end a Parthian, or Scythian, chief is seen, who is riding on a steel-grey horse. The features of the rider are indistinct, but his conical cap with a fur brim and long full-sleeved coat prove him unmistakably to be an inhabitant of one of the Asiatic countries to the north-west of India. The head and arched neck of the horse have been drawn with realistic effect. To indicate movement the artist has shown the back ends of the rider’s scarf, as if flying in the air. The coat of the rider is of a striped material, but the design of the triangular white collar is very typical, for it is often seen on the coats worn by such foreigners in other frescoes. By the side of the horse may be made out the head of a woman whose hair is bedecked with flowers. In front of her is another figure, probably of a groom, whose white cap of Persian design can be made out.