Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v4.c16.38

v4.c16.38

Cave XXI is also a vihāra, but it is much larger in dimensions than Cave XX, the hall alone measuring 51 ft. 6 in. in width, and 51 ft. in depth.³ The pillars of the veranda are now completely destroyed, but an idea of what their beautiful carving was originally like may be gained from that of the pilasters at each end, which are still intact. The latter resemble in workmanship the pilasters of Cave I. The architect in his effort to produce an idea of richness in the design has added six chapels to the plan of the vihāra, two in the veranda, one on each side, two in the side aisles of the hall; and two in the back corridor, one on each side of the antechamber. These chapels have slender pillars of elegant design in front, and neatly carved friezes above them. Chapels of this style may also be seen in Cave II at Ajanta, but the arrangement of six of them in the plan of the building with such pleasing effect is peculiar to this cave.⁴ The doorway of the shrine is also richly adorned with sculpture, and the figures of Nāga kings are carved on both sides of the entrance as dvārapālas. These have been considerably abraded by climatic influences, but the other decorative designs are intact and show consummate skill in their carving (Plate LXXVII a). The ceiling and walls of this cave were once painted, and fragments of this work still exist (Plates LXXIV b and LXXVII b). The artistic merits of these specimens are described in their proper place in this book (infra, pp. 108-9).⁵