Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v4.c16.s2.3

v4.c16.s2.3

THE right half of the painting is completely destroyed, apparently through the effect of moisture resulting from the accumulation of rain-water and silt in the veranda during previous years.¹ A corpulent green figure wearing rich pearl jewellery, such as was affected by princes, is, however, clear. It evidently represents the Yaksha Maṇibhadra, whose name frequently occurs in Buddhist literature,² and here the name is inscribed in red paint above the figure.³ The *yaksha* on his left has a female *chaurī*-bearer, whose beautiful head-dress and graceful way of curving her fingers and placing them on her chin in the characteristic Indian style attract the eye. A portion of the head of another figure may be traced to the left of the *chaurī*-bearer. The style of this painting is the same as that of the figures delineated on both sides of the door, on the back wall of the veranda.⁴