The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c16.s2.85

v2.c16.s2.85

The earliest painting at Ajanta in which dancing is represented is that on the left wall of cave X, which, as was stated above, belongs to the second century B.C., if not earlier.² The painting has a religious significance, for the dancing is shown near the Bodhi-tree under which Gautama received the enlightenment. There are fifteen artistes, of whom three are dancers and the rest musicians. They are all female. These women apparently belong to the orchestra attached to the monastery in the garden of which the Bodhi-tree is shown. Two of the musicians have long trumpets, which may be either of horn or of metal. The others are clapping their hands, an action which is still used in India and other oriental countries to mark time, or to produce the high pitch effect in music. Among the dancers one has raised and curved her arms in a style which suggests that she is about to revolve on her toes. The other two have inclined their bodies on one side by bending one leg, and have curved their right arms gracefully upwards and placed the tips of their thumbs on their heads, while the left hand is placed on the hip on the same side, the object being primarily to keep the balance of the body while dancing in short wavy steps, and also to produce an effective pose by making two beautiful loops (or curves), one with the right arm and the other with the left. Just this pose and just such steps are quite common in India and may be observed in the dancing of the present day.