The Ajanta Caves: Ancient Paintings of Buddhist India First Edition

The media could not be loaded. Growing up in an East Asian country, I’m drawn to Buddhist arts that are different from the tradition I’m familiar with. The Buddha, Bodhisattva images in this book are more human like than what I’m used to and they are just stunning!About 180 out of 256 pages are printed on glossy photographic papers (I hope my counting was right). The pictures are as beautiful as museum catalogs. There is one picture of a carving that has almost the same impact (religious shock!) on me as physically visiting a temple and meeting a statue in person. I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the quality of these pictures.Unlike our friends in Theravādan tradition, I was not exposed to Jataka tales in my childhood. As a beginner, I’d appreciate some tales are briefly told along with the mural arts. In this book you find; Sibi Jataka, Sankhapala Jataka, Mahajanaka Jataka, Campeya Jataka, Vidhurapandita Jataka, Visvantara Jataka, the tale of elephant Nalagiri, Shaddanta Jataka, Hamsa Jataka, Kapi Jataka, Sutasoma Jataka, Matriposhaka Jataka, Mahisha Jataka, Sinhala Avadana, and Mriga Jataka.May you be happy and free of suffering. Namaste

Magnificent confluence of word and pictures. Mr. Behl never ceases to amaze with his depth and dexterity. A trip to the Ajanta Caves that soon transforms into an inward journey...a profound contemplation. A great resource and a collection to treasure.

Love it. The book is in great condition. Delivery was so much faster than expected. The seller took great care in the handling of the book. The book looks new and I can't wait to carefully read and learn from this book. It makes for a beautiful coffee table book but one must really read and appreciate it's purpose.

I ordered this book because I'd run across a couple of photos online showing the carved exteriors of these caves in India. The photos showed a place straight out of an Indiana Jones adventure, not unlike the Petra cave in Jordan that was used as a location for the third Indy movie. So, I bought this book expecting to see more of those kinds of images in addition to cave interiors and cave paintings. Sadly, the book shows very little of the cave exteriors/interiors and devotes most of its pages to just the murals. The paintings are beautiful, but the book could've shown more of the carved cave surfaces and their location to provide context and atmosphere.

This beautiful book serves both as an introduction to the Ajanta Caves before going and certainly as a documentary of what you've seen, once you're back. But don't consider packing it for the journey as it's quite heavy.The text contributors are knowledgeable and aptly chosen.

He is a pretty bad art historian

Beautiful

I recently got this book via inter-library loan. After perusing it, I knew I had to have my own hardbound copy. The pictures are beautiful, and there's something very spiritual about taking them in visually. What an amzing culture Buddhist India was before it disappeared centuries ago (but is being revived today). I'm not one for coffee table or art books, but this one is a keeper, worth more than whatever you might pay for it. A definite keeper.