Ajanta Cave 19

Cave 19 is one of the very best places to visit in Ajanta Caves. They designed it as a Chaitya Griha, meaning a place to pray. The Ajanta cave shrines are on a horseshoe-shaped volcanic cliff, and this building is almost in the middle of that cliff.

A king in the area called Upendragupta paid for this Buddhist cave temple with lots of art. The front of Cave 19 in Ajanta is very ornate and has many beautiful paintings on it. Inside this cave, there are beautiful pillars and a Buddha statue that stands upright.

The Grand Stupa and Sculpted Façade

The Stupa stands in the middle of Cave 19, with two pairs of ornate pillars surrounding it on either side. In Buddhism, a stupa is a building that looks like a mound and is where people pray and meditate. A sculptor carved a standing Buddha into the Stupa of Ajanta Cave 19, making it a highlight of Ajanta Caves tour packages.

Even though damage has destroyed Buddha's hands, scholars believe this figure displayed Abhaya Mudra, assuring followers of protection. The three layers of umbrellas above Buddha's head add a nice touch to the tower. These parasols or umbrellas represent safety from sickness, pain, and negative forces.

Detailed Buddha Carvings in Ajanta Cave 19

The figure of Buddha and Rahula is one of the most interesting ones. It's on the right side of cave 19's opening. It was built in the year 470 CE. In this sculpture, Rahula is being given the begging bowl by Buddha, which is the only thing he owns in this world and was gifted to him. There is a story that Rahula kept following Buddha and asking for his property. Buddha then showed Rahula that nothing in this world is lasting and would only make him unhappy.

Influence of Mahayana Buddhism in Architecture

In its architecture, Ajanta Cave 19 shows how strongly Mahayana Buddhism has influenced it. This cave, a beautiful chaitya hall, features a stupa where artisans carefully carved a standing Buddha image. This shows how early Buddhists worshipped stupas and how later images of Buddha himself came to be.

The entry has detailed carvings of Bodhisattvas and celestial beings that show the goals of Mahayana. The intricately sculpted pillars highlight the Buddhist themes of kindness and wisdom. Cave 19 showcases the changes in Buddhist art and architecture during the 5th century CE.