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| Bagh Buddhist cave, Mandu, Madhya Pradesh, .thrillophilia.com |
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| Buddhist Bagh Caves, MP, /puratattva.in |
In India, caves - natural or man-made are considered as places of sanctity. The sanctuary, including free-standing in all religious structures have the cave-like sanctity as natural caves. Whether they are small, dark or without natural light, they retain the sacredness.
The Buddhist caves in India form an important part of caves When it comes to rock-cut architecture in the mountainous terrains, Buddhists caves are crucial. Among the 1500 cut cut structures across India a major chunk roughly 1000 caves are made by Buddhist and they go back to between 200 BCE and 600 CE). About Hindu caves - roughly 300 came up from 600 CE to 1200 CE). Jain caves as many as 200 begin to appear from 800 CE to 1200 CE). Beautiful stone carvings in the caves appeared during the Mahayana period are adorned with exquisite stone carvings. These rock-cut ancient and medieval structures showcase a fair knowledge of structural and mining engineering besides geology of the terrains. The temple architecture of Hinduism owes their origin in the ancient caves and rock-cut caves.
The state of Madhya Pradesh has many caves. The Bagh caves are quite popular. The Bagh Caves, located in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, are a group of nine rock-cut monuments carved into the sandstone cliffs of the Vindhya Range. Dating back to the 5th–7th century CE, these caves were Buddhist viharas, or monastic dwellings, featuring a quadrangular layout with a central hall surrounded by smaller residential cells. Of the original nine caves, only five have survived, with Cave 4, known as Rang Mahal, being the most famous for its exquisite paintings. These caves were excavated on the steep banks of the Baghani stream, resembling the architectural style of the Ajanta Caves.
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| Bagh Buddhist caves, Mandu, MP facebook.com |
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| Bagh Buddhist caves, Madhya Pradesh https://upload.wikimedia.org ASI image. |
The murals in the Bagh Caves are considered masterpieces of ancient Indian art, created using a tempera technique where natural pigments were mixed with organic binders and applied to lime-plastered walls. These paintings primarily depict Jataka tales, narrating the previous lives of the Buddha, along with scenes of royal courts, celestial beings, and floral motifs. Despite significant damage due to weathering and neglect, remnants of these paintings still display vibrant colors and intricate details, reflecting the artistic excellence of their creators. The use of perspective, shading, and expressive figures suggests the influence of master painters from the Gupta period, a time known for its flourishing art and culture.
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| Paintings on the walls of Bagh caves, MP,Pinterest.com |
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| Murals of Bagh caves of MP, Alamy.com |
Unlike the basalt rock of Ajanta, the Bagh Caves were carved into relatively soft sandstone, making them more vulnerable to erosion. Over the centuries, the caves suffered deterioration, prompting the Archaeological Survey of India to undertake extensive restoration efforts. Today, these caves stand as a testament to India's rich Buddhist heritage and artistic tradition. Scholars and tourists continue to visit the site, drawn by its historical and structural engineering importance and the fading yet remarkable beauty of its murals.
https://puratattva.in/bagh-mysterious-world-of-paintings-2
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