Previous Year Question

The celebrated painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is located in Cave No. 1 at Ajanta. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts also identifies it as the well-known painting of Padmapani in Ajanta Cave No. 1.

Padmapani is a form of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. The name ‘Padmapani’ literally means one who holds a lotus in his hand. Avalokiteshvara is associated with compassion in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. In this painting, Padmapani is shown adorned with ornaments and a crown and holding a lotus.

The Ajanta Caves are rock-cut Buddhist chaityas and viharas. Construction and artistic activity at Ajanta occurred in two major phases. During the later phase, in the fifth and sixth centuries CE, the cave walls were embellished with exquisite murals under the influence of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. The Padmapani painting is one of the most celebrated works of this developed Ajanta painting tradition.

Badami, Bagh and Ellora are also important sites associated with Indian cave art and architecture, but the particular celebrated painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is specifically identified with Ajanta Cave No. 1.