Avalokitesvara in the Western Caves of India: Aurangabad, Ajanta and Ellora

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Avalokitesvara in the Western Caves of
IndiaAurangabad, Ajanta and Ellora

• Lauren Paglisotti

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Map of India, with a focus on Maharashtra and the
Western Caves
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Ajanta
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Ajanta CavesVakataka period450 ce -499 ceJohn
C. and Susan L. Huntington, 1985
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Ajanta, Indiacave 1Padmapani groupVakataka
period450 ce -499 ceJohn C. and Susan L.
Huntington, 1985
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Close up of the jataka murals in
Ajanta.Depicting Sakyamuni as a padmapani
figure, holding a lotus in his right hand proper.
Crown and posture closely related to many
depictions of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
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Ajanta, Indiacave 1head of VajrapaniVakataka
period462 ce -480 ceJ Stor
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Ajanta, IndiaCave 19, exteriorNagaraja and two
NaginiVakataka period450 ce- 499 ceJohn C. and
Susan L. Huntington, 1985
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Ajanta, IndiaCave 2Avalokitesvara and two Tara
Vakataka period, 450 ce- 499 ceJohn C. and
Susan L. Huntington, 1985
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Ajanta, Indiacave 2Vakataka450 ce- 499 ceJohn
C. and Susan L. Huntington, 1985
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Ajanta, Indiacave 2Vairocana and two
bodhisattvasVakataka450 ce- 499 ceJohn C. and
Susan L. Huntington, 1969
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Ajanta, Indiacave 19Buddha scene on façade of
caveVakataka460 ce- 495 ceJohn C. and Susan L.
Huntington, 1970
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Ajanta, Indiacave 19shrine image of Buddha and
attendantsVakataka460 ce- 495 ceJohn C. and
Susan L. Huntington, 1970
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Ajanta, Indiacave 26bodhisattva
AvalokitesvaraVakataka460 ce- 495 ceJohn C.
and Susan L. Huntington, 1970
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Ajanta, Indiacave 26bodhisattva
imageVakataka460 ce- 495 ceJohn C. and Susan
L. Huntington, 1970
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Ajanta, Indiacave 4Litany of AvalokitesvaraVaka
taka460 ce- 495 ceJohn C. and Susan L.
Huntington, 1970
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Ajanta, Indiacave 1Buddha figure in
shrineVakataka460 ce- 495 ce John C. and Susan
L. Huntington, 1970
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Ajanta, Indiacave 26Buddha figuresVakataka460
ce- 495 ceJohn C. and Susan L. Huntington, 1970
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Ajanta, Indiacave 26bodhisattvas and
BuddhaVakataka460 ce- 495 ce John C. and Susan
L.Huntington, 1970
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Aurangabad
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Aurangabad, IndiaCave 6bodhisattva
AvalokitesvaraKalacurimid 6th century ceJohn
C. and Susan L. Huntington,
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Aurangabad, Indiacave 2Mahasthamaprapta and
AvalokitesvaraKalacuri?John C. and Susan L.
Huntington, 1970
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Aurangabad, Indiacave 7Avalokitesvaras
LitanyGupta500 ce- 599 ceJohn C. and Susan L.
Huntington, 1985
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Aurangabad, IndiaSalvation scene from
Avalokitesvaras LitanyGupta500 ce- 599 ceJohn
C. and Susan L. Huntington, 1985
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Aurangabad, Indiacave 1Buddha and attendant
bodhisattvasVakataka400 ce- 600 ceJohn C. and
Susan L. Huntington, 1970
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Aurangabad, Indiacave 1Buddha and attendants,
with close up of PadmapaniVakataka400 ce- 600
ceJohn C. and Susan L. Huntington, 1970
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Aurangabad, Indiacave 2bodhisattvaAdilshahiJoh
n C. and Susan L. Huntington, 1970
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Ellora
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Ellora, IndiaTin Thal, cave 12Avalokitesvara7th
to early 8th century ceJohn C. and Susan L.
Huntington
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Ellora, Indiacave 5bodhisattva
Avalokitesvara7th century ceJohn C. and Susan
L. Huntington, 1970
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Ellora, IndiaTin Thal, cave 12Buddha with
attendant bodhisattvas675 ce- 725 ceJohn C. and
Susan L. Huntington, 1970
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Ellora, Indiacave 4bodhisattva
Avalokitesvara550 ce- 750 ceJohn C. and Susan
L. Huntington, 1970
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Ellora, Indiacave 8Avalokitesvara and
female550 ce- 750 ceJohn C. and Susan L.
Huntington, 1970
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Ellora, IndiaTin Thal, cave 12Avalokitesvara675
ce- 725 ceJohn C. and Susan L. Huntington, 1970
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Ellora, IndiaTin Thal, cave 12Buddha with
attendants, detail of Avalokitesvara675 ce- 725
ceJohn C. and Susan L. Huntington, 1970
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Ellora, Indiacave 10Avalokitesvara and female
attendants550 ce- 750 ceJohn C. and Susan L.
Huntington, 1970
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Ellora, IndiaTin Thal, cave 12Avalokitesvara
and Taras675 ce- 725 ceJohn C. and Susan L.
Huntington, 1970
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Ellora, Indiacave 10Buddha on stupa550 ce- 750
ceJohn C. and Susan L. Huntington, 1970
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Ellora, Indiacave 9Avalokitesvara550 ce- 750
ceJohn C. and Susan L. Huntington, 1970
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Further Research

• Compare parallels within the three caves
• Go into detail about the positions Avalokitesvara
  is placed in, and the meanings within their
  shrines
• Details of the devotional use of the shrines
• Different carving techniques in the shrines
• Significance of the three different religions
  prominent at Ellora, and the significance of
  their coincidence