Buddha at Ajanta
 

Deep inside cave No. 1 of Ajanta is a large statue of the Buddha seated in the lotus posture in a preaching attitude--represented by his symbolic hand gesture, known as a mudra. Carved during the ‘golden age of the Guptas’ in 500 - 550 A.D., Buddha’s expression changes with the direction of the light. Illuminated from the front, he appears to be in divine meditation; with light directed on either side, he appears to smile or frown. Divine beings fly above his head carrying garlands of flowers. The Ajanta caves, cut into the rock face of a crescent-shaped gorge, are World Heritage Monuments.

Ajanta, Northern Maharashtra

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