Mahayana Buddhist

Rock Cut Architecture

• The Mahayana Buddhist Rock Cut

Architecture both at Ajanta and Ellora began
at about the middle of 5th Century.
• The other group at Aurangabad is slightly
dated later ( 7th Century)
 Ajanta Caves

• Mahayana Series ( 450 AD to 642 AD)

• Divided into 5 groups

• Viharas Nos. 11, 7 & 6
• Viharas Nos. 15, 16, 17 ,18 & 20 and Chaitya hall 19
• Viharas Nos. 21 to 25 and Chaitya hall 26
• Viharas Nos. 1 to 5
• Viharas Nos. 26 & 27
Ajanta - Vihara No. 23
Ajanta - Chaitya Hall No. 19
 Ellora Caves

• These caves were carved out of a 2km long

cliff-face, running north-south.
• The Jain temples are at the northern end,
• the Hindu caves and temples in the center and
• the Buddhist ones at the southern end. 
 ELLORA CAVES

• Excavated out of ridge of low hills – vast Deccan

plateau
• Buddhist practiced religion from 450 AD to 642
AD.
• The caves are dated from 6-7century AD to 11-12
century AD.
• Series divided into 2 groups
• Nos. 1 to 5 – Dhedwada group
• Nos. 6 to 12
Ellora - Viharas Nos. 1 to 23 (MONASTERIES)
TEEN THAL OR THREE STORIED
DO THAL OR TWO STORIED
VISWAKARMA –Chaitya Hall
 AURANGABAD

• Belong to 6th & 7th Centuries latest of their kind

• Consists of three groups of excavations located
on a hill about a mile north from the city
• One group contains Chaitya Hall and 4 viharas
• Another group has 4 viharas
• Third group has 3 viharas
• Chaitya Hall displays certain characteristics
contemporary to Hinayana group at Ajanta like
simple stupa, rib vaulting of the roof, plain
interiors, arcading of narrow arched panels, etc.
• Viharas Nos. 3 & 7 are the finest and also the best
preserved.
• General type – Calls with pillared hall
• Another distinctive feature is the plastic treatment