Bodhisattva Padmapani

Bodhisattva Padmapani, mural painting by an unknown artist that is believed to date from the late 5th century. The mural is in Cave 1 of the Ajanta Caves, located in Maharashtra state, western India, and it reflects the beauty and classical sophistication of the arts of India’s Gupta dynasty.

The Ajanta Caves were carved out of rock cliffs over a period of six centuries and functioned both as a monastic retreat and as a place to worship. They were designed to spread Buddhist doctrine via the pilgrims, monks, craftsmen, and merchants who traveled in the region. The caves were decorated and carved between 200 BCE and 650 CE, and most of the artworks were inspired by the life of the historical Buddha.

The Bodhisattva Padmapani mural is one of the later murals, and it is regarded as an excellent example of the style of that era. It shows an unprecedented attempt at realism, which was uncharacteristic of Indian painting at that time. The artist understood the use of light and shade in order to stress the importance of the protagonist. The natural pigments of green, black, and red were painted onto an added surface of lime plaster. The thin, black outlines of the figure as well as the delicate treatment of the face result in a deep, emotional, overall effect.

Padmapani is another name for Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva (“buddha-to-be”) of infinite mercy. The meditational quality of Padmapani is emphasized by the fullness of his lips, the slender waist and nose, the sinuous elongated eyebrows, and the almond-shaped eyes, and he is depicted holding a lotus flower. Although the divinity is extremely idealized, the realistic approach is conspicuous. One can infer that the crown and jewels are of secular inspiration, and it is an early example of the wearing of a crown signifying divinity.