Ajanta Caves 9–10 — Early Hinayana Group
Satavahana (100 BCE) Hinayana; repainted 5th c.·Buddhist Hinayana then Mahayana·🇮🇳 Maharashtra, India
About
About Ajanta Caves 9–10 — Early Hinayana Group
Ajanta Caves 9–10 — Early Hinayana Group in Maharashtra, India is a Satavahana (100 BCE) Hinayana; repainted 5th c. rock_cut attributed to Buddhist Hinayana then Mahayana. Early Hinayana chaitya halls 9 (21 × 11 m vault) and 10 (30 × 12 m) among 30 Ajanta caves. Ajanta caves 9–10 are Hinayana chaityas predating Gupta caves 1–2 by 500 years, same gorge but 100 BCE.
Why it mattersKey Buddhist Hinayana then Mahayana reference site for the Maharashtra
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Rock-cut chronology
- 02Chalcolithic sequence refinement
Theories
- 01Mahayana mural transmission
- 02Harappan sherd seriation
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 100 BCE chaitya; 5th c murals
- Period
- Satavahana (100 BCE) Hinayana; repainted 5th c.
- Culture
- Buddhist Hinayana then Mahayana
- Purpose
- Early Hinayana chaitya halls 9 (21 × 11 m vault) and 10 (30 × 12 m) among 30 Ajanta caves
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 100 BCE chaitya; 5th c murals
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Archaeological survey
On the ground
Structures & features
20.5500° N · 75.7000° E · 350 m · 4 mapped features
- Ajanta Caves 9–10 — Early Hinayana Group — Chaitya HallchaityaRock-cut chaitya hall with vault and stupa20.5502° N · 75.7001° E
- Ajanta Caves 9–10 — Early Hinayana Group — Vihara CellsviharaVihara monk cells with rock-cut beds20.5498° N · 75.7002° E
- Ajanta Caves 9–10 — Early Hinayana Group — Façade GavakshafacadeHorseshoe gavaksha window carving20.5504° N · 75.6998° E
- Ajanta Caves 9–10 — Early Hinayana Group — Reservoir TanktankRock-cut reservoir or tank20.5496° N · 75.6999° E
Gallery