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{{short description|Cave paintings in India}}
{{More citations needed |date=August 2019}}
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{{Indian art}}
The history of '''cave paintings in India''' or [[rock art]] range from drawings and paintings from prehistoric times, beginning in the caves of Central India, typified by those at the [[Bhimbetka rock shelters]] from around 10,000 [[Before present|BP]], to elaborate [[fresco]]es at sites such as the [[Indian rock-cut architecture|rock-cut artificial caves]] at [[Ajanta Caves|Ajanta]] and [[Ellora Caves|Ellora]], extending as late as 6th{{snd}}10th century CE.

==''Paleolithic art''==

=== Madhya Pradesh ===

===Bhimbetka===
{{Main|Bhimbetka rock shelters}}
[[File:Rock Shelter 15, Bhimbetka 02.jpg|thumb|A man being hunted by a horned boar. Cave painting at [[Bhimbetka rock shelters|Bhimbetka]].]]
The [[Bhimbetka rock shelters]] are an archaeological site in the state of [[Madhya Pradesh]] in central India that spans several prehistoric periods.<ref name="PeregrineEmber2003p315">{{cite book|author1=Peter N. Peregrine|author2=Melvin Ember|title=Encyclopedia of Prehistory: Volume 8: South and Southwest Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C-TQpUtI-dgC&pg=PA315 |year=2003|publisher=Springer Science |isbn=978-0-306-46262-7|pages=315–317}}</ref><ref name=alip15/>
It exhibits the earliest traces of human life on the [[Indian subcontinent]] and evidence of [[Stone Age]] habitation starting at the site in [[Acheulian]] times.<ref>{{cite journal |title= Chronology of Indian prehistory from the Mesolithic period to the Iron Age|journal=Journal of Human Evolution|volume=7|pages=37–44|doi=10.1016/S0047-2484(78)80034-7 |quote=The microlithic occupation there is the last one, as the Stone Age started there with Acheulian times. These rock shelters have been used to light fires even up to recent times by the tribals. This is re-fleeted in the scatter of 14C dates from Bhimbetka|year=1978|last1=Agrawal|first1=D.P.|last2=Krishnamurthy|first2=R.V.|last3=Kusumgar|first3=Sheela|last4=Pant|first4=R.K.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=07HGDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT7|title=A Short History of India: From the Earliest Civilisations to Today's Economic Powerhouse|page=17|publisher=Oldcastle Books Ltd|first=Gordon|last=Kerr|isbn=9781843449232|date=2017-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author1=Neda Hosse in Tehrani|author2= Shahida Ansari| author3= Kamyar Abdi| title= Anthropogenic Processes in Caves/Rock Shelters in Izeh Plain (Iran) and Bhimbetka Region (India)|journal=Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute| volume=76|pages= 237–248| year=2016|quote=the rock shelter site of Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh exhibits the earliest traces of human life|jstor= 26264790}}</ref> It is located in the [[Raisen District]] southeast of [[Bhopal]]. Bhimbetka is a UNESCO world heritage site that consists of seven hills and over 750 rock shelters distributed over {{convert|10|km}}.<ref name=alip15>Javid, Ali and Javeed, Tabassum (2008), ''World Heritage Monuments and Related Edifices in India'', Algora Publishing, 2008, pages 15–19</ref><ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/925/documents/ Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka: Advisory Body Evaluation], UNESCO, pages 43–44</ref> At least some of the shelters were inhabited more than 100,000 years ago.<ref name="alip15"/><ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/925.pdf Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka: Advisory Body Evaluation], UNESCO, pages 14–15</ref>

Some of the Bhimbetka rock shelters feature prehistoric [[cave painting]]s of which the oldest date from 10,000 years [[Before present|BP]], corresponding to the Indian [[Mesolithic]].<ref name="YM">{{cite book |last1=Mathpal |first1=Yashodhar |title=Prehistoric Painting Of Bhimbetka |date=1984 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=9788170171935 |page=220 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GG7-CpvlU30C&pg=PA220 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="SKT">{{cite book |last1=Tiwari |first1=Shiv Kumar |title=Riddles of Indian Rockshelter Paintings |date=2000 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=9788176250863 |page=189 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-jO0fvT4r9gC&pg=PA189 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Unesco">{{cite book |title=Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka |date=2003 |publisher=UNESCO |page=16 |url=https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/925.pdf}}</ref><ref name="SM">{{cite book |last1=Mithen |first1=Steven |title=After the Ice: A Global Human History, 20,000 - 5000 BC |date=2011 |publisher=Orion |isbn=9781780222592 |page=524 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uaxg_QDSsrQC&pg=PT524 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="AJ">{{cite book |last1=Javid |first1=Ali |last2=Jāvīd |first2=ʻAlī |last3=Javeed |first3=Tabassum |title=World Heritage Monuments and Related Edifices in India |date=2008 |publisher=Algora Publishing |isbn=9780875864846 |page=19 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=54XBlIF9LFgC&pg=PA19 |language=en}}</ref> The paintings show themes such as animals, and early evidence of dancing and hunting.<ref name=bhim3>Yashodhar Mathpal, 1984, [https://books.google.com/books?id=GG7-CpvlU30C&pg=PA214 Prehistoric Painting Of Bhimbetka], Page 214.</ref><ref name=bhim1>M. L. Varad Pande, Manohar Laxman Varadpande, 1987, [https://books.google.com/books?isbn=8170172217 History of Indian Theatre], Volume 1, Page 57.</ref> The Bhimbetka site has the oldest known rock art in the Indian subcontinent,<ref name="Pearsall2008p1951">{{cite book|author=Deborah M. Pearsall|title= Encyclopedia of archaeology|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=RnoUAQAAIAAJ|year =2008|publisher =Elsevier Academic Press|isbn=978-0-12-373643-7|pages=1949–1951}}</ref> and is one of the largest prehistoric complexes.<ref name=britannicabhimbetka>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Bhimbetka-rock-shelters Bhimbetka rock shelters], Encyclopaedia Britannica</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Jo McDonald|author2=Peter Veth|title=A Companion to Rock Art|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=excwzC1zhY0C&pg=PT291|year=2012|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-25392-2|pages=291–293}}</ref>

===Tamil Nadu===
In [[Tamil Nadu]], ancient [[Paleolithic]] cave paintings are found in [[Cholapandiyapuram#Padiyendhal|Padiyendhal]], Alampadi, Kombaikadu, [[Kilvalai]], [[Settavarai]] and [[Nehanurpatti]]. The paintings have not been dated, but they could be around 30,000 to 10,000 years old, as they use similar art form of Bhimbetka rock shelters in Bhopal.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

In the [[Nilagiri Hills]], they are also found in Kumittipathi, Mavadaippu and Karikkiyur. In [[Theni District]] they are found in the [[Andipatti Hills]].

===Karnataka===
Cave paintings are found in [[Hiregudda]] which is near Badami.

===Odisha===
[[Odisha]] has the richest repository of rock art in Eastern India. The state has recorded more than a hundred rock shelters with rock paintings and engravings. Numerous geometric symbols, dots and lines are found along with animals, and human paintings and engravings dating from late [[Pleistocene]] onwards. Many of the geometric shape and patterns found in rock art of Odisha are enigmatic in nature. Painted figures have been found executed in monochrome, red and white or sometimes in combination with shades of yellow color.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Padhan |first1=Tosabanta |title=Glimpses of the Rock Paintings and Rock Engravings in Odisha |publisher=New Bharatiya Book Corporation |location=New Delhi |page=321}}</ref>

====Gudahandi====
[[File:GudaHandi Rock Art.jpg|thumb|Gudahandi Rock Art of Odisha]]
The rock shelter of [[Gudahandi]] is located on the summit of the hillock and situated about 20 km from Block headquarters Koksara in Kalahandi district.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rock Art Shelter of Gudahandi |url=http://ignca.nic.in/asi_reports/orkalahandi001.pdf |publisher=INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE ARTS}}</ref> The rock art shelter exhibits both monochrome and bi-chrome paintings of early historic period. It is the only reported rock art site of Kalahandi district.<ref>{{cite web |title=Districts Gazetteers(Kalahandi) |url=http://www.gopabandhuacademy.gov.in/sites/default/files/CHAPTER_2_12.pdf |publisher=Government of Odisha}}</ref> The rock art panel preserves the specimen of paintings which include a stylized human figure in red, deer and a variety of geometric patterns of squares and rectangles either empty or in filled with straight and diagonal lines or with dots on the borders grid patterns, wheels with spokes, apsidal patterns, oval shapes with dots executed either in monochrome of red or in polychrome of red, blue and black.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Prusty|first1=Subrat Kumar|title=BHASA O JATIYATA|date=2010|publisher=with finical assistance by Dept. of Culture, Govt. of Odisha|location=Bidyadharpur, Jajpur|page=22|edition=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Debi Prasanna Pattanayak|author2=Subrat Kumar Prusty|title=A Report on classical status of Odia Language|date=2013|publisher=Department of Culture, Govt. Of Odisha|location=Bhubaneswar, Odisha|page=90|edition=1st}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Debi Prasanna Pattanayak|author2=Subrat Kumar Prusty|author-link2=Why not Odia? p -XXI|title=CLASSICAL ODIA|date=2013|publisher=KIIS Foundation, New Delhi|location=D-82, Maitri Vihar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 755001|isbn=978-81-925616-3-9|page=33|edition=1st}}</ref>

====Yogimatha====
[[File:Yogimath Rock Art.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|Yogimath Rock Art of Odisha]]
The [[rock painting]] of the [[Yogimatha]] (10th Millennium BCE)<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Senapati|first1=Nilamani, I.C.S.|title=History|journal=Orissa District Gezetteers|date=1971|page=35|publisher=Government of Orissa|location=Bhubaneswar}}</ref> of [[Nuapada District]] of [[Odisha]] which was an older [[Writing system|script]] in [[India]]. The script ‘Ga’, and ‘o’ (tha) was discovered from Yogimatha rock painting, this painting saw a person with four animals and write some alphabet. That painting created a word Like "Gaitha" (very popular Odia word at present ‘Gotha’ or ‘group’ in English). This art closely related to this alphabet. This alphabet has similarity to Dhauli and Jaugada Inscription’s script of Ashok. It was the ancient form of Indian script and it is the first glimpse of possible origin of the Odia language and script.<ref>{{cite book|title=CLASSICL ODIA IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE|date=2015|publisher=Odisha Sahitya Akademi|location=Sanskruti Bhawan, Bhubaneswar-14, Odisha|isbn=978-81-7586-198-5|page=38}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rock Art Shelter of Jogimath |url=http://ignca.gov.in/asi_reports/ornuapara001.pdf |publisher=INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE ARTS}}</ref>

==''Early medieval caves''==

There are known more than 10,000 locations around India containing murals from this period, mainly natural caves and rock-cut chambers.<ref>{{Cite web | url =http://www.wondermondo.com/Best/As/IndMedCavePaint.htm | title=Ancient and medieval Indian cave paintings - Internet encyclopedia | date=10 June 2010| work=Wondermondo | access-date =10 June 2010}}</ref> The highest achievements of this time are the caves of [[Ajanta Caves|Ajanta]], [[Bagh Caves|Bagh]], [[Sittanavasal]], [[Armamalai Cave]] (Tamil Nadu), Ravan Chhaya rock shelter, Kailasanatha temple in [[Ellora Caves]].

===Ajanta frescoes===
[[Image:Ajanta Padmapani.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Mural of [[Padmapani]] in [[Ajanta Caves]]. India, 5th century]]
{{Main|Ajanta caves}}

The Frescoes of Ajanta are paintings in the [[Ajanta Caves]] which are situated near [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]] in [[Maharashtra]]. The caves are carved out of large rocks. Inside many of the caves are [[fresco]]es.

Frescoes are paintings which are done on wet plaster in which colours become fixed as the plaster dries. The Ajanta Frescoes have a special importance of their own. They are found on the walls and ceilings at Ajanta. The paintings reflect different phases of Indian Culture from jain tirthankar mahaveer's birth to his [[Mahaparinirvana|nirvana]]<ref>(Mahaparinirvana was the time of Gautama Buddha's death. His disciples scattered his remains in many places, where [[Stupa]]s were erected.)</ref> in the 8th Century AD.

The frescoes have degraded slightly, due to the effect of flash photography. Photography here is not banned. They depict themes of court life, feasting, processions, men and women at work, festivals, various natural scenes including animals, birds and flowers. The artists used shading to give a three-dimensional effect.

1500m away to the north of Ajanta, beautiful frescoes have been found. Though the themes in these paintings are both secular and religious, they do depict some aspect of Buddhist life and rituals. One of the most famous paintings show a procession of elephants. Another depicts a dancer and women musicians. These have been influenced by Ajanta style of paintings. These frescoes show a strong resemblance to the frescoes of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka.

===Ellora===
[[Image:Ellora cave29 Shiva-Parvati-Ravana.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|[[Bas-relief]] from [[Ellora caves#Early Hindu temples: Dhumar Lena, Cave 29|Ellora (Cave 29)]] showing [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]].]]
{{Main|Ellora caves}}

The Ellora Caves are located about 18 miles from the city of Aurangabad in the [[Chamadari Hills]]. Pre-historic paintings were engraved in five Ellora Caves. The Ellora paintings can be organized in two series. The first set of paintings depicts images of the goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu and was developed while the caves were engraved. The second set of images focuses on images of Lord Shiva with his followers, Apsaras, etc and was developed centuries after the formation of the caves.

===Bagh===
[[Image:PAINTING_IN_BAGH_CAVE_2_Bodhisattva.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.6|Painting of a Bodhisattva in Bagh Cave 2.]]
{{Main|Bagh caves}}

The Bagh Caves are located in the Dhar District of Madhya Pradesh on the banks of the Baghani River. There were originally nine caves cut in the lofty hills, but four of them have been destroyed. The paintings in these caves were engraved in the time period of 500 to 700 CE.

===Sittanavasal Paintings===

[[image:Südindischer Meister um 850 001.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Painting on the roof of the Sittanvasal Cave]]
{{Main|Sittanavasal Caves}}

The decorative cave paintings are located in Sittanavasal village in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu.<ref name="Sudharshan">{{Cite web|url=http://www.indian-heritage.org/swaminathan/sittannavasal/Sittannavasal%20-%20a%20booklet.pdf|title=S u d h a r s a n a m:A centre for Arts and Culture|access-date=26 October 2012|publisher=Indian Heritage Organization}}</ref><ref name="Tatva">{{Cite web|url=http://puratattva.in/2011/05/02/sittanavasal-the-legacy-of-chitrasutra-13.html|title=Sittanavasal – A passage to the Indian History and Monuments|access-date=26 October 2012|publisher=Puratattva: The Legacy of Chitrasutra, Indian History and Architecture|archive-date=14 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814174527/http://puratattva.in/2011/05/02/sittanavasal-the-legacy-of-chitrasutra-13.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> They are reported to provide a link between the Ajanta paintings (4th–6th century AD) and the [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] paintings of 11th century at [[Thanjavur]].<ref name="Sudharshan">{{Cite web|url=http://www.indian-heritage.org/swaminathan/sittannavasal/Sittannavasal%20-%20a%20booklet.pdf|title=S u d h a r s a n a m:A centre for Arts and Culture|access-date=26 October 2012|publisher=Indian Heritage Organization}}</ref> The ceilings have depiction of a lotus tank with natural looking images of men, animals, flowers, birds and fishes representing the Samavasarana faith of Jainism. The pillars are also carved with dancing girl and the king and the queen. [[Fresco]]es that have been preserved on the top parts of columns and ceilings inside the temple are mostly typical of the 9th century [[Pandyan]] period <ref>{{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_tn_rockjaintemple.asp|title=Rock-cut Jaina temple, Sittannavasal|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|access-date=15 November 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Agnew 2010">{{cite book|last= Agnew |first= Neville |title= Conservation of Ancient Sites on the Silk Road |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n8YAyXzJE2IC&q=Sittanavasal+Cave+Temple&pg=PA338|access-date=26 October 2012|year=2010|publisher= Getty Publications |isbn=9781606060131|pages=338–339}}</ref>

==''Notes''==
{{Reflist}}

==''References''==
*Total History and Civics. a history Textbook. Published by Morning Star Publishers. ICSE Std IX.

==''Further reading''==
*{{cite book|author=B. B. Lal|title=Indian Rock Paintings: Their Chronology, Technique and Preservation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HTSPXwAACAAJ|year=1968}}
* {{cite book|title=Facets of Indian Civilization: Prehistory and rock-art, protohistory: Essays in Honour of Prof. B.B. Lal (Vol. 1)|author=Jagat Pati Joshi|author2=D. K. Sinha |author3=Braj Basi Lal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QzkenAEACAAJ|access-date=9 August 2013|year=1997|publisher=Aryan Books International}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frescoes Of Ajanta}}
[[Category:Cultural history of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Indian painting]]
[[Category:Rock art in India| ]]

Cave paintings in India - Revision history

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