Ajanta Cave 17: Kapi Jataka

INDIA, Maharashtra, Aurangabad

Located on the left side of the back wall, this scene from the Kapi Jataka is one of the more well-preserved paintings found at Ajanta. The Kapi Jataka is found in the Pali Jataka No. 516. It tells the story of one of the Buddha’s previous lives as a monkey, when he rescued a Brahmin who had fallen into a pit. The Brahmin in turn harmed the monkey and as a consequence of his ingratitude, was stricken with leprosy.
The painting depicts the story in a forest setting amid trees and leaves. The narrative flows from right to left, beginning in the lower right corner with an image of the monkey struggling to rescue the fallen Brahmin from a pit. In the center, the exhausted monkey has fallen asleep, while the hungry Brahmin holds a stone aloft, preparing to kill the monkey. Finally, on the left, the monkey is shown injured, and having woken up in shock, reprimands the Brahmin for his ingratitude.
Many details of the drawing are still recognizable, such as the ferocious face of the Brahmin as he tries to kill the monkey, and his expression of shame when the monkey admonishes him. The monkey’s various postures are expressed dramatically, such as when reaching down to save the Brahmin, when at rest, or in response to the Brahmin’s cruelty.