Ajanta Cave 1: Life of the Buddha - Defeat of Mara

INDIA, Maharashtra, Aurangabad

This mural is located on the left wall of the antechamber. It measures 1.9 m in height and 2.3 m in width. In the center of the painting is Prince Siddhartha seated upon a diamond throne and deep in concentration. In the bottom left corner, Mara commands his army to attack and his daughters to seduce the prince. The army surrounds the throne, some figures hold sharp weapons while others have the face of pigs or release poisonous snakes. In front of the throne, Mara’s daughters gesture seductively. Amid the melee, Prince Siddhartha remains calm and absorbed, his right hand probably in the bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra. His peaceful countenance is a great contrast to the surrounding disorder and violence. The painting is sophisticated, detailed, and brilliantly colored.