Pitalkhora Cave 3: Standing Buddhas

INDIA, Maharashtra, Aurangabad

These standing Buddhas painted on the octagonal columns throughout the cave are thought to have been painted during the 5th century. They have white nimbuses and three-tier canopies above their heads. The outer layer of the nimbus is decorated with lotuses. The Buddhas have low usnisas, long eyebrows, and wear monastic robes with the right shoulder bared. The left hands are lifted in front of the shoulder with the palm facing inward, while the right hands are raised, palm outwards before the chest, forming variations of the Dharmacakra (Dharma wheel) mudra. Both of the Buddha’s palms are painted in red. They stand on long-stemmed lotus pedestals with legs slightly apart. Lotus buds decorated with white flowers and lotus leaves are seen on both sides of the stem.