Cave No. 9, Ajanta

Cave No. 9 at Ajanta is a very grand chaityagriha  datable to of 2nd century B.C. belonging to Hinayana cult of Buddhism. The chaityagriha consists of arched facade and a doorway giving appearance of a double storyed building. 

The exquisitely decorated facade and beautiful painted interior, form a grand combination of richness of detail and graceful proposition.  There are  sculptures of the Buddha on the  side walls facing the facade.

Inside the chaitya is in rectangular layout with twenty-three pillars apsidal dividing it into a nave, an apse and aisles. The ceiling of the nave is vaulted while ceiling of aisles is flat. At the center of the apse stands a globular stupa on high cylindrical base.

The painting in this cave consist, principally figures of Buddha variously engaged, disciples, worshipers of a stupa etc. On the external facade there are traces of painting still visible in the ceiling. Above the main door a row of five small false arches is carved having imitation of wooden lattice.

Some of the paintings are in two layers; earlier dating back to the second half of 1st century B. C. and the later in the 5th –6th century A.D. This can be seen in the above image.