Site Name: Ajanta
Date: 462-480 CE
Subject: Facade, porch, entrance door on right
CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY
Cave 21 is a vihara or monastery that was probably inaugurated around 465-466 CE with the cutting back of its court area. It consists of a pillared verandah whose pillars are now cemented replacements, a pillared hall with 12 cells, antechamber, a sanctum flanked by two cells. There is an image of a Buddha in preaching attitude in the sanctum. Cave 21 was relatively simple at its inception but it incorporated new ideas and forms as it went along and by 477 CE when it was nearing completion, it represented the Vakataka vihara in a much elaborated form. It took advantage of the many stylistic and technological changes that occurred in the meantime particularly in the royal caves like Cave1, 17, 19 and 20.
It’s fine carved decoration, dating from the period of Asmaka domination starting in 475 CE, was still underway when Harisena died, and was never finished. It was possibly later undertaken by Monk Buddhabhadra, a friend of Bhavviraja, a minister of the king of Asmaka. There are also traces of painting of a panel depicting Buddha preaching a congregation. Cave 21 also has spacious cistern that was never finished.
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