Music Iconography portrayed in South Asian Buddhist arts (based on Ajanta Buddhist caves)

Ajanta Caves' musical iconography reveals significant insights into India's musical history, particularly during the Buddhist period. The study identifies four categories of instruments—string (e.g., Veena), percussion (drums, cymbals), solid (metallic), and wind (flutes, conches)—and analyzes their structural features, playing techniques, and performance contexts. By comparing these depictions with other sites, the research highlights Ajanta's unique contributions to understanding Buddhist perspectives on music and the evolution of Indian musical traditions. This meticulous survey of literary and archaeological sources provides a historical framework for evaluating musical instruments from this era.

Kumara, J. C. R. (2024). Music Iconography portrayed in South Asian Buddhist arts (based on Ajanta Buddhist caves). The 24th International Postgraduate Research Conference. https://doi.org/10.64920/iprc2024100