Silent Stories:
Painting in the Ajanta Tradition
A 3-hour immersive workshop — £50 per person (materials included)
Step into a 2,000-year-old tradition in colour, symbolism, and meditation
Discover the timeless beauty of the Ajanta cave murals — a UNESCO World Heritage treasure
— through a hands-on workshop that blends artistic technique with spiritual insight.
Whether you’re an artist, a history enthusiast, or simply curious, this session offers a unique
chance to learn, create, and connect with an ancient visual language still relevant today.
The philosophy behind the brush
Our practice is rooted in the Chitrasutra, an ancient Sanskrit text from the
Vishnudharmottara Purana. It describes the Shadanga — six ‘limbs’ of painting:
- Rūpabheda – Understanding and differentiating forms
- Pramāṇa – Mastery of proportion
- Bhāva – Expression of emotion and mood
- Lāvaṇya Yojanam – Harmony and grace in composition
- Sādṛśya – True resemblance of the subject
- Varnikabhanga – Skillful use of colours and pigments
During the session, you’ll see how these timeless principles still guide the hand — and the
mind — today.
What you’ll experience
- Guided sketching & painting in the Ajanta style, with all materials provided
- Philosophical context — Meditative accomplishments ,ideals, narrative traditions, and sacred symbolism
- Iconographic insight — decoding lotus, elephant,celestial motifs, divine and human iconography.
- Technique foundations — composition, linework, natural pigments, and shading methods
- Spiritual takeaway — painting as a meditative culminant , the mindful practice
Workshop format
- Duration: 3 hours
- Fee: £50 per person (includes all art materials)
- Group size: Limited to ensure personalised attention
- Location: Hosted in galleries & community spaces across the UK
- Skill level: Suitable for beginners and experienced artists alike
Why join
“Ajanta is not just about colour on a wall — it’s about stories, silence, and the human search
for meaning.”
You’ll leave with your own artwork and a deeper appreciation of how art can be a form of
devotion, storytelling, and reflection.