At Ajanta, there is Buddhist monastery which is two thousand years old paintings on the walls. Today Ajanta is world heritage site and visited by tourists from all over the world. While watching paintings at the Ajanta, it is evident that there were tools specifically designed to create wall paintings. Without the existence of brush, pencil and colors, today painting cant be done. Even if is done, it wont be considered as painting. So question comes in the mind – Are there references of paintbrush and colors in ancient Sanskrit books? Do ancient artist used pencil like modern artist use today for creating drawing?
The art at Ajanta was possible due to the existence of technology available at that time. Such technology is needed even today to make painting accessories such as tools, colors, and canvas. Only after that, an Artist can express his or her imagination on canvas.
Brush-making – In Manasollasa, chapter ‘Lekhani lekhanam, Descriptions of brushes and pencils are mentioned.
The hair that grows near the ears of a calf is collected and bound at one end and again tied to ‘Tulika’ (strong and hard Bamboo stick) with the help of lac. This brush is called ‘Lekhani’. It is of three types –
1) Sthula – Broad size 2) Madhya – Medium size
3) Suksma – Small size
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About making colors – In ‘Vishnudharmottara Purana’, chapter 40, verses 25-30, a list of materials used for creating colors is given. It is as follows ‘The materials of color are Gold, Silver, Copper, Mica, deep-colored brass, Red lead, tin, Yellow orpiment, Yellow myrobalan, Lac, Vermilion, and Indigo. There are many other similar coloring substances in every country (or region). A painting drawn with a magnificent hairy brush, on a canvas dipped in the juice of the best ‘Durva grass’ cant fade away, but remains intact for many years though washed by water.’
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Process of creating Plaster for Wall painting – At Ajanta, Paintings were done on mud plaster. In Book Manasollasa written by King Bhulokamalla Somesvara III of the Western Chalukyan Dynasty, the process of creating such plaster is mentioned in the chapter called ‘Chitra Bhitti’. It is mentioned that ‘For the purpose of executing a painting, at the first instance, the wall is to be white washed. Then it should be coated with the paste’. The purpose of attaching such an extra layer of plaster was to have a smooth clean surface for creating a painting.
There are many such references found in ancient Sanskrit books. In Ancient India, Usage of minerals for making colors was known and also was in practice. Artists were using brushes of various sizes, designed specifically for painting. Durable materials were used for creating wall plaster for painting. It was so durable, that Ajanta paintings survived for more than two thousand years. This shows the existence of deep and advanced knowledge of natural elements. It shows, Art in Ancient Bharat was possible due to the scientific knowledge mentioned in Sanskrit texts like Vishnudharmottara Purana and others.
To learn more about it , Please read this book Art at Ajanta. It is available online here
