`Beautiful Bodhisattva` by artist Padmapani

Bodhisattva flowing into the surrounding setting of the natural world , and all of the elements of the image are proportioned to exude a sense of flowing harmony . In this sense , the painting is , obviously , abstract to the degree that it eschews realistic representation in favor of aesthetic resonance . The resonance of the painting is directed in a specific manner toward evoking religious principles associated with Buddhism . Gazing at the image , even the modern viewer who may be only slightly acquainted with Buddhist philosophy will perceive in the image , something of the mystical

and scared doctrines of Buddhist thought . One of the suggestions which flows out of the fresco 's harmonious unity is the Buddhist idea of karma . The idea of karma is that "Actions can also lead to karmic fruits in a human life . This might be the present life , or a future human life , be this one 's next life , or one that comes after one or more other types of rebirth (Harvey 15 . The Bodhisattva , surrounded by Nature , takes his rightful place as an organic part of the rhythm and flow of the natural universe which is articulated by the rhythm and flow of the fresco itself

The "Beautiful Bodhisattva " is a brilliant example of the degree of technical and thematic unity which was brought to bear on the works in the Ajanta caves . It is true that works such as these show that "art had reached the perfection [ .] attained in the Ajanta frescoes (Rhys-Davids 34 ) by combining both aesthetic theory and religious inspiration painterly technique and philosophy . An important insight gained by studying the work is that the elements used to produce the visual harmony , rhythm , and expression of the work are themselves indicative of the philosophical and religious idea that the work is meant...