Latest news with #Purna
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
INSV Kaundinya: Navy revives maritime heritage with stitched ship inspired by Ajanta mural
The Indian Navy has formally inducted the ancient-style stitched sail ship, naming it INSV Kaundinya, a vessel modelled on a 5th-century CE depiction of a ship in the Ajanta Caves. The induction ceremony took place on May 21, with officials stating that the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) will be based in Karwar. The ship is named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya, who is believed to have sailed across the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia. Navy officials said the vessel is emblematic of India's rich maritime traditions, symbolising centuries of exploration, trade, and cultural dialogue across the seas. The vessel will now prepare for a transoceanic voyage tracing an ancient maritime route from Gujarat to Oman, slated for later this year. Inspired by Ajanta's Maritime Imagery The inspiration for the vessel comes from Cave 2 at Ajanta in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad), part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the 30 rock-cut caves, six preserve murals from the early centuries of the Common Era. The mural in Cave 2 features a large merchant vessel with a high stem and stern, three oblong sails attached to masts, and steering oars. 'This is one of the earliest surviving paintings that narrates the tale of India's international sea trade,' said an official from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). 'It is a vivid testimony of ancient Indian maritime activity.' The Ajanta murals largely illustrate Jataka Katha (stories from the Buddha's past lives) and Avadana Katha (narratives of heroic virtue). Art historian Saili K. Palande-Datar, who has studied Ajanta for over a decade, identified the ship painting as part of the Purna Avadana, a mythical Buddhist narrative. The Tale of Purna and Bhavila 'The painting of the ship that inspired the design of Kaundinya is from Purna Avadana Katha,' Ms. Palande-Datar said. 'It is the story of two brothers, Purna and Bhavila, sons of a rich merchant and a slave woman from Shurparaka—modern-day Nalasopara, two hours from Mumbai.' Owing to their illegitimacy, the brothers were excluded from their father's inheritance. They took to maritime trade and became successful sea-faring merchants. After six successful voyages, Purna encountered traders from Shravasti, in ancient times the capital of the Kosala kingdom, is now located within present day Uttar Pradesh, who introduced him to Buddhism. 'Purna was deeply moved by their accounts of the Buddha and chose to stay back in the Konkan region, then called Sunaparanta, to spread the teachings of Buddhism,' said Ms. Palande-Datar. 'Meanwhile, Bhavila set out on a seventh voyage to the island of Goshaila, famed for its sandalwood.' As per the narrative, the island was guarded by a supernatural being, Maheshwarayaksha, who, angered by the tree-felling, summoned storms to destroy the ship. In desperation, Bhavila prayed to his brother. Purna miraculously appeared, saved the ship, and pacified the guardian spirit. 'This entire tale is depicted in the Ajanta mural and directly inspired the Navy's ship design,' she added. On returning to the western coast, the brothers are said to have built a vihara (monastery) from the sandalwood. 'It is said the Buddha was so impressed by Purna's devotion that he journeyed from Shravasti to Nalasopara to meet him,' Ms. Palande-Datar noted. 'These tales serve to reinforce the religious significance of the region.' Ajanta's Cultural Legacy The Purna Avadana mural, dated to the 5th century CE, is one of many intricate paintings at Ajanta that reflect India's classical age. Executed under the Vakataka dynasty - contemporaries of the Guptas - the murals depict royal courts, gardens, wildlife, and celestial beings such as Garudas and Nagas, showcasing the material and spiritual culture of the period. 'These murals were painted using natural colours derived from mineral stones,' Ms. Palande-Datar said. 'They capture the opulence, urbanity, and rich symbolism of what can rightly be termed a golden age of Indian civilisation.' With the commissioning of INSV Kaundinya, the Indian Navy has not only revived a historical shipbuilding technique but also paid homage to a long and storied maritime tradition embedded in India's civilisational memory.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Painting of ‘merchant' ship at Ajanta Cave 17 inspired INSV Kaundinya: Expert
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, A painting of a 'merchant ship' at Ajanta Cave No. 17, indicating sea trade during the fifth century, inspired the Indian Navy's traditionally-built stitched vessel INSV Kaundinya, an expert has said. The Indian Navy on Wednesday inducted INSV Kaundinya, a recreation of a fifth-century vessel, named in honour of legendary Indian mariner Kaundinya, who once sailed across the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia. An Archaeological Survey of India official, who is also an expert on the world-famous Ajanta caves, said, 'The ship depicted in Cave 17 resembles a merchant vessel, indicating the existence of maritime trade during the fifth century.' Another official described the artwork as one of the earliest surviving visual records of trade through the sea route from that era. 'We can identify details like a boat and a sail in this painting. That's why it was chosen for this project, he said. The late historian Walter Spink, in his book 'Ajanta: A brief history and guide', wrote about Cave 17. According to the book, its excavation was sponsored by Upendragupta , the feudatory ruler of the Ajanta. However, the work came to a halt after he was defeated by the Asmakas in 471 CE. Art historian Saili Palande-Datar linked this painting to the Purna Avadana, a narrative from Buddhist literature. She said several Ajanta caves feature paintings of ships. 'We can connect this particular ship with the Purna Avadana Katha. Purna and Bhavila brothers were sandalwood traders from Shurparaka . They made six sea voyages. While Purna embraced Buddhism and settled at Sopara, Bhavila made a seventh voyage to get sandalwood,' she told PTI. During the trip, Bhavila was stopped by a 'Yaksha' named Maheshwar, who tried to sink the ship, said the art historian. 'After Bhavila prayed to Purna, the latter appeared and saved him and the ship. Later, they created a 'vihara' out of sandalwood in Sopara. To meet them, Buddha is said to have come from Shravasti to Sopara. This is a mythical narrative which reflects the spread of Buddhism in Maharashtra's Konkan region,' she said.
