Cave 4

The plan of Cave 4 is similar to that of Cave 1. It has a porch, hall, and an antechamber that leads to a shrine. This is the biggest Vihāra at Ajanta and seems to have been quite an ambitious undertaking.

Made during the later period, the cave displays Sarvastivada traditions of the period, especially through the presence of Avalokiteśvara sculpture in the porch.

The uneven state of the ceiling shows that it had fallen at some point during the excavation of the cave. Perhaps this was also the reason why the residential cells remain incomplete. The six colossal Buddha figures in the antechamber is another unique feature of this cave.

The dedicatory inscription in the shrine of Cave 4 shows Mathura of Karvatiya clan, son of Abhayanandi and Skandavasu. His donation was made to transfer merit to his parents, grandmother and all sentient beings.

The Buddha sits in padmāsana with his hands in the Dharmachakrapravartana mudrā, where the thumb and index fingers of both hands form a circle each. As can be seen in the lower part, the Buddha image is often accompanied by his disciples and deer flanking either side of a disc in the middle. It is clear from this that this represents the first sermon that the Buddha gave in the deer park at Sarnath, the day that the Dharmachakra, or the wheel of Dharma, started rotating. Standing next to the Buddha on either side are Padmapani - holding the Padma, and Vajrapani - holding the Vajra. Above them are dwarfs carrying garlands and just behind can be seen Vyalas - a composite creature with an animal head. A large group of devotees - 14 of them to be exact - are arranged in 2 rows.