Cave 1

- Campaka

This painting is found in Cave 1 on the back aisle before the antechamber. This painting is done in the space around two doors. The painting takes place in one principal location - the king’s palace. Different scenes are shown in different mandapas or rooms in the palace.

The story is that of a pious Naga king who wants to attain salvation. For this he leaves the Naga world, and comes to perform penance in a forest. He is captured by a hunter. The Naga queen is worried about her missing husband and comes looking for him. She pleads with the human king of the region asking him to help her find her husband. The hunter is summoned and asked to free the Naga. The Naga king gives a sermon to the court telling them about the virtues of following a spiritual path.