SSC Stenographer - 11 Sep 2026 - Shift 1

Solution: The correct answer is Padmapāṇi Bodhisattva.
Explanation:
☛ The painting of Padmapāṇi Bodhisattva is one of the most famous masterpieces located in Cave 1 of the Ajanta Caves.
☛ In this mural, the Bodhisattva (Avalokiteshvara) is depicted holding a blue lotus (Padma) in his right hand, symbolizing compassion and purity.
☛ The Ajanta Caves are rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments situated in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) district of Maharashtra.
☛ Most of the notable paintings at Ajanta, including this one, were created during the Vakataka dynasty (around the 5th century CE) under the patronage of Emperor Harishena.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Descent of the Ganges: It is a giant open-air rock relief carved at Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), Tamil Nadu, under the Pallava dynasty.
☛ Krishna Lifting Govardhan: It is a prominent theme found in Mughal and Rajasthani miniature paintings, as well as rock-cut reliefs at Mahabalipuram.
☛ The Ajanta Caves comprise approximately 30 rock-cut caves and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
☛ The technique used in the Ajanta murals is tempera (fresco-secco), where paint was applied on a dry plaster surface made of clay, cow dung, and rice husk.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ In which cave of Ajanta is the painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani found? → Cave 1
☛ Along the gorge of which river are the Ajanta Caves situated? → Waghora River
☛ Which British officer rediscovered the Ajanta Caves in 1819? → John Smith
☛ Which Bodhisattva holding a thunderbolt is painted alongside Padmapani in Cave 1? → Bodhisattva Vajrapani
☛ With which branch of Buddhism is the later phase of Ajanta cave art primarily associated? → Mahayana Buddhism