The Eternal Whisper Of Ajanta And Ellora Poem by Umasree Raghunath

Opened a box of new joiners to Dasara stand
The black sculpture dolls that mesmerised the child
I asked my dad, ‘where are these from? "
The beauty of Ajanta and Ellora caves. He replied
Touched the carvings of the Deccan's embrace
Enthralled with the beauty of timeless grace
A beautiful saga etched in basalt stones
Of artisans, monks and several stories unknown

My dad, a pious religious man showed and told
Viharas humming tales untold, prayers old
Ajanta's sculptures singing Buddhist hymns
Chaityas halls as light and shadows swim
Crafted amidst the Waghur river's flow
As its murals and frescoes radiating glow
Crafting Buddha's life in divine crescent
Masterpieces defying time and divine

Ellora with its mystic confluence rare
With Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu flair!
He explained- "Thirty-four caves vast"
An ode to faiths that forever to last
Kailasa- A temple carved upside down
Shiva's marvel abode- stone jewel crown!
The sculptures where legends strode
Monolith chiselled from the rocks as ode!

Dashavatara and Jain halls watched with keen
The stories of skill, will and remarkable serene
Satavahanas and Rashtrakutas's reign
A history crafted in vision in stone to remain
UNESCO World heritage crown with lore
A divine heritage that we will always adore
Loved being there to witness the might
History and soul within lit by eternal light

Carved between the 2nd and 10th AD
Gift of the great kinds for all of us to see!
Nestled in India's Maharastra's terrain,
Around Aurangabad town, they proudly remain


Wanted to kiss the craftsman's hand
For the testaments of the skills abound
Sat in silence, hearing the voices resound
Of our ancient world intensely profound
Oh, Majestic beauty of stone with legacy vast
Divinity, Serenity and connect to our glorious past!
Oh, Ajanta and Ellora are the temples of art
That etched deeply in our soul and heart!