Ajanta may be a big key....

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Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on November 11, 1999 at 04:14:55:

In Reply to: Henna in Indian cave paintings...for CCJ and others posted by Kenzi on November 11, 1999 at 03:25:24:

I just blew $60 on a killer book on the Ajanta caves..... a whoooooole
lot more that is at the website, but only of interest to hopelessly
hennaaddicted (or writing a preposterously footnoted book on the
history of henna)

Here's what's really important:

There are many representations of hennaed hands in the Ajanta caves,
definitely as early as 5th c., but perhaps as early as the 1st c. B.
C. E. Though there are many hennaed hands, they are proportionately
very few. None of the hennaed hands in Ajanta (and Ellora caves) are
patterned henna, they are all dip henna. The hennaed hands are on
Buddhas, Boddhisattvas, a king, a queen, princesses, serving maids and
demons.

What this implies: (and this is CRUCIAL henna history)

1)Henna in India around 5th c. was NOT patterned henna. Henna was
patterned in the Middle East as early as 1700 B. C. E. (I define
patterning as henna applied with a stick as opposed to henna being
applied by putting your hands in a henna puddle. The earliest I've
found patterned henna in India is in the 1500's AD.

2)Henna in India around 5th c. was NOT a bridal tradition, or even a
women's cosmetic. Henna was used equally on Buddha, Boddhisattvas,
men, women, maids and demons. Henna was a bridal tradition as early
as 4th millenium B.C.E. in the Mediterranean.

3) Henna was a signigicant tradition in Buddhism in c. 400 , and as
early as 100 B.C.E, but I have not found it in Buddhist art after c.
1400

4) Henna was a part of life in India by c. 400, but it wasn't a
particularly special adornment. Whitened hands were equally popular,
and hair styles were given far more attention.

5) Henna in India is of a very early, but of a separate and parallel
origin from the Mediterranean origin. The traditions merged between
c. 900 and c. 1500.

Follow-ups:

Ajanta website?? karin 06:25:23 11/14/99 (5)
- Re: Ajanta website?? SHREYAS 08:36:29 5/26/00 (0)
- Re: Ajanta website?? SHREYAS 08:34:58 5/26/00 (0)
- Re: Ajanta website?? Catherine Cartwright Jones 16:32:28 11/14/99 (2)
  - Re: Ajanta website?? Kenzi 02:22:45 11/16/99 (0)
  - Re: Ajanta website?? karin 20:05:18 11/14/99 (0)
Re: Ajanta may be a big key.... Kenzi 04:21:36 11/11/99 (1)
- Re: Ajanta may be a big key.... Catherine Cartwright Jones 12:51:37 11/11/99 (0)

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Comments:
: I just blew $60 on a killer book on the Ajanta caves..... a whoooooole : lot more that is at the website, but only of interest to hopelessly : hennaaddicted (or writing a preposterously footnoted book on the : history of henna) : Here's what's really important: : There are many representations of hennaed hands in the Ajanta caves, : definitely as early as 5th c., but perhaps as early as the 1st c. B. : C. E. Though there are many hennaed hands, they are proportionately : very few. None of the hennaed hands in Ajanta (and Ellora caves) are : patterned henna, they are all dip henna. The hennaed hands are on : Buddhas, Boddhisattvas, a king, a queen, princesses, serving maids and : demons. : What this implies: (and this is CRUCIAL henna history) : 1)Henna in India around 5th c. was NOT patterned henna. Henna was : patterned in the Middle East as early as 1700 B. C. E. (I define : patterning as henna applied with a stick as opposed to henna being : applied by putting your hands in a henna puddle. The earliest I've : found patterned henna in India is in the 1500's AD. : 2)Henna in India around 5th c. was NOT a bridal tradition, or even a : women's cosmetic. Henna was used equally on Buddha, Boddhisattvas, : men, women, maids and demons. Henna was a bridal tradition as early : as 4th millenium B.C.E. in the Mediterranean. : 3) Henna was a signigicant tradition in Buddhism in c. 400 , and as : early as 100 B.C.E, but I have not found it in Buddhist art after c. : 1400 : 4) Henna was a part of life in India by c. 400, but it wasn't a : particularly special adornment. Whitened hands were equally popular, : and hair styles were given far more attention. : 5) Henna in India is of a very early, but of a separate and parallel : origin from the Mediterranean origin. The traditions merged between : c. 900 and c. 1500.

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