Scholar David S. Efurd's 10,000-Image Archive of 80 Buddhist Caves Now on Artstor

Dr. David S. Efurd, a two-time Fulbright recipient and associate professor of art history, has made his archive of over 10,000 photographs documenting more than 80 Buddhist cave sites in western India available through Artstor. The caves, carved into volcanic basalt cliffs, date from the second century BCE to the ninth century CE and include sites such as Ajanta, Ellora, Karle, Pitalkhora, and Kondhane. Efurd's practice of 'slow looking' involves spending days in each cave, capturing architectural details, sculptures, and sacred spaces. His research reveals that caves at Ajanta and Ellora were aligned with the winter solstice and the sun's rays, with the Kirnotsav festival celebrated annually at Ellora. The archive also documents later Hindu and Jain appropriations of Buddhist sites, such as the Jain temple in cave 32 at Ellora. Efurd's work emphasizes the mathematical proportions and design intent of the caves, challenging Western interpretations.