The themes of the murals of the Ajanta Caves are 1. Decorative design which include a variety of animals, trees and flowers. 2. Portraits of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. 3. Narrative scenes portraying Jatka stories. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

The murals of the Ajanta Caves encompass three primary thematic categories. First, decorative designs are extensively used, particularly on ceilings, featuring a rich variety of animals, fruits, flowers, and geometric patterns [t2][t8]. Second, the caves contain numerous portraits and depictions of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, such as the famous Padmapani and Vajrapani, which represent the spiritual and devotional aspects of the site [t1][t3]. Third, the most prominent narrative element consists of scenes portraying Jataka stories, which recount the previous lives of the Buddha [c2][t9]. These narratives also capture secular details of contemporary life, including courtly scenes, festivals, and processions [c2][t7]. Since all three themes—decorative motifs, portraits of divine beings, and narrative Jataka stories—are integral to the Ajanta mural tradition, all statements are correct.

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > Paintings from the past > p. 102
2. [2] https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/content/cultural-selection-silk-roads-legacy-ajanta-cave-paintings
3. [3] https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O115443/copy-of-painting-inside-the-oil-painting-gill-robert/
4. [4] https://ia800507.us.archive.org/35/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.63286/2015.63286.Ajanta-Part-I_text.pdf