Ajanta Paintings: Three Days with the Citrasūtra (ASC179)

A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the art of classical Indian painting.

What will you learn on this course?

The Citrasūtra of the Viṣṇudharmottara Purāṇa is the foundational Sanskrit text on classical Indian painting — the oldest surviving document to prescribe, with technical precision, how a painted image acquires correct form, proportion, depth, and presence. It has governed the making of the Ajanta paintings and every painting tradition that flows from them. Yet it has never been taught as a studio practice to a general audience.

Led by Dr Sindhu Saraswathy, an artist from the Viśvakarmā tradition, these three days do exactly that. Each session moves directly from the Citrasūtra's principles to their application in paint. Participants do not study the text — they inhabit it, through their hands, on the surface in front of them.

The programme begins not with technique but with the understanding that underlies it. Before the first brushstroke, the Citrasūtra demands Dhyāna — the preparation of the inner eye. It demands Vrata — the vow that precedes making. Art in this tradition is Sādhanā — a practice, a discipline, a sustained act of formation through which the correct form becomes available to the hand. These three days are an introduction to that understanding, as well as to the technical system that expresses it.

View the full program.

Participants will leave with: 
•    A completed figure study governed by the Citrasūtra's Ṣaḍaṅga principles 
•    A working knowledge of rekhā, kṣaya-vṛddhi, and vartanā as practical studio tools 
•    Direct experience of Dhyāna and Vrata as the contemplative ground of the making process 
•    An understanding of the Citrasūtra as a living, applicable formal system — not a historical document

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for adults aged 18+. It is open to beginners and improvers, no prior knowledge of Indian art required.

At the heart of MAC is a focus on accessibility and inclusion. Please contact us to discuss your specific access needs. The room is wheelchair accessible. A support worker or carer may assist; carers must book a complimentary ticket if attending to provide support. 

Do you need to bring anything?

All materials and equipment are provided. You may wish to bring your own sketchbook or notebook to support your learning. 

Are there any additional costs?

There are no additional costs.

Who teaches this course?

Dr Sindhu Saraswathy

About the artist 

Dr Sindhu Saraswathy is an artist from the Viśvakarmā tradition — the hereditary lineage of temple builders and mūrti makers whose knowledge of sacred proportion and the grammar of divine form has been carried across generations. She has conducted workshops and lectures in collaboration with the Nehru Centre, the High Commission of India, and The Bhavan. She is the founder of Re-search Hindu, a platform dedicated to reviving the contemplative visual traditions of classical Indian art, and the author of four books including 'The Third Dimension at Ajanta': Breathing Space into Flatness — the first study to systematically correlate the technical principles of the Citrasūtra with specific painted passages in the Ajanta caves.