Mauryan Art & Architecture.
Mauryan Art
● Mauryan empire.
No significant architectural remains have been found corresponding to the period between the Harappans and the Mauryas. This is probably because buildings were not made of stone in this period.
6thcentury BCE marked the beginning of new socio-religious movements in the Gangetic valley in the form of Buddhism and Jainism which were part of Shraman tradition1. By 4th century BCE, Mauryas established their power and Ashoka patronized Shraman tradition in 3rd century BCE and encouraged the development of distinct sculptural and architectural styles. Religious practices had many dimensions and were not confined to one particular mode of worship. Worship of Yakshas and mother goddesses were prevalent at that time, which later got assimilated into Buddhism and Jainism. Mauryan art represents an important transition in Indian art from use of wood to stone.
---)Mauryan art can be classified as abovementioned .
A) Pillars:
The court art of Ashoka is best seen in the white-grey sandstone columns erected by him all over his empire either to mark a sacred site associated with Buddha’s life or to commemorate a great event. On many of these pillars are inscribed the famous edicts of Ashoka propagating the Dhamma (laws of the Buddha) or the imperial sermons of Ashoka to his people.
Rising to an average height of about 40 feet, developed state, are tall, incorporating a series of
the pillars in their most
tapering monoliths with sculptured capitals, fluted petals in elongated s
(which falling e
together takes the form of a bell, commonly known as the Persepolitan Bell) surmounted by a square or circular abacus ornamented with animal and floral motifs in relief. The top portion of the pillar was carved with capital figures lik the bull, the lion, the elephant etc. Noteworthy are the lion capitalof Sarnath, the bull capital of Rampurva and the lion capital of Laurya Nandangarh. hape,
the bull capital of Rampurva and the lion capital of Laurya Nandangarh. These pillars were carved in two types of stone. Som
white sandstone from the region of Mathura, the others of buff colored fine grained hard sandstone usually with small black spots quarried in Chunar near Varanasi.The uniformity of style in the pillar capital suggests that they were all sculpted by the craftsmen from the same region. e were of spotted red and
The tradition of constructing pillars is very old and it may be observed that erection of pillars was prevalent in the Achamenian empire as well. But the Mauryan pillars are different from the Achame
that erection of pillars was prevalent in the Achamenian empire as well. But the Mauryan pillars are different from the Achamenian pillars. The cut pillars thus displaying the carver’s skills,
○Achamenian vs mauryan pillars.
Mauryan pillars are rock-cut pillars thus displaying the carver’s skills, whereas the Achamenian
pillars are constructed in pieces by a mason.
The stupa was not unknown in India before the time of Ashoka. From the time Ashoka divided up the existing body relics of the Buddha and erected monuments to enshrine them, the stupas became the objects of cult worship. In Buddhist tradition, originally the 9 stupas were built after the death of Buddha - 8 of them over the relics and 9th over the vessel in which the relics were originally deposited.
During the early phase of Buddhism, Buddha is depicted symbolically through footprints, stupas, lotus throne, chakra, etc. This indicates either simple worship, or paying respect, or at times depicts historisisation of life events. Gradually narrative became a part of the Buddhist tradition. Thus events from the life of the Buddha, the Jataka stories, were depicted on the railings and torans of the stupas. Mainly synoptic narrative, continuous narrative and episodic narrative are used in the pictorial tradition. While events from the life of the Buddha became an important theme in all the Buddhist monuments, the Jataka stories also became equally important for sculptural decorations. The main events associated with the Buddha’s life which were frequently depicted were events related to the birth, renunciation, enlightenment, dhammachakrapravartana, and mahaparinibbana (death). Among the Jataka stories that are frequently depicted are Chhadanta Jataka, Vidurpundita Jataka, Ruru Jataka, Sibi Jataka, vessantar Jataka shami Jataka.
● Caves:
Mauryan period also saw the firm establishment of rock-cut architecture. The notable rock-cut caves carved at Barabar and Nagarjuni hills near Gaya in Bihar are Sudama and Lomus Rishi cave. Architecturally, their main interest lies in being the earliest known examples in India of rock-cut method. The facade of the Lomus Rishi cave is decorated with the semicircular chaitya arch as the entrance. The elephant frieze carved in high relief on the chaitya arch shows considerable movement. The interior hall of this cave is rectangular with a circular chamber at the back. The entrance is located on the side wall of the hall. The cave was patronised by Ashoka for the Ajivika sect.
----) The two important features of the caves of this period were –
1) Polishing inside the cave.
2) Development of artistic gateway.
● Sculpture:
The work of local sculptors illustrates the popular art of the Mauryan Period. This consisted of sculpture which probably was not commissioned by the Emperor. The patrons of the popular art were the local governors. Large statues of Yaksha and Yakshiniare found at many places like Patna, Vidisha and Mathura. These monumental images are mostly in the standing position. One of the distinguishing elements in all these images is their polished surface. The depiction of faces is in full round with pronounced cheeks and physiognomic detail. The life-size standing image of a Yakshini holding a chauri (flywhisk) from Didargunj near modern Patna is one of the finest examples of the sculptural tradition of the Mauryan Period.
It is a tall, wellproportioned, free-standing sculpture in round made in sandstone with a polished surface. Yakshini is considered as folk goddess in all major religions.
☆ Pottery:
The pottery associated with the Mauryan period consists of many types of wares. But the most highly developed technique is seen in a special type of pottery known as Northern Black polished ware (NBPW), which was the hallmark of the preceding and early Mauryan Periods. The NBPW is made of finely levigated alluvial clay. It can be distinguished from other polished or graphite coated red wares by its peculiar luster and brilliance. It was largely used for dishes and small bowls.
● Mauryan empire. No significant architectural remains have been found corresponding to the period between the Harappans and the Mauryas. This is probably because buildings were not made of stone in this period.
6thcentury BCE marked the beginning of new socio-religious movements in the Gangetic valley in the form of Buddhism and Jainism which were part of Shraman tradition1. By 4th century BCE, Mauryas established their power and Ashoka patronized Shraman tradition in 3rd century BCE and encouraged the development of distinct sculptural and architectural styles. Religious practices had many dimensions and were not confined to one particular mode of worship. Worship of Yakshas and mother goddesses were prevalent at that time, which later got assimilated into Buddhism and Jainism. Mauryan art represents an important transition in Indian art from use of wood to stone.
A) Pillars:
the pillars in their most
tapering monoliths with sculptured capitals, fluted petals in elongated s
(which falling e
together takes the form of a bell, commonly known as the Persepolitan Bell) surmounted by a square or circular abacus ornamented with animal and floral motifs in relief. The top portion of the pillar was carved with capital figures lik the bull, the lion, the elephant etc. Noteworthy are the lion capitalof Sarnath, the bull capital of Rampurva and the lion capital of Laurya Nandangarh. hape,
the bull capital of Rampurva and the lion capital of Laurya Nandangarh. These pillars were carved in two types of stone. Som
white sandstone from the region of Mathura, the others of buff colored fine grained hard sandstone usually with small black spots quarried in Chunar near Varanasi.The uniformity of style in the pillar capital suggests that they were all sculpted by the craftsmen from the same region. e were of spotted red and
The tradition of constructing pillars is very old and it may be observed that erection of pillars was prevalent in the Achamenian empire as well. But the Mauryan pillars are different from the Achame
that erection of pillars was prevalent in the Achamenian empire as well. But the Mauryan pillars are different from the Achamenian pillars. The cut pillars thus displaying the carver’s skills,
○Achamenian vs mauryan pillars.
● Sarnath Lion Capital: The Mauryan pillar capital found at Sarnath popu the historical event of the first sermon or the larly known as
Lion Capital, Sarnath Capital is the finest example of Mauryan sculptural tradition Built in commemoration of historical event of the first sermon or the by Buddha at Sarnath/Dhammachakrapravartana @Sarnath , the capital was built by Ashoka .
The capital originally consisted of five component parts:
(i) the shaft (which is broken in many parts now),
(ii) a lotus bell base,
(iii) a drum on the bell base with four animals proceeding clockwise,
(iv) the figures of four majestic addorsed lions, and
(v) the crowning element,
Dharamchakra, a large wheel, was also a part of this pillar. However, this wheel is lying in a broken condition.The capital without the crowning wheel and the lotus base has been adopted as the National Emblem of Independent India.
The surface of the sculpture is heavily polished which is typical of the Mauryan Period. The abacus has the depiction of a chakra (wheel) having twenty four spokes in all four directions and a bull, a horse, an elephant anda lion between every chakra is finely carved. The motif of the chakra becomes significant as a representation of Dhammachkrain the entire Buddhist art.
as
● Stupa :
Stupas were constructed over the relics of the Buddha at Rajagraha, Vaishali, Kapilvastu, Allakapa, Ramagrama, Vethadipa, Pava, Kushinagar and Pippalvina.
The core of the stupa was made up of unburnt brick and the outer face of burnt brick, covered with thick layer of plaster.
The stupa was crowned by an umbrella of wooden fence enclosing a path for pradaskshina (circumambulatory path).
One of the best examples of the structure of a stupa in the third century BCE is at Bairat in Rajasthan. It is a very grand stupa having a circular mound with a circumambulatory path.
The great stupaat Sanchi was built with bricks during the time of Ashoka and later it was covered with stone and many new additions were made.
○Sanchi stupa@ Sanchi ,Madhy Pradesh
In the subsequent century, stupas were elaborately built with certain additions like the enclosing of the circumambulatory path with railings and sculptural decoration. There were numerous stupas constructed earlier but expansions or new additions were made in the second century BCE. The stupa consists of a cylindrical drum and a circular anda with a harmika and chhatra on the top which remain consistent throughout with minor variations and changes in shape and size. The three chhatra on the stupas represent triratnasof Buddhism i.e. Buddha (The enlightened), Dhamma (doctrine) and Sangh (order). Apart from the circumambulatory path, gateways were added. Thus, with the elaborations in stupa architecture, there was ample space for the architects and sculptors to plan elaborations and to carve out images.
● Caves:
Mauryan period also saw the firm establishment of rock-cut architecture. The notable rock-cut caves carved at Barabar and Nagarjuni hills near Gaya in Bihar are Sudama and Lomus Rishi cave. Architecturally, their main interest lies in being the earliest known examples in India of rock-cut method. The facade of the Lomus Rishi cave is decorated with the semicircular chaitya arch as the entrance. The elephant frieze carved in high relief on the chaitya arch shows considerable movement. The interior hall of this cave is rectangular with a circular chamber at the back. The entrance is located on the side wall of the hall. The cave was patronised by Ashoka for the Ajivika sect.
----) The two important features of the caves of this period were –
1) Polishing inside the cave.
2) Development of artistic gateway.
● Sculpture:
The work of local sculptors illustrates the popular art of the Mauryan Period. This consisted of sculpture which probably was not commissioned by the Emperor. The patrons of the popular art were the local governors. Large statues of Yaksha and Yakshiniare found at many places like Patna, Vidisha and Mathura. These monumental images are mostly in the standing position. One of the distinguishing elements in all these images is their polished surface. The depiction of faces is in full round with pronounced cheeks and physiognomic detail. The life-size standing image of a Yakshini holding a chauri (flywhisk) from Didargunj near modern Patna is one of the finest examples of the sculptural tradition of the Mauryan Period.
☆ Pottery:
The pottery associated with the Mauryan period consists of many types of wares. But the most highly developed technique is seen in a special type of pottery known as Northern Black polished ware (NBPW), which was the hallmark of the preceding and early Mauryan Periods. The NBPW is made of finely levigated alluvial clay. It can be distinguished from other polished or graphite coated red wares by its peculiar luster and brilliance. It was largely used for dishes and small bowls.
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