PPT: Art and Culture | Crash Course for UPSC Aspirants PDF Download

 Page 1


On
Indian History,
Art and Culture
CRASH COURSE
Page 2


On
Indian History,
Art and Culture
CRASH COURSE
STUPAS
? Stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics,
typically the ashes of deceased, used by Buddhists as a place of
meditation.
? Ashoka was responsible for the construction of several stupas,
which were large halls, capped with domes and bore symbols of the
Buddha.
? The most important ones are located at Bharhut, Bodhgaya, Sanchi,
Amravati and Nagarjunakonda.
? The shape of the stupa represents the Buddha, crowned and sitting
in meditation posture on a lion throne.
? His crown is the top of the spire; his head is the square at the
spire's base; his body is the vase shape; his legs are the four steps of
the lower terrace; and the base is his throne.
Page 3


On
Indian History,
Art and Culture
CRASH COURSE
STUPAS
? Stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics,
typically the ashes of deceased, used by Buddhists as a place of
meditation.
? Ashoka was responsible for the construction of several stupas,
which were large halls, capped with domes and bore symbols of the
Buddha.
? The most important ones are located at Bharhut, Bodhgaya, Sanchi,
Amravati and Nagarjunakonda.
? The shape of the stupa represents the Buddha, crowned and sitting
in meditation posture on a lion throne.
? His crown is the top of the spire; his head is the square at the
spire's base; his body is the vase shape; his legs are the four steps of
the lower terrace; and the base is his throne.
STRUCTURE OF A STUPA
Page 4


On
Indian History,
Art and Culture
CRASH COURSE
STUPAS
? Stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics,
typically the ashes of deceased, used by Buddhists as a place of
meditation.
? Ashoka was responsible for the construction of several stupas,
which were large halls, capped with domes and bore symbols of the
Buddha.
? The most important ones are located at Bharhut, Bodhgaya, Sanchi,
Amravati and Nagarjunakonda.
? The shape of the stupa represents the Buddha, crowned and sitting
in meditation posture on a lion throne.
? His crown is the top of the spire; his head is the square at the
spire's base; his body is the vase shape; his legs are the four steps of
the lower terrace; and the base is his throne.
STRUCTURE OF A STUPA
Sanchi Stupa:
? Apart from the than ruins of stupa at Piprahwa (Nepal), the core of
stupa No 1 at Sanchi can be considered as the oldest of the stupas.
? Originally built by Asoka, it was enlarged in subsequent centuries.
Bharhut stupa:
? It was established by the Maurya king Asoka in the 3rd century BCE in
Madhya Pradesh. Many art works were apparently added during the
Sunga period.
Amaravati Stupa:
? Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh
? Different from the Bharhut and Sanchi stupas as It had free-standing
columns surmounted by lions near the gateways. The dome was
covered with sculptured panels.
Gandhara stupa:
? Base, dome and the hemisphere dome are sculpted.
? The stupa tapers upward to form a tower like structure.
Page 5


On
Indian History,
Art and Culture
CRASH COURSE
STUPAS
? Stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics,
typically the ashes of deceased, used by Buddhists as a place of
meditation.
? Ashoka was responsible for the construction of several stupas,
which were large halls, capped with domes and bore symbols of the
Buddha.
? The most important ones are located at Bharhut, Bodhgaya, Sanchi,
Amravati and Nagarjunakonda.
? The shape of the stupa represents the Buddha, crowned and sitting
in meditation posture on a lion throne.
? His crown is the top of the spire; his head is the square at the
spire's base; his body is the vase shape; his legs are the four steps of
the lower terrace; and the base is his throne.
STRUCTURE OF A STUPA
Sanchi Stupa:
? Apart from the than ruins of stupa at Piprahwa (Nepal), the core of
stupa No 1 at Sanchi can be considered as the oldest of the stupas.
? Originally built by Asoka, it was enlarged in subsequent centuries.
Bharhut stupa:
? It was established by the Maurya king Asoka in the 3rd century BCE in
Madhya Pradesh. Many art works were apparently added during the
Sunga period.
Amaravati Stupa:
? Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh
? Different from the Bharhut and Sanchi stupas as It had free-standing
columns surmounted by lions near the gateways. The dome was
covered with sculptured panels.
Gandhara stupa:
? Base, dome and the hemisphere dome are sculpted.
? The stupa tapers upward to form a tower like structure.
CAVES
? Features –
? Artistic gateway
? Polishing inside the cave
? The earliest man-made caves
date back to the 2nd century
BC
? The earlier caves were used by
Buddhist and Jain monks as
places of worship and residence.
? Some examples of this type of
cave structure are Chaityas and
Viharas of Buddhists.