Arts of the Mauryan Period Chapter Notes | Fine Art for Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Introduction

• Sixth century BCE marks the beginning of religious and social movements in the Gangetic valley in the form of Buddhism and Jainism.
• Magadha emerged as a powerful kingdom that consolidated its control over the other regions.
• Both religions became popular as they opposed the varna and jati systems of the Hindu religion.

Religious Practices and Yaksha Worship

• Religious practices had many dimensions and were not confined to just one particular mode of worship.
• Worship of Yakshas and mother-goddesses were prevalent during that time.
• Yaksha worship was assimilated in Buddhism and Jainism.

Pillars, Sculptures and Rock-cut Architecture

Pillars

• Mauryan pillars are rock-cut and different from the Achamenian pillars.
• Stone pillars were erected by Ashoka in the north Indian part of the Mauryan Empire with inscriptions engraved on them.
• Capital figures like the bull, the lion, and the elephant were carved on the top portion of the pillar, all standing on a square or circular abacus.
• Some of the existing pillars with capital figures were found at Basarah-Bakhira, Lauriya-Nandangarh, and Rampurva in Bihar, Sankisa and Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh.
• The Mauryan pillar capital found at Sarnath, known as the Lion Capital, is the finest example of Mauryan sculptural tradition and is also our national emblem.
• It symbolises Dhammachakrapravartana, the first sermon by the Buddha.

Monumental images

• Monumental images of Yaksha, Yakhinis, and animals, pillar columns with capital figures, rock-cut caves belonging to the third century BCE have been found in different parts of India.
• Large statues of Yakshas and Yakhinis are found at many places like Patna, Vidisha, and Mathura.
• One of the distinguishing elements in all these images is their polished surface, and the depiction of faces is in full round with pronounced cheeks and physiognomic detail.
• The rock-cut cave carved at Barabar hills near Gaya in Bihar is known as the Lomus Rishi cave, an example of this period.

Stupas and viharas

• Stupas and viharas were constructed on a large scale due to the popularity of Buddhism and Jainism.
• Stupas were constructed over the relics of the Buddha at various places, including Rajagraha, Vaishali, Vethadipa, and Pava in Bihar, Kapilavastu, Allakappa, and Ramagrama in Nepal, Kushinagar, and Pippalvina in Uttar Pradesh.
• Stupa, vihara, and chaitya are part of Buddhist and Jaina monastic complexes, but the largest number belongs to the Buddhist religion.

 Terracotta Figurines and Rock-Cut Caves

• Terracotta figurines show a very different delineation of the body as compared to the sculptures.
• The rock-cut cave carved at Barabar hills near Gaya in Bihar is known as the Lomus Rishi cave and is an example of this period.
• Due to the popularity of Buddhism and Jainism, stupas and viharas were constructed on a large scale.
• The stupas were constructed over the relics of the Buddha at various places, including Rajagraha, Vaishali, Vethadipa, and Pava in Bihar, Kapilavastu, Allakappa, and Ramagrama in Nepal, Kushinagar and Pippalvina in Uttar Pradesh.
• Stupa, vihara and chaitya are part of Buddhist and Jaina monastic complexes.\

Lion Capital, Sarnath

• One of the finest examples of sculpture from the Mauryan period; discovered at Sarnath, near Varanasi.
• Built by Ashoka in commemoration of the first sermon or the Dhammachakrapravartana by the Buddha at Sarnath.
• The capital consisted of five parts: shaft (broken), a lotus bell base, a drum on the bell base with four animals proceeding clockwise, four majestic addorsed lions, and the crowning element, Dharamchakra (broken).
• The capital without the crowning wheel and the lotus base is the National Emblem of Independent India.
• Four lions firmly seated back to back on a circular abacus, with a depiction of a chakra (wheel) having twenty-four spokes in all four directions, and a bull, a horse, an elephant, and a lion between every chakra.
• The lions have impressive and massive figures, with strong facial musculature and sharp lines of the mane.
• The surface of the sculpture is heavily polished, and the weight of the body of each lion is firmly shown by the stretched muscles of the feet.
• The circular abacus is supported by an inverted lotus capital, and each petal of the lotus is sculpted keeping in mind its density.
• No limitations of fixed view points as it was conceived to be viewed from all sides.
• A lion capital has also been found at Sanchi, but it is in a dilapidated condition.

Didargunj Yakshini

• Life-size standing image of a Yakshini holding a chauri (flywhisk) from Didargunj near modern Patna, made in sandstone with a polished surface.
• The chauri is held in the right hand, while the left hand is broken.
• The image shows sophistication in the treatment of form and medium, and the sculptor's sensitivity towards the round muscular body is clearly visible.
• The face has round, fleshy cheeks, while the neck is relatively small in proportion; the eyes, nose, and lips are sharp.
• Folds of muscles are properly rendered, and the necklace beads are in full round, hanging to the belly.
• The tightening of the garment around the belly creates the effect of a bulging belly, and every fold of the garment on the legs is shown by protruding lines clinging to the legs, creating a somewhat transparent effect.
• Thick bell-ornaments adorn the feet, and the image stands firmly on its legs.
• Heaviness in the torso is depicted by heavy breasts.
• The back is equally impressive, with the hair tied in a knot at the back and bare back, while drapery at the back covers both legs.
• The flywhisk in the right hand is shown with incised lines continued on the back of the image.

Stupas and Narrative in Mauryan Art

• Stupas were elaborately built with certain additions like the enclosing of the circumambulatory path with railings and sculptural decoration in the subsequent century.
• Expansions or new additions were made in the second century BCE, with minor variations and changes in shape and size.
• Apart from the circumambulatory path, gateways were added, providing ample space for architects and sculptors to plan elaborations and carve out images.
• During the early phase of Buddhism, Buddha is depicted symbolically through footprints, stupas, lotus throne, chakra, etc.
• Narrative gradually became a part of the sculptural tradition, depicting the stories of the Buddha's life and Jataka tales.