(Video) Indian Art & Culture in English : Mauryan Art and Architecture
The Mauryan Empire period began in 322 BCE. The Iron Age too started with this empire. The Mauryan Empire that was built by Chandragupta Maurya, covered almost whole Indian subcontinent geographically. By the third century BCE, a large part of India was under Mauryan control. Ashoka, The grandson of Chandragupta Maurya emerged as the most powerful king of the Mauryan dynasty who patronised the Buddhist shraman tradition in the third century BCE. Buddhism became the most popular social and religious movement.
During the Mauryan period, Stupas and Viharas as part of monastic establishments became part of the Buddhist tradition. Apart from these two, stone pillars, rock-cut caves and monumental figure sculptures were carved at several places during the Mauryan period.
Talking about the pillars, the tradition of constructing pillars has been very old. But the Mauryan design of the pillars was something very different. The Mauryan pillars are rock cut pillars thus displaying the carver’s skills. A single piece of rock was cut and carved intricately to give its shape and design by the carver. During the reign of Ashoka, many stone pillars were erected. Some of which have been found in the north Indian part of the Mauryan Empire with inscriptions engraved on them. The top portion of the pillar was carved with capital figures like the bull, the lion, the elephant, etc. All these main figures were carved standing on a square or circular abacus.
Abacuses are decorated with stylised lotuses. 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 Lion Capital found at Sarnath is one of the finest examples of Mauryan Sculptural tradition. It is also our national emblem. It has voluminous roaring lion figures firmly standing on a circular abacus which is carved with the figures of a horse, a bull, a lion and an elephant in vigorous movement. It depicts mastery in the sculptural techniques. This pillar capital symbolising Dhammachakrapravartana (the first sermon by the Buddha) has become a standard symbol of this great historical event in the life of the Buddha.
There was a similarity between the Mauryan pillar and the Persian or the Achamenian Pillar designs. Both used polished stones for the pillars and had some common sculptural motif designs.
Large statues of Yakshas and Yakhinis were found at many places like Patna, Vidisha and Mathura. Most of these are in standing position. One of the distinguishing elements in all these images is their polished surface. The depiction of faces is fully round with pronounced cheeks. One of the best examples is a Yakshi figure from Didarganj, Patna, which is tall and well-built.
Terracotta objects of various sizes have been found at various site of the Mauryan Empire. Terracotta from Taxila are mostly deity figures. The other kind of artefact is the ringstone. These are round shaped stones that have beautiful carvings done on it. The ringstone comprised of female figures and trees.
The caves also depict a lot about the architecture of those times. The rock-cut cave carved at Barabar hills near Gaya in Bihar is known as the Lomus Rishi cave. The facade of the cave is decorated with the semi-circular Chaitya arch as the entrance. The elephant carved 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 donated by Ashoka for the Ajivika sect.
Due to the popularity of Buddhism and Jainism, stupas and Viharas were constructed on a large scale. Stupas were constructed over the relics of the Buddha at 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 Jain
monastic complexes but the largest number belongs to the Buddhist religion. One
of the examples of the structure of a stupa in the 3rd century BCE is at Bairat
in Rajasthan. The great stupa at Sanchi was built with bricks during the time of
Ashoka and later it was covered with stone and many new additions were made.
There are very few inscriptions mentioning the names of artisans such as Kanha
at Pitalkhora and his disciple Balaka at Kondane caves in Maharashtra. Artisans’
categories like stone carvers, goldsmiths, stone-polishers, carpenters, etc. are
also mentioned in the inscriptions.
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. 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.
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, continuous 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 (liberation from the cycle of birth.) Among the Jataka stories that are frequently depicted are Chhadanta Jataka, Vidurpundita Jataka, Ruru Jataka, Sibi Jataka, Vessantara Jataka and Shama Jataka.
The Mauryan Empire marked the transition of making monuments from stones rather than woods. Previously wood was used which perished easily. But the Mauryan used bricks and stone to make the beautiful art work of those times which lasted for several years unlike the wooden ones.
