Post Mauryan art and architecture

Post Mauryan art and architecture came up after Mauryan Empire had collapsed in the 2nd century BCE. In this article, you will learn features of Bharhut, Mathura, Sarnath and Gandhara school for post Mauryan trends in Indian art and architecture, etc.

This article will provide key insights for GS Paper-I Art and Culture section of UPSC IAS Exam.

Table of Content

• History of Post Mauryan Art and Architecture
• About sculptures of the Bharhut school of art and architecture
• About sculptures of the Mathura school of art and architecture
• About sculptures of the Sarnath school of art and architecture
• About sculptures of the Gandhara school of art and architecture
• About sculptures in the Buddhist Monuments of South India
• About sculptures of the Amaravati School of art and architecture
• Difference between Gandhara school, Mathura school and Amravati schools
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions

History of Post Mauryan Art and Architecture:

• After the Mauryan Empire collapsed in the 2nd century BCE, many dynasties emerged in its place.
• In the north and central parts of India, the Shungas, Kanvas, Kushanas, and Guptas ruled at various times.
• In the south and west, the Satavahanas, Ikshavakus, Abhiras, and Vakataks all established their own kingdoms.
• The post Mauryan period saw the rise of the main Brahmanical sects, such as the Vaishnavas and Shaivites.
  • This has a significant impact on post Mauryan architecture.
• The post Mauryan period art and architecture had developed in the first century CE in Gandhara in Pakistan, Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, and Vengi in Andhra Pradesh emerged as important centers of art.
• Schools of Post Mauryan Art and Architecture: Bharhut, Mathura, Sarnath, Gandhara, and Amravati.

About sculptures of the Bharhut school of art and architecture:

• The sculptures of Bharhut school are tall and linear, similar to the Yaksha and Yakshini figures from the Mauryan period.
• The sculptures are in low relief and depict narratives.
• The clarity of the narratives is enhanced by selecting the main events.
• Initially, the narrative panels had fewer characters, but slowly more characters began to appear in the picture space.
• The sculptors made use of all available space.
• The narrative reliefs at Barhut school demonstrate how artisans used pictorial language effectively to tell stories.
• One such narrative depicts Queen Mahamaya’s (or Mayadevi or mother of Siddhartha Gautama) dream.
  • The queen is reclining on her bed, while an elephant is shown above her, entering her womb.
• Jataka stories are depicted in a simple manner by grouping the events according to the story’s geographical location.
  • Example: the depiction of the Ruru Jataka, in which the Bodhisattva deer saves a man on his back.
• Jatakastories became a part of stupa decoration.
  • As stupas were built in various parts of the country, regional stylistic variations began to emerge.

Sculptures of the Bharhut school:

About sculptures of the Mathura school of art and architecture:

• The Mathura School flourished on the banks of the river Yamuna between 1st and 3rd centuries AD.
• The local sculptural tradition of Mathura school became so strong that it spread to other parts of northern India.
  • Example: the stupa sculpture found at Sanghol in the Punjab.
• The sculptures of Mathura school were influenced by all 3 religions of the time – Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.
• Uniqueness of Mathura School: heavy use of symbolism in the images.
• Images of Vaishnava and Shaiva faiths are also found at Mathura school, but Buddhist images are found in larger numbers.
  • The images of Vishnu and Shiva are represented with their Ayudhas (weapons).
• The sculpture of Mathura school was typically made of sandstone and are characterized by their robust forms and simple ornamentation.
• Buddha, who was previously represented symbolically, was given a human form in Mathura school of sculpture.
• The Buddha sculpture is modelled on the lines of earlierYaksha images of Mauryan times.
  • Thus, it is more Indian in character.
• The Buddha sculpture is surrounded by 2 Bodhisattavas – Padmapani holding a lotus and Vajrapani holding a thunderbolt.
• Mathura’s Buddha images often has a serene expression and a ushnisha, a symbolism of enlightenment.
• The halo around the head of Buddha is larger than in Gandhara School and were decorated with geometrical patterns.

Sculptures of the Mathura school:

About sculptures of the Sarnath school of art and architecture:

Common Buddha sculptures from Sarnath:

• The Buddha sculptures were made of Chunar sandstone and aluminium.
• The Buddha sculptures dates back to the late 5th century CE.
• Many Buddha sculptures in Sarnath have plain transparent drapery that covers both shoulders.
  • The Buddha sculptures lacked nakedness of any kind.
• The halo around the head of Buddha had very little ornamentation.
• The Buddha’s face is round, his eyes are half-closed, and his lower lip is protruding.
• The roundness of his cheeks has reduced compared to earlier images from the Kushana period at Mathura.

Description of the above Buddha image:

• It depicts the Buddha seated on a throne in the Padmasana position, representing the Dhammachakrapravartana, or First Sermon.
• It represents the historic event of the Buddha’s first sermon.
• The panel below the throne depicts a wheel in the centre, flanked by deer and disciples.
• His hands are shown in the Dhammachakrapravartana mudra, and he has a ushnisha with circular curls of hair.
• The aim of sculptures was to represent the Buddha as someone who has achieved nirvana, or cessation of anger and hate.

About sculptures of the Gandhara school of art and architecture:

• The Gandhara school was developed between the 1st century BCE to the 5th century CE in modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan.
  • It was during this time that Buddhism spread from India to Central Asia and China.
• The Greek invaders had brought with them the traditions of the Greek and Roman sculptors, which influenced the local traditions of the region.
  • The Gandhara School was also known as Greco-Indian School of Art.
• The sculptural tradition in Gandhara school was a fusion of 3 different traditions: Bactrian, Parthian, and the local Gandharan tradition.
• The sculpture was a mixture of Greeko-Roman elements and Hellenistic elements.
  • The Greek invaders brought with them the traditions of Greek and Roman sculptors, which influenced the local traditions of the region.
• The sculpture of Gandhara school has elements of realism, its use of perspective, and its fusion of Indian and Western artistic traditions.
• The Gandhara school flourished during 50 BC to 500 BC, where initially they were made of bluish-grey sandstone but later mud and stucco was used.
• The Buddha sculpture had curly hair and elongated ears.
• The sculpture of Buddha and Bodhisattvas were based on the Greco–Roman pantheon- Apollo.
• Examples: The Buddha of Bamiyan; The Gandhara Head from Taxila and the Gandhara Bodhisattva from Hadda.

Sculptures of the Gandhara school:

About sculptures in the Buddhist Monuments of South India:

• The sculptures were made from a variety of materials, including stone, metal, and terracotta.
• The most famous sculptures of South India are the Buddhas from Amaravati, which have delicate features and serene expressions.

Examples of Buddhist monuments:

• The Amaravati Stupa: located in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
  • The Amaravati Stupa is one of the largest and most important Buddhist monuments in India.
  • The Amaravati Stupa is decorated with a series of sandstone reliefs that depict scenes from the life of the Buddha.
• The Nagarjunakonda Caves: located in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
  • The Nagarjunakonda Caves contain a series of Buddhist monasteries and shrines.
  • The Nagarjunakonda Caves were built in the 2nd century CE.
• The Kanchipuram Caves: is located in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu.
  • The Kanchipuram caves were built in the 6th century CE.
• The Mahabalipuram Caves: located in the Mahabalipuram district of Tamil Nadu.
  • The Mahabalipuram caves were built in the 7th century CE.

Examples of Buddhist sculptures:

• The Buddhas of Amaravati: made of sandstone.
• The Buddhas of Nagarjunakonda: made of sandstone and have large size and realistic portrayal of the Buddha.
• The Buddhas of Kanchipuram: made of granite and are known for their intricate ornamentation and expressive faces.
• The Buddhas of Mahabalipuram: made of granite and are known for their dramatic poses and bold use of color.

About sculptures of the Amaravati School of art and architecture:

• The Amaravati School was developed in the Southern parts of India on the banks of Krishna River.
• The Amaravati School flourished under the patronage of the Satvahana rulers.
• The Amaravati School put more emphasis on the use of dynamicimages or narrativeart.
  • The Gandhara School and the Mathura School was focused only on single images.
• The sculptures of Amaravati School emphasised more on the Tribhanga posture, i.e. the body with three bends.

Sculptures of the Amaravati School:

Difference between Gandhara school, Mathura school and Amravati schools:

Conclusion

The sculptures of Buddha in India are a testament to the skill and artistry of the sculptors who had created them. Every school of sculpture has developed their own style due to blend of different cultures that occurred during that time period. The sculptures of Buddha played an important part in spreading Buddhism outside India

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