Study Notes on South Asian Art from Maurya to Early Gupta Period

South Asian Art: Maurya to Early Gupta

Introduction to South Asian Art

  • Art that emerged historically from the Maurya Dynasty through to the early Gupta period, characterized by significant cultural and religious influences.

The Aryan Migration and Early Influences

  • Aryan Background: Nomadic people who migrated around 1500 BCE.
    • Primary texts: The Vedas, which include various rituals;
    • Limited material remains for archeological study.
    • Language: Sanskrit.
    • Key Deities: Brahma, Indra, Agni.
  • Geographical Context: Route of Aryans indicated on the map including:
    • Caucasus Mountains, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Plateau of Iran, Aral Sea, Hindu Kush, Plateau of Tibet, Himalayas, India, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal.

Architectural Structures: The Stupa

  • Definition of a Stupa: A mound-like structure that serves as a Buddhist shrine.
  • Historical Example:
    • Polyxena Sarcophagus, circa 500 BCE, located in Canakkale, Turkey.
    • Visually represents a mound tomb for significant figures, specifically referencing Achilles.
  • Stupa at Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh):
    • Original structure dates back to ca. 250 BCE, with renovations around 50-25 BCE.
    • Important for Buddhist circumambulation practices.

Maurya and Shunga Dynasties

  • Great Departure of the Buddha:
    • Stone sculpture dating 50–25 BCE.
    • Dimensions: Height 21-3/16" (53.75 cm), depth 12-1/5" (31 cm).
    • Central architrave of east gateway, at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh.
    • Cultural Context: Represents Buddha's past lives; Siddhartha Gautama (ca. 6th-5th cen BCE).
    • Art Style: Continuous narrative technique emphasizing the escape of Siddhartha from his palace.
    • Notable absence of Buddha’s physical likeness (aniconic representation) includes items like large trees, footprints, and parasols.

Ashoka's Contributions to Art

  • King Ashoka's Pillars:
    • Inscribed columns or pillars demonstrating the spread of Buddhism and the significance of Dharma (the law).
    • Lion Capital from an Ashoka Column: circa 250 BCE; crafted from sandstone, height 84" (215 cm), located in Sarnath.
    • Column Erected by Ashoka: 246 BCE; polished buff sandstone from Lauriya-Nandangarh.
    • Total surviving number of similar columns: approximately 20, with 7 being complete, inscribed in Brahmi script.
    • Symbolism: Lions and downturned lotuses reflect Hellenistic influence while depicting local Indian symbolism with wheels and animals representing directional guardians.

Art of the Mother Goddess and Elite Women

  • Mother Goddess Figurine:
    • Dating: ca. 2600–1900 BCE, made of terracotta, height 7" (18 cm), housed in the National Museum, Karachi.
  • Royal Woman or Goddess Figurine:
    • Dating: ca. 200 BCE, molded terracotta plaque, height 8" (21.3 cm), found in Tamluk, Bengal.
    • Common features: Elaborate headdresses, extensive jewelry, and banded belts at the hips, signifying auspiciousness and guardianship (associated with Yakshi).

Development of Buddha’s Images

  • Regional Variations:
    • Earliest Buddha images originate from Gandhara, Mathura, and Andhra Pradesh (Nagarjunakonda).
    • Associated Dynasties: Kushana Dynasty in the north and Satavahana Dynasty in the south, both approximately spanning the 1st to 3rd centuries CE.
    • Notable features: Concept of Rūpakāya and dharmakāya, issued during the reign of Kanishka around 120 CE.

Distinctive Art Schools: Gandhara and Mathura

  • Gandhara School:

    • Significant Works:
    • Bodhisattva Maitreya: Kushan period, 3rd century CE, sculpted in schist, dimensions 43-1/8"×15"×9" (109.5×38.1×22.9 cm).
    • Standing Figure of Buddha: 2nd-3rd century CE, also made of schist, height 40-1/2" (103 cm), found in Takht-i-Bahi, Gandhara.
    • Influence of Alexander the Great’s arrival (circa 326 BCE) and the resultant Hellenistic art styles; incorporation of contrapposto and 32 features of “Great Men” from Indian legends.

  • Mathura and Nagarjunakonda Schools:

    • Relief of the Buddha:
    • Dating: Second half of the 3rd century CE, carved in limestone, measuring 48"×29-3/8"×6-3/4" (121.9×75.6×17.1 cm), discovered in Nagarjunakonda, Andhra Pradesh.
    • Seated Buddha with Two Attendants:
    • Origin: Kushan period, perhaps 82 CE, made from red sandstone, dimensions 36-5/8"×33-5/8"×6-5⁄16" (93×85.4×16 cm) from Mathura.
    • Common traits: Indian attire and features such as mudra associated with reassurance (abhaya), along with motifs like ushnisha and urna.

Ajanta Caves and Buddhist Architecture

  • Ajanta Caves:
    • Comprising 30 caves dating from the 2nd century BCE to primarily the 5th century CE (Gupta period); situated in the Deccan plateau.
    • Notable Features:
    • Buddha Shrine in the Vihara: ca. 462–500 CE, Cave 4, Ajanta.
    • Chaitya: ca. 462–500 CE, Cave 19, Ajanta, designed for gathering worshippers.
    • Wall Paintings: Notable depiction of Vessantara, a legendary king known for his generosity, around the same dates as the above caves.
  • Cave Functions:
    • Chaitya: Chapel hall used for ceremonies; features a horseshoe shape with a miniature stupa.
    • Vihara: Monastic residences containing small rooms for monks.

Gupta Period and Cultural Exchange

  • Cultural Prosperity:
    • Significance of trade routes during the Gupta period promoting interactions and spread of art to Central Asia and China.

The Bamiyan Buddhas and Their Importance

  • Standing Buddha at Bamiyan:
    • Historical context: 5th century CE, Afghanistan, originally 180 feet (55 meters) tall, now destroyed.
    • Artistic and cultural significance: Similar in conception and execution to the Ajanta caves, featuring worship spaces (Chaitya and Vihara) connected through stairs.
    • Construction: Initial carving into the cliff followed by covering with plaster and detailing using mixed materials before painting.
    • Spiritual significance: The spatial experience of both the carved figures and the practices like circumambulation around the head level of the Buddha contributed to a deeper Mahayana Buddhist experience.