| Buddhism originated in India in 6th century BC as a | | | | stone monument, "A stone pillar about seventy feet |
| reaction to the extreme Vedic practices. Vedic religion | | | | high, the stone is altogether as bright as jade. It is |
| had been confined to the extravagant yajnas and | | | | glistening and sparkles like light...." |
| animal sacrifices at that time. The common man was | | | | Buddhist Art During Sungas |
| more disgusted with the exploitative attitude of the | | | | Maurya dynasty was succeeded by the Sunga |
| Brahmin priests than attaining the blessing of the | | | | dynasty (185-72 BCE). This was a Brahmin dynasty |
| almighty. Simple and non-violent teachings of Buddha | | | | and they followed maximum Brahminical traditions but |
| were a great respite for the general people. Buddhism | | | | when it came to patronizing the Buddhist monks and |
| became popular all over northern part of India in a | | | | stupas, they contributed immensely. During the later |
| lightening speed. Interestingly, most of the monarchs of | | | | years of Sunga rule, Buddhist art culminated into a |
| the time patronized Buddhism in a way or the other. All | | | | mature form of art from that of archaic form. On all of |
| major ruling dynasties of early India like Maurya, Sunga, | | | | the great stupas of Sanchi, Bharhut and Amarawati |
| Kushana, Gupta, Pala and Sena dynasties contributed | | | | significant enhancements were done during this time. |
| immensely in the construction of various Buddhist | | | | Profuse decoration of stone was done on the railings |
| structures. But the pattern, motifs and designs of the | | | | as well as the gateways. |
| Buddhist art and architecture had always been | | | | Buddhist Art During Early Andhra Period: |
| different from the traditional art. | | | | All the four gateways of Sanchi Stupa were beautified |
| Buddhist art under Mauryas: | | | | and the torans and the railings were decorated during |
| Ashoka was the great exponent of Buddhism. He | | | | the rule of early Andhra period (72-25 BCE). After |
| was converted from a blood thirsty imperialist monarch | | | | Mauryan period Buddhist art was being given a native |
| to a peace-loving benevolent king. He followed most of | | | | tinge. Like, to typify the nativity of Buddha, in this period, |
| the principles and teachings of Buddhism by converting | | | | two panels of Laxmi were made in the stupa. The |
| them to action. Under the reign of Ashoka, it is said | | | | enlightenment of Buddha (mahabodhi) used to be |
| that three biggest Buddhist stupas of the time were | | | | denoted by a saal tree and an empty throne and a |
| erected. They were located at Sanchi, Bharhut and | | | | wheel denoted his first teachings at Sarnath, also |
| Amrarawati. Not only stupas but he constructed small | | | | known as dhammachakkapravartina. |
| and large pillars all around his empire stretching from | | | | Ajanta Paintings |
| Nepal in the foothills of Himalayas to the far south in | | | | The rock cut Chaitya of Ajanta houses some of the |
| modern Karnataka. Ashoka's rule led to the greatest | | | | most spectacular paintings belonging to Buddhism. The |
| development in art at that time. The remains of core | | | | most famous painting of the lot is at Cave 1 probably |
| of the great stupa at Sanchi and the stupa of Piprawa | | | | belongs to the period of Guptas to early Chalukyas |
| in Nepal are the live testimony to this fact. During | | | | (5th to 7th century). Here, the huge mural of |
| Maurya rule stone art reached to its perfection. In the | | | | Bodhisattva is so vibrant and lively that it transcends |
| sites of Buddhist importance, the pillars were sculpted | | | | the onlooker to the thoughts of ultimate being. The |
| portraying the animals and other entities of | | | | face of the Bodhisattva is oval shaped with fine curvy |
| metaphysical importance. On dozens of pillars and | | | | eyebrows and the eyes are perfectly lotiform. The |
| rocks, dhamma principles propagated by Ashoka were | | | | arms and the shoulders look elephantine while the |
| inscribed in Pali, Aramaic and other languages. | | | | body looks leonine. The hand in which he holds the |
| Chinese pilgrim, Hieun Tsang visited India during the rule | | | | beautiful lotus is also drawn by giving proper attention |
| of Harshavardhan in seventh century. He on the | | | | to all the dimensions. The Shakti or the female verve |
| course of visiting Sarnath, the place Buddha gave his | | | | can be observed in the painting of a beautiful female |
| first sermon to his five disciples, observed watching a | | | | of dusky complexion with an attractive headgear. |