This culminated into the establishment of the mauryan empire in about 325 bc. However, after decline of that civilisation, there is a long gap and it is only in the maurya period that monumental stone sculpture and architecture appeared on the scene again. The mauryan empire is one of the most fascinating empires in india. In fact, the history of indian art begins with the advent of the mauryans. Kushan art, art produced during the kushan dynasty from about the late 1st to the 3rd century ce in an area that now includes parts of central asia, northern india, pakistan, and afghanistan.
The national emblem of india is one of the best preserved mauryan sculptures. As a geographical entity as we know of india today, india has been united just thrice. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. The mauryan art refers to the art produced during the reign of the mauryas from the 4th to the 2nd century bc, the very first empire to rule most of indian subcontinent. Pillars, rockcut architecture, stupas and other details. The earliest group of caves consists of caves 9, 10, 12, and 15a. Objective questions on post mauryan period part1 for.
Several monasteries, viharas and caves were constructed during this period. However, in this period, apart from stupas and viharas. The mauryan period in the history of the indian subcontinent lasted between 323 b. Check out our case study on ajanta and ellora to explore more. In the mauryan period stone culture dramatically emerged as the principal medium of indian artist. The period was marked by the use of stone and various masterpieces. Particularly the sculpture from this period is noteworthy. The founder of this great dynasty is chandragupta maurya along with the help of his guru chanakya. It is carved with considerable carevoluminous 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. Nov 22, 2017 this lesson provides an insight into the art forms prevalent during the mauryan era. Previous article pdf 24 arts of the mauryan period art and. Mauryan art and architecture art and culture for upsc.
Nov 07, 2016 coomaraswmy argued that the mauryan art may be said to exhibit three main phases. Implies architectural works in the form of pillars, stupas and palaces commissioned by mauryan rulers for political as well as religious reasons. He was assisted by his political adviser, kautalya, who also set out the rules for the. Greek historian, megasthenes, described the palaces of the mauryan empire as one of the greatest creations of mankind and chinese traveler fa hien called mauryan palaces.
The first phase was the continuation of the pre mauryan tradition, which is found in some instances to the representation of the vedic deities the most significant examples are the reliefs of surya and indra at the bhaja caves. His pillars were lofty, heighted, monolithic, crowned on top with animals and inscribed with buddhist concept of morality, humanity and piety the purpose was to declare victory, symbolize the state and preach moral values. It represented an important transition in indian art from use of wood to stone. What are some of the best books on the ancient mauryan empire. The best examples of indigenous art are two free standing stone figures a yaksha image from parkham and a yakshi sculpture from besnagar. An overview mauryan art encompasses the arts produced during the period of the mauryan empire 4th to 2nd century bce represented an important transition in indian art from use of wood to stone 2 the lion capital of ashoka from sarnath that is now the national emblem. Mauryan rule marks an important phase in our cultural history. Mar 21, 2016 the mauryan empire is one of the most fascinating empires in india. The maurya empire was a geographically extensive iron age historical power based in magadha and founded by chandragupta maurya which dominated the indian subcontinent between 322 and 185 bce. Ashoka 268232 bc most important ruler in ancient india brutal military commander who extended the empire throughout s. The buddhist temples of this period tend to be highly decorated, featuring symbols important to buddhism such as lotuses, as well as those important to indian. The mauryan empire was a pan indian empire founded by chandragupta maurya.
View mauryan art ppts online, safely and virusfree. They are exquisite in aesthetic quality and brilliant in their design and execution. Most of the information here is presented in a bulletpoint format. It was a royal art patronized by mauryan kings especially ashoka. In this article, we are dealing with the trends in the post mauryan art and architecture as a part of the indian culture series based on the ncert textbook an introduction to indian art part 1. Ashokan pillars and capitals were artistically created. Hindi mauryan empire, art and architecture unacademy. Sanskrit kavya style developed under royal patronage. Postobjective questions on post mauryan period part1 in hindi. Maurya empire was the great empire to flourish in india. Ashoka and the mauryan empire the mauryan dynasty was founded by chandragupta maurya in 320 bc after defeating the incumbent nanda dynasty. The most important feature of the postmauryan period was its growth of trade and commerce, both internally as well as externally in the country. Coomaraswmy argued that the mauryan art may be said to exhibit three main phases. The reign of the mauryas began with its first charismatic king chandragupta maurya, and the areas his empire encompassed were from northeast, east and central parts of india.
Both religions became popular as they opposed the varna and jati systems of the hindu religion. Art and architecturean another example of mauryan period is the great stupa atsanchi. There were pillars, sculptures, rockcut architecture, buildings like stupas, viharas and chaityas that served many purposes. Arts of the mauryan period indian culture series ncert. Iasbaba revisionindian culture part 2 mauryan art arts of the mauryan period sixth century bce marks the beginning of new religious and social movements in the gangetic valley in the form of buddhism and jainism. Nov 08, 2016 click here to download pdf of article with images. It is perhaps the finest surviving relic of the mauryanempire. Almost 2000 years old, it stands five feet four inches and is carved out of a single stone. In this article, we are dealing with the trends in the postmauryan art and architecture as a part of the indian culture series based on the ncert textbook an introduction to indian art part 1. The mauryan period is a great landmark in the history of the indian art. They were made during the period 100 bce to 100 ce, probably under the patronage of the satavahanas who ruled the region. This great stupa is constructed as 54 feet in height and it issurrounded by exquisitely carved stone railings.
This post gives a detailed description about the post mauryan schools of art and architecture such as gandhara. Comprising the majority of south asia, the maurya empire was centralized by the conquest of the indogangetic plain, and its capital city was located at. Mauryan art was influenced by persian and greek culture. Pdf 25 post mauryan trends in indian art and architecture. Previous article pdf 23 arts of the indus valley art and culture next article pdf 25 post mauryan trends in indian art and architecture related articles more from author. As already discussed the gandhara school of art developed during this period. The chief centers of art were gandhara, sarnath, amravati and mathura. Post mauryan society and trade history study material. The compilation is based on the ncert textbook an introduction to indian art part 1. These notes will also be useful for other competitive exams like banking po, ssc, state civil services exams and so on. The first phase was the continuation of the premauryan tradition, which is found in some instances to the representation of the vedic deities the most significant examples.
Great buddhist emperor ashok first to think in stone. Construction of stupas and viharas as part of monastic establishments became part of the buddhist tradition. Iron age was the start of this great empire and covered the almost whole indian subcontinent geographically. No significant architectural remains have been found corresponding to the period between the harappans and the mauryas. He established the first territorial empire in ancient india, covering most of the indian subcontinent.
Pdf 24 arts of the mauryan period art and culture by. It is an exquisite carving and almost true to life. Coomaraswamy divides mauryan art into two, indigenous art and official or court art. In india the establishment of a vigorous dynasty ruling over wide dominions has invariably resulted in the application of a strong stimulus to the development of man. Previous article pdf 23 arts of the indus valley art and culture. The stone monuments of asoka have defied the ravages of time and they form the earliest artistic record of indian civilisation yet discovered. Aug 15, 2017 the earliest group of caves consists of caves 9, 10, 12, and 15a. We have already discussed the arts of the mauryan period in the previous article. Post mauryan trends in indian art and architecture indian. He was assisted by the yuvaraja, the crown prince and the mantrins or a council of. The kushans fostered a mixed culture that is best illustrated by the variety of deitiesgrecoroman. Apr 26, 2017 the mauryan period in the history of the indian subcontinent lasted between 323 b.
The first imperial art presentation by group 8 1 2. The central government was under the direct control of the emperor. There were two major internal land routes in ancient india. Mauryan art is the art, mostly sculpture, produced during the period of the mauryan empire, which was the first empire to rule, at least in theory, over most of the indian subcontinent, between 322 and 185 bce. Popular art is represented by the works of the local sculptors like chauri whiskbearer from didarganj. His pillars were lofty, heighted, monolithic, crowned on top with animals and inscribed with buddhist concept of morality, humanity and piety. It started when king mahapadma of the nandas was overpowered by chandragupra maurya in magadha. Court art is represented by the pillars and their capitals. Mauryan art,mauryan empire,mauryan dynasty,mauryan. Postmauryan trends in indian art and architecture part i ncert notes on important topics for the upsc civil services exam preparation. It lasted from about 321 to 185 bce and was the first empire to encompass most of the indian subcontinent.
The mauryan empire art and architecture constitutes the progress of indian art and plays important role in cultural history. Postmauryan trends in indian art and architecture part i. This lesson provides an insight into the art forms prevalent during the mauryan era. Chapter 6 post mauryan period 200bc to 300ad civilsdaily. Through this course, shreyaa explains in detail on how the upsc cse aspirants should. Some evidence is put forward by john irwin that ashokan columns may be the culmination of the ancient prebuddhist religious tradition in india of a cult of one cosmis pillar of axis mundi. Pdf 25 post mauryan trends in indian art and architecture by. Pdf west asian influence on lion motifs in mauryan art. This post gives a detailed description about the postmauryan schools of art and architecture such as gandhara.
From the second century bce onwards, various rulers established their control over the vast mauryan empire. Ncert notes on important topics for the upsc civil services exam preparation. An overview mauryan art encompasses the arts produced during the period of the mauryan empire 4th to 2nd century bce represented an important transition in indian art from use of wood to stone 2 the lion capital of ashoka from sarnath that is now the national emblem of india mauryan. Though he was an absolute ruler, he was accessible to his subjects. Mauryan art was perhaps the most striking feature of the mauryan period. Ashvaghosha was a famous sanskrit kavya poet and he lived in the court of kushanas. He was guided by chanakya whose teachings are revered even today. Female figure holding a flywhisk, india, maurya period ancient sculpture from hindustan the didarganj yakshi is a fine specimen of mauryan art. The maurya empire was founded by chandragupta maurya and it reached its greatest moment of political, religious, and artistic development in the middle years of the third century b. In this post, we bring you the important aspects of the arts of the mauryan period. Mauryan empire, in ancient india, a state centred at pataliputra later patna near the junction of the son and ganges ganga rivers. The period from sixth to late fourth century bc witnessed the rise of territorial polities mahajanapadas in north india. This is probably because buildings were not made of stone in this period. Ashoka is considered the most significant ruler of the empire.