MAURYAN” period art can be seen in 4th- 3rd century BC.

·     In this period of art , we can see Persian and Achaenenian (outside) influence.

·     The art of Mauryan period can be classified into 2 groups:-

1.   Court Art – state initiative,  Stupa's and Pillar.

2.   Popular Art- individual art, sculpture, pottery,  caves.

ASHOKA was the 1st Mauryan ruler to wrote on stone called inscription.

PILLAR-  The great Buddhist emperor “Ashoka “ caused the creation of pillars.

·     these pillars are made up of Grey stone and single stone use.

·    These are highly polished pillars and the average height is 40 feet.

·    These pillars are crowned by animals figures like – the bull , the lion,  elephant.

·    These pillar dedicate to the Buddhist concept of Morality and Humanity and Ashoka wished that his people to follow these 2 concepts.

·    The purpose of the pillars to declare the victory, symbol of state and to spread the moral ideas.

·    Examples of pillars are

1.  Sarnath  pillar- with lion capital.

 2.  Rampurva,  Bihar with bull capital.

3.  Lauria Nandangarh pillar in champarn with lion capital.

4.  Bhilsa vidhish,  M.P with bull capital.

          ROCK- CUT ELEPHANT IN DHAULI , Odisha

Dhauli hills is presumed to be the area where the “ kalinga “ wr was fought and after the war Ashoka become Buddhist.

1.    Dhauli was developed under the Ashoka and the 1st rock-CIT structure was made.

STUPAS

STUPAS are the Buddhist monuments. Stupa’a construction started during vedic period and they are flourishing during Maryan period.

• Stupa's exited before the Buddha and Jain but, after the death of buddha ,the stupa size increased.
• After death of Buddha,  9 stupa's were constructed.
•   They have hemispherical dome with Buddha relics inside. They have entrance gate which indicatedd  :- birth,enlargement, Dhamma chakra pravatan , mahaparinirvana of Buddha.
• Examples:- Amravati stupa in andra Pradesh.
• -      Sanchi stupa in MP.
• -     Piprahwa stupa in up ( oldest one).

CAVES

·    The Mauryan period  Is a real beginning Of rock cut cave architecture. Example:- Rock – cut Elephant at Dhauli in orisha.

·    In that period, Caves are used for :-

1.   Viharas – It was the rest place of Jain and Buddhist Monks

2.  Ajivikas- These were Early caves Used by the monks of Jain sect.

·    The caves have Decorated gateway And highly polished finish inside the caves.

·    For examples :Seven Sisters – it consists 4 Barabar caves in Bihar and 3 Nagarjuni caves in andra Pradesh. These were Formed during the time of Dashrath ( son of Ashoka ).

SCULPTURE

“YAKSHINI" And “YAKSH" are the Two famous sculpture of Mauryan period.

·    They were the objects of worship related to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism.

·    Example:- Handsome torso of male figure from Lohanipur.

POTTERY

·    The pottery of Mauryan period is called northern black polished ware or Gray painted ware.

Mauryan period was the Climax period In poetry making. 

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