write a note on mauryan art and architecture
Answers
Answer:
Mauryan art is the art produced during the period of the Mauryan Empire, which was the first empire to rule over most of the Indian subcontinent, between 322 and 185 BCE. It represented an important transition in Indian art from use of wood to stone. It was a royal art patronized by Mauryan kings especially Ashoka. Pillars, Stupas, caves are the most prominent survivals.
The most significant remains of monumental Mauryan art include the remains of the royal palace and the city of Pataliputra, a monolithic rail at Sarnath, the Bodhimandala or the altar resting on four pilars at Bodhgaya, the rock-cut chaitya-halls in the Barabar Caves near Gaya including the Sudama cave bearing the inscription dated the 12th regnal year of Ashoka, the non-edict bearing and edict bearing pillars, the animal sculptures crowning the pillars with animal and vegetal reliefs decorating the abaci of the capitals and the front half of the representation of an elephant carved out in the round from a live rock at Dhauli.[1]
Explanation:
The architectural remains have been found between the period of the Harappans and the Mauryas because in this period buildings are not made up of stone. After the decline of Harappan civilization, long gap was generated and in the Mauryan period only monumental stone sculpture, production of masterpieces and architecture appeared. Therefore, Mauryan rule marks an important phase in our cultural history.
Mainly in the period of Ashoka, the art and architecture was at its zenith and fall within the category of court art. Ashoka embraced Buddhism and the immense Buddhist missionary activities that followed encouraged the development of distinct sculptural and architectural styles. Let us find out various art and architecture of Mauryan period, which had connected to the lives, activities and patronage of ordinary people. This can be classified into Stupas, Pillars, Caves, Palaces and Potter.