Centuries old Indian art and architecture reflects roots of the socio-cultural traditions of our country. The diverse multi-culture, multi-religion depicts its own form of art and sculpture. One of such fascinating art and sculpture has been admired in the Buddhist religion in India. It’s about 2500 years old and Buddhist art meant to have paintings and monuments which were built to popularize the concept of Buddhism. Although, Buddha was never represented in a human form as he had a very eventful life. Thus, the depiction of Buddhism was mainly based on six symbols. It was elephant for birth of Buddha, lion and footprints as life of Buddha, empty throne as symbol of Royalty, horse depicting the renouncing the worldly pleasures, Tree for enlightenment and lastly its stupa.Buddhist Art Architecture In India
Buddhist art and architecture has its great influence on the people of India. The yogic postures, meditation has different levels of meanings. Buddhism depicts the postures or mudras, Enlightenment or nirvana, meditations and several ways of preaching Buddhism. Tracing back to 255 B.C. The Mauryan King Ashoka first introduced Buddhism as his state religion. This gradually spread all over India and had started becoming popular among the people in south-east Asia. Ashoka was therefore considered to be the first who introduced the Art in Buddhism. He has built several stupas all over the country to co-memorate the teachings of Buddha. The foundation of the great religious establishment was at Sanchi, where people started to enlarge the Ashok Stupas. It is pertinent to note that the most interesting thing about this Stupa is they are mostly carved out of real rocks. The best site to visit is Ajanta & Ellora, being the most popular place among the tourists from all around the world.
One of the most important periods in Buddhist Art and Sculpture was at the time when The Gandhara School of Art started to flourish in India. This was the very first Art School when the artists begun imparting symbolic form of Buddha’s life into Human Form. These images were excavated at Peshawar, Afghanistan etc. The art became popular as it the amalgamation of both Indian and Greek art. A standing and sitting Buddha is the main characteristic of the Gandhara Art.The Gupta period at the time of reign of King Harshavardhana around 647 A.D. were marked to be one of the finest periods of the development in the Buddhist Art and sculpture. The images at Mathura and Sarnath are the two such Holy places where we have accumulation of Deities like Maitreya or the Future Buddha. After achieving the political goal in Northern India, he brought about a revolutionary change in Buddhism, as a religion. The number of images of Buddha made during these periods were fairly considerable as per the traditions maintained at this time.
Therefore, the Buddhist Art and architecture fairly revolves around Monolithic pillars, stupas, shrines, palaces and real rock cut chambers which is very unique indeed.
