Mauryan Art and Architecture

Table of contents

The Mauryan Empire (321–185 BCE) represents a golden age in Indian history, marked by remarkable achievements in art and architecture. The empire’s political stability, economic prosperity, and Ashoka’s embrace of Buddhism catalysed the growth of state-sponsored and folk-art forms that embodied the era’s cultural vibrancy.
Mauryan art represents one of the earliest expressions of organized artistic and architectural endeavors in ancient India. It reflects a blend of indigenous traditions and external influences from regions like Persia and Greece.

Mauryan Art: Key Features

Monumentality & Stone Use: Mauryan art is known for its large stone structures, such as the Ashokan Pillars and the Great Stupa at Sanchi, reflecting the grandeur of the empire.
Religious Influence: Buddhism greatly influenced art through stupas, monasteries, and Ashoka’s Edicts, as seen in the Sanchi Stupa and Lumbini Pillar.
Symbolism of Power: Art symbolised imperial power, with the Lion Capital of Sarnath representing Ashoka’s authority and the triumph of Dharma.
Naturalistic Sculpture: Mauryan sculptures were naturalistic, such as those on the Sanchi Stupa, depicting human figures, animals, and scenes from Buddha’s life.
Hellenistic Influence: Greek and Persian influences, from Alexander’s invasion, are visible in the Ashokan Pillars and Gandhara art, blending Greco-Roman elements with Buddhist themes.
Rock-Cut Architecture: The Barabar Caves, built for Buddhist monks, features smooth, polished surfaces and detailed carvings, showcasing advanced architectural skills.
Terracotta & Pottery: Terracotta figurines and painted greyware reflect everyday life and religious themes, demonstrating the artisans’ skills.
Polished Finish: Mauryan sculptures, especially the Ashokan Pillars, are known for their smooth, polished surfaces, exemplifying high craftsmanship.

Types of Mauryan Art

The art and architecture of the Mauryan period can be broadly classified into two categories:

Court Art: Court art includes artworks created for the royal courts, such as palace architecture, pillars (like the famous Ashoka Pillars), and stupas. These works were intricate, and elegant, and showcased the power and luxury of the Mauryan empire. They were meant for an elite audience and often used high-quality materials to reflect the grandeur of the ruling class.
Popular Art: Popular art, intended for ordinary people, includes simpler forms like pottery, cave paintings, and sculptures. It also encompassed folk traditions such as dance, music, theatre, and literature, reflecting the common people’s everyday lives and cultural practices.

Types of Mauryan Art

Court Art (Royal Art) of Mauryan Empire

Mauryan Palaces

Mauryan palaces were grand structures inspired by Achaemenid palace art, characterised by large, wooden walls and impressive architectural features.
Kumhrar, Pataliputra, housed a royal assembly hall with 80 pillars, made of wood for its roof and floor. These palaces had fortified wooden walls, with 64 entrances and 570 towns in the vicinity, as mentioned by Megasthenes.
Greek historian Megasthenes and Chinese traveler Fa-Hian praised the palaces, calling them among mankind’s greatest creations and “god-gifted monuments.”
The Greek historian Arrian compared the palaces of Chandragupta Maurya to the buildings of Susa and Ekbatan, emphasising their magnificence.

Examples

Pataliputra: The capital city of the Mauryan empire, with wooden walls and large fortified gates.
Kumhrar: Famous for its 80-pillared assembly hall, potentially used for royal functions or the Third Buddhist Council.

Plan of 80 Columns Pillared Hall

Mauryan Pillars

Mauryan pillars are free-standing, monolithic structures made of sandstone quarried at Chunar. These pillars have intricate carvings at the top, including animal figures such as bulls, lions, and elephants.
Unlike the Achaemenid pillars, Mauryan pillars are rock-cut, showcasing the advanced carving skills of Indian artisans.
Ashoka erected these pillars to mark significant sites, many with inscriptions promoting Dhamma.

Examples

Sarnath (Lion Capital, Uttar Pradesh): Features a roaring lion standing on a circular base, symbolising the Dhammachakrapravartana, the Buddha’s first sermon. It is also the India’s national emblem on January 26, 1950.
Lauriya Nandangarh (Bihar): Known for six edicts inscribed on its polished stone shaft, representing Ashoka’s Dhamma.
Rampurva (Bull Capital, Delhi): A realistic depiction of a Zebu bull, blending Indian and Persian elements.
Prayag-Allahabad Pillar (Uttar Pradesh): Features Ashoka’s edicts alongside inscriptions from Samudragupta and Jehangir.

Mauryan Stupas

Stupas were built to house relics of the Buddha, serving as symbols of his teachings and as centers of Buddhist devotion.
They were characterised by their dome-shaped structures, symbolising the cosmic mountain, and were adorned with intricate reliefs depicting scenes from Buddha’s life.

Examples

Sanchi Stupa (Madhya Pradesh): Built by Ashoka and expanded by the Sungas, featuring Jataka story carvings on its gateways and a symbolic triple umbrella representing the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
Bharhut Stupa (Madhya Pradesh): A significant early stupa with stone gateways and reliefs of Buddhist themes such as Jataka tales.
Dhauli Shanti Stupa (Orissa): Located at the site of Ashoka’s Kalinga War, featuring stone carvings of key events from Buddha’s life.
Dhamekh Stupa (Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh): Marks the spot where Buddha delivered his first sermon, revealing the eight-fold path leading to Nirvana.

Structure of Caves (Stupa)

Popular Art (Folk Art) of Mauryan Empire

Caves

Mauryan caves, primarily used as viharas for Buddhist and Ajivika monks, are among India’s earliest rock-cut structures, primarily found in Barabar and Nagarjuni Hills in Bihar.
Notable examples include Barabar Hill caves (Lomas Rishi, Sudama, Viswamitra & Karna Chopar) and Nagarjuna Hill caves (Vahiyaka, Gopika &Vadathika). These caves are dedicated to the Ajivika sect and are marked by their smooth, polished surfaces.
The Lomas Rishi cave in Barabar Hill is famous for its semicircular chaitya arch at the entrance, with a rectangular interior hall & circular chamber at the back, reflecting the influence of wooden architecture.
The Sudama cave (Barabar Hill), resembling a wooden building, and the Vahiyaka cave (Nagarjuni Hill), dedicated to the Ajivika sect, further demonstrate the architectural ingenuity of the period.
Inscriptions from King Piyadassi (Ashoka) for the Barabar caves and King Dasaratha for the Nagarjuni caves provide historical and religious context, adding to their significance.

Pottery

Mauryan pottery, especially painted grey ware, reflects the advanced craftsmanship of the time and daily life in the empire.
Painted grey ware, found in places like Pataliputra and other Mauryan settlements, is characterised by black-and-red designs and was used for both functional and ceremonial purposes.
Terracotta figurines and pottery found at sites like Sanchi and Rajghat represent religious themes and everyday life, offering insights into the material culture of the Mauryan era.
Artifacts like storage jars, bowls, and vases from the Mauryan period demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship and an understanding of both aesthetics and functionality.
These pottery pieces not only served domestic purposes but also had religious significance, contributing to the cultural and religious practices of the time.

Sculptures

Mauryan sculptures are often carved from high-quality stone and are known for their smooth, polished finish, exemplified by the Ashokan Pillars across India, including in Sarnath and Lauriya Nandangarh.
Mauryan sculpture is noted for its naturalism, depicting lifelike representations of humans, animals, and religious figures, a departure from earlier abstract styles.
The Sanchi Stupa, located in Madhya Pradesh, features Mauryan-era sculptures portraying scenes from the life of Buddha, reinforcing the religious and artistic significance of the Mauryan period.
These sculptures reflect not just religious themes but also the imperial authority of Ashoka, acting as symbols of his rule and commitment to spreading Buddhism throughout his empire.

Mauryan Literature

The Mauryan period witnessed significant literary achievements, fostered by the patronage of Mauryan rulers like Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka. The empire’s tolerant religious policies, flourishing economy, and peaceful governance under Ashoka created an environment conducive to intellectual and literary growth.

Arthashastra: The Arthashastra, written in Sanskrit, is an ancient Indian treatise offering a detailed guide on statecraft, economic policies, and military strategy. Authored by Kautilya (Chanakya or Vishnugupta), it is a comprehensive work on governance, consisting of 15 volumes (Adhikarnas).
Kalpa Sutra and Bhadrabahu Samhita: The Kalpa Sutra and Bhadrabahu Samhita are significant Jain texts that detail monastic codes, rituals, and Jain philosophy. They were composed by Bhadrabahu, a Jain scholar.
Indica: The Indica is a historical account of India during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, describing the grandeur of Pataliputra, its economic prosperity, societal structures, and governance. It was written by Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to the Mauryan court.
Mudrarakshasa: The Mudrarakshasa is a Sanskrit play portraying the political intrigues and strategies employed by Chanakya to establish Chandragupta Maurya on the throne. It was written by Vishakadutta, reflecting the political dynamics of the Mauryan era.
Mahavamsha and Dipavamsha: The Mahavamsha and Dipavamsha are chronicles of early Buddhist history in Sri Lanka, narrating the spread of Buddhism and its influence during the Mauryan period. These works were enriched under Emperor Ashoka’s patronage.
Ashokavadana and Divyavadana: The Ashokavadana and Divyavadana are Buddhist texts highlighting Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism and his role in propagating Dhamma through edicts and missions.
Digha Nikaya: The Digha Nikaya is a collection of discourses attributed to the Buddha, emphasising moral teachings, meditation, and ethical conduct, and reflecting the intellectual and spiritual milieu of the Mauryan period.
Milindapanho: The Milindapanho records the dialogues between King Menander (Milinda) and the Buddhist monk Nagasena, providing insights into the philosophical exchange between Hellenistic and Indian thought during the Mauryan era.

Mauryan art and architecture stand as a testament to India’s cultural and administrative zenith, reflecting the synthesis of spiritual ethos and imperial authority. Structures like Ashokan Pillars and Sanchi Stupa symbolise the empire’s enduring legacy, influencing later dynasties and shaping India’s artistic heritage.

Reference: PMF IAS: Archaeological Discoveries and Their Importance | Indian Express

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 11

Q. Examine the contributions of the Mauryan period in shaping Indian art, architecture, and literature. Highlight how these contributions reflect the socio-political and religious milieu of the time. (250 Words) (15 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Briefly mention about the Mauryan Empire and their advancements in art & architecture.
Body: Discuss the contributions of the Mauryan Empire to art, architecture, and literature, along with the influence of its socio-political and religious milieu on these cultural advancements.
Conclusion: Conclude by highlighting the impact and contribution of the Mauryan Empire.