Art of India
The earliest examples of Indian sculptural art developed in the Indus Valley. Many small-sized sculptures made of clay and metal have been found that date from 3200 to 2000 BC. Most of the sculptures represented figures of humans and animals. Numerous objects were discovered that included engraving with writing soapstone termed seals. Seals were considered as a currency of that time or as an item of the personal identifications.
A set of bronze animal sculptures of a buffalo, a rhinoceros, an elephant and a bull were found near Bombay; the animal sculptures were dated by archaeologists from approximately 1300 BC. At the beginning of the Vedic period at about 1500 BC, nomads from the Russian steppes invaded. Art, hymns and metal figures still remain from this period.
Indian sculpture art flourished during the dynasty of Mauryan. Most of the art surviving from that time are Buddhist religious objects. The Mauryan period is also memorable for its monuments such as large stone pillars that were situated at crossroads and busy public locations. Usually, these pillars had a top part as a lotus-shaped, which was bearing the figure of a lion. The pillars are beautifully decorated with symbols still identified with India, such as lotus flowers, elephants and bulls. The lion, a Persian symbol of imperial rule from modern-day Iran was borrowed by artisans that decorated the pillars.
Buddhism was declared the state religion of India by Asoka, the most famous ruler of Mauryan. Other forms of worship were accepted at the same time, for example, the male and female spirits, the yakshas and yakshis were venerated in traditional, rural villages. Large stone images of these spirits made during the reign of Asoka can be seen. Small, votive statues of yakshas and yakshis were placed on the monuments of Buddha and other venerated religious figures.
During the same period under the rule of Asoka, religious architecture start appearing in the form of burial mounds called stupa. The Indian tradition started of burying their dead and then, a small mound over the grave was built. Buddhists began to use stupa as a place to worship their great sages and Buddha. The small mounds were improved and grew in size big enough to incorporate a built-in a circumambulating path. The paths are open to the sky and soon closed, indoor worship places were built. One of the most famous is Chaitya Hall, a covered building with a circular wall behind a smaller stupa. This building was raised on a high base near the existing stupa. Chaiya Hall had an arched roof. These characteristics later became major components in Hindu architecture. The final great Buddhist contribution to India’s architecture was the residence hall, called Vihara. Vihara consists of small, square-shaped cells surrounding a rectangular open-air courtyard.
During the Kushan dynasty, Buddhism started spreading into regions bordering India when images of Buddha were built. The images were created to represent Buddha in his human form to teach new followers. Buddha was portrayed with staring eyes and an intense smile. Images of Buddha date from the Gupta period were different, compared to the images from the Kushan dynasty. During the Gupta period, the Buddha image took on an inward look, with eyes casted down and holding a graceful pose.
Small Hindu temples are called rathas; they are carved from a single huge rock. The rathas are decorated with images mimicking the shape of stupa. These monoliths contained a central shrine and a circumambulating hallway, a characteristic borrowed from Buddhist architecture. In contrast, carved stone Hindu temples were only limited in scale by the size of a rock or cliff. The resulting temples were even larger than the Greek Parthenon.
Ancient Hindu temples are typified by a large variety of art forms, ranging from symbolic icons to engravings. Space was designed on the basis of mathematical principles. Ancient Sanskrit texts classify ancient idols and images under several categories. For example, chitra is the completely formed three-dimensional images, whereas chitra bhasa refers to paintings on the walls and cloth in 2-dimensions. Another classification is based on the expressive state of the images. Terrifying images which induce fear are called raudra or ugra. These idols were worshipped by warriors before going to war. The opposite image type have pacific, peaceful expressions that convey love and kindness. Images with tranquil expressions are called shanta and saumya.
Idol and images are usual in larger Hindu temples, but statues are not in all temples. Images of Hindu gods were also made of stone just as images of Buddha. The purpose of Hindu statues was to display the variety of Hindu gods. Some of the statues portraying gods have many hands or many heads or both. During the Gupta dynasty images of Hindu gods were carved into the rocks in caves, on temples or on houses. Carvings made on temple walls representing a variety of gods and their attendants in rituals.
When figures of Buddha are compared to figures of Hindu gods and goddesses, distinctive differences are observed. Buddha is considered as a teacher who can show the path to the enlightenment to his students. Pictures of Buddha depict him as an ordinary, pensive person who meditates to improve himself mentally. On the other hand, Hindu gods are imaginative and mysterious. Hindu gods can have an enormous number of limbs and the symbol associate with the god is depicted nearby. Shiva is often painted with the javelin in his hand, called Bhindipala. Followers of Hinduism believe that their gods are eternal, whereas Buddhism embraces the theory of causality. The Buddhists argue that if Brahma exists he could not be eternal. According to Buddhists there is no a personal God who created the universe, but instead the universe was produced by a particular set of causes and conditions that made the creation possible. Buddhism accepts the existence of Brahma. Brahma is represented as one who spends his time cultivating the mind cultivation and reveres Buddha.
The Bhagavad-Gita a poem full of rich images and was created in India. It is considered the most ancient religious scripture. The Bhagavad-Gita is the record of a direct dialogue between the God and his closest followers. Bhagavad-Gita was first written in Sanskrit, but today the text is translated in almost every language in the world. Bhagavad-Gita offers traditions, legends and myths from ancient times. Lord Krishna’s life and personality is intertwined with the Bhagavad-Gita. The text describes the Mahabharata war and Lord Krishna’s critical role. Lord Vishnu is believed to have reincarnated into the form of Lord Krishna. Dharma is the act of righteous living upon the earth and the battle to root out evil. By describing the reincarnation, followers learn about dharma and can better understand the lessons by the example shared. The Bhagavad-Gita’s scripture is a highly respected icon of the Sanatana-dharma, a very valuable ancient speech that has the potential to play a significant role in all branches of human life.
The ancient poem contains the message of a divine-centered living, based upon right knowledge, devotion, faith and detachment. The Bhagavad-Gita offers an alternative narrative to ego-centered living characterized by striving, egoism, suffering, and desires. The poem is a discourse of great spiritual value for people who consciously engage in daily battles of life. The poem reveals how everyone can do ordinary and simple tasks in the world and remain free from the consequences of their actions.
Bhagavad-Gita teaches the nature of human existence, the true self, and the correct meaning of knowledge as well as the qualities of humans and how actions bind them to the world. The Bhagavad-Gita is a book of self-discovery and inner journey into the Adobe of God. The process of moving from the process of the sorrow of moral existence towards the eternal and perfect life is learned in the Bhagavad-Gita. By annihilating the desires only, the person can be freed from the chains of actions based only on desire. According to the Bhagavad-Gita, the eternal world is not unreal because of its inexistence, but because of its instability. Bhagavad-Gita searches for a permanent reality, which can improve life with its lessons for a more stable and peaceful way of living.
Beautifully detailed and colored images depict the narrative in the Bhagavad-Gita. For example, on plate 33 Krishna is riding towards the devotee on Garuda, in order to lift him out the sea of birth and death. The plate is showing that Garuda is ready for enlightenment. Plate 34 shows us the difference between mortal and eternal life by teaching the analogy between the society of human beings and life in the animal kingdom. Plate 37 teaches that only by following the path to enlightenment can an individual pass into Nirvana or Moksha. Plate 38 shows us that two men are being offered liberation or bondage. The man who looks upward follows the spiritual master who is pointing toward Sri Radha-Krishna. The other man acquires demoniacal qualities by accepting the offer of Maya. He is being drawn by ropes of ignorance, envy, anger, lust and greed downwards as he glides towards hell.
The Taj Mahal is the most famous structure of India and, may be the most beautiful architecture in the world. This perfectly proportioned tomb of Mumtaz Mahal and her husband, Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal ruler was built from 1631 to 1653. Shah Jahan grieved his beloved wife’s, Mumtaz Mahal death. The purpose of building the Taj Mahal was to honor his wife and demonstrate his love and devotion to her even after her death. A competition was held to find the best architectural plans for the construction of a tomb with a shrine worthy of the Mughal emperors’ wife. Unfortunately, the name of that architect is unknown. Many talented people from many parts of the world came to Agra to work on the mausoleum. Approximately 20,000 workers were employed with the task from 1631 to 1648. Taj Mahal contains the tomb, and also a mosque, gardens, gateways and fountains. The Taj Mahal suffered from looting and neglect when the dynasty of the powerful Mughals was challenged by external forces during the 18th century.
Even today the Taj Mahal is considered the jewel of Muslim art in India; it is one of the world’s most beautiful structures. The emperor Shah Jahan celebrated the anniversary of his wife’s death in the mausoleum, kneeling near the cenotaph of white marble with gems and precious stones. The carefully balanced image of Taj Mahal is beautifully reflected in a rectangular pool of water that divides the garden. The visual impact is enhanced by the intricately detailed carving of the marbles used to build the structure.
Taj Mahal contains 16 chambers, eight chambers on two levels. The bodies of the emperor and his wife were buried in the traditional Muslim fashion with their faces oriented in the direction to Mekka with the wife on her husband’s right side. Taj Mahal contains a powerful allusion to Paradise. Paradise is represented by the floral theme carved on the chamber walls of the mausoleum. The numerous vases of flowers, accompanied by bunches of grapes and other fruits express the abundance that awaits to the faithful person in Paradise.
India has an incredible, impressive history in art and architecture that impacts the entire world. India was the site of some of the most ancient civilizations of the world, so the rich historical events are substantive. Art in the form of sculptures, temples, intricately designed etching on marbles and fabulously colorful tiles decorate locations that have survived. The aesthetic senses of people are filled with the beauty of ancient art and architecture of ancient India. Indians are tolerant of diverse religions and the religious history has enriched the culture of India and the world greatly.
References
1. Buddhism vs. Hinduism. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2014, from http://www.diffen.com/difference/Buddhism_vs_Hinduism
2. BUDDHIST AND HINDU ARCHITECTURE. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2014, from http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab96
3. Jarayam, V. (n.d.). An Introduction to the Bhagavad-Gita And Its Three Secrets. Retrieved September 24, 2014, from http://www.hinduwebsite.com/gitaintrod.asp
4. Taj Mahal, Agra, India. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2014, from http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/india/agra/tajmahal.php
5. Buddha. (2014). The Biography.com website. Retrieved September 24, 2014, from http://www.biography.com/people/buddha-9230587.
