Indian Sculpture

Notes

Harappan: Dancing Girl (bronze, lost-wax technique), Priest-King (steatite), seals and terracotta. Daimabad bronzes are Chalcolithic.
Mauryan:
- Court art: Lion Capital (Sarnath) and the Dhauli elephant.
- Popular art: Didarganj Yakshi and Parkham Yaksha.
Shunga-Satavahana: Bharhut and Sanchi reliefs, Jataka narratives, and aniconic symbols for the Buddha.
Kushana: Gandhara and Mathura schools, with the first Buddha images.
Gupta: Classical idealism. The Sarnath seated Buddha (dharmachakra pravartana mudra) has a serene face and a decorated halo. Deogarh Dashavatara panels and Udayagiri Varaha are also Gupta.
Pallava: Mahabalipuram's Arjuna's Penance (Descent of the Ganga) and Pancha Rathas.
Chalukya/Rashtrakuta: Badami, Ellora (Kailasa), Elephanta (Maheshamurti, Trimurti).
Chola: Bronzes, plus Brihadisvara and Gangaikondacholapuram sculpture.
Hoysala: Dense soapstone carving at Belur and Halebidu.
Chandela: Khajuraho's sensuous, rhythmic figures.
Materials: stone, terracotta, metal (bronze, panchaloha), ivory, wood and stucco.

Key Points

Sculpture evolved from aniconic to iconic, from narrative reliefs to monumental cult images.
Buddha mudras: Abhaya (fearlessness), Bhumisparsha (earth-touching, enlightenment), Dhyana (meditation), Dharmachakra (first sermon), Varada (boon).
The Gupta period is the "classical" peak, with a refined, spiritual look.
Mauryan polish is a hallmark of court sculpture.

MCQs

The Didarganj Yakshi belongs to which period?
(a) Mauryan (b) Gupta (c) Kushana (d) Chola
The Dharmachakra Pravartana mudra is associated with the Buddha's:
(a) Enlightenment (b) First sermon (c) Death (d) Birth
Which is a Gupta-period sculptural centre?
(a) Bharhut (b) Sarnath (c) Taxila (d) Amaravati

Answers: 1-a · 2-b · 3-b