SCULPTURES IN INDIA

INTRODUCTION
Sculpture in India represents one of the richest artistic traditions of the world. From the prehistoric Harappan civilization to the highly refined medieval bronzes, Indian sculpture evolved as a medium of religious expression, social representation and aesthetic excellence. Sculptural traditions developed under royal patronage as well as through popular religious practices, reflecting both elite and folk cultures.

SCULPTURES OF HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION
The Harappan civilization shows a highly advanced tradition of sculpture.
Materials used:

• Stone, terracotta, copper, bronze alloys
• Stones like limestone, alabaster and steatite
• Both secular and religious themes are present
• Female goddess figurines are abundant, indicating fertility cults

Stone Sculptures

• Bearded Priest (Mohenjo-daro)
• Made of steatite
• Shawl with trefoil pattern over left shoulder
• Right armlet and holes around neck suggest necklace
• Facial features show influence similar to Greek style

Male Torso (Harappa)

• Made of red sandstone
• Head and legs broken
• Socket joints indicate advanced sculptural technique

Metal Sculptures (Copper and Bronze)

• Made using lost wax (cire perdue) technique
• Figures made both solid and hollow

Bronze Dancing Girl (Mohenjo-daro)

• Oldest known bronze sculpture in the world
• Discovered by Ernest Mackay
• Standing in tribhangi posture
• Full of confidence and bodily vigour
• Naked except bangles and necklace

Other Metal Sculptures

• Bull from Mohenjo-daro with strong muscular depiction
• Buffalo and Ram figures from Mohenjo-daro
• Bullock cart and Ikka from Harappa and Chanhudaro
• Copper dog and bird from Lothal
• Daimabad hoard (Elephant, chariot, buffalo, rhinoceros) – southernmost Harappan site

Terracotta Sculptures

• Less refined than stone and bronze
• Mostly toys, cult objects and ritual figures
• Red colour commonly used
• Unicorn is most frequently depicted animal
• Other animals: elephant, rhinoceros, monkey, dog, sheep

Mother Goddess Figurine

• Found at Mohenjo-daro
• Wearing loincloth and girdle
• Fan-shaped headgear
• Associated with fertility worship

Harappan Seals

• Discovered by Alexander Cunningham (1853)
• Maximum found at Mohenjo-daro
• Mostly made of steatite
• Other materials: copper, ivory, shell, faience, terracotta
• Copper seals only at Jhukar, Lothal and Desalpur
• Shapes: square and rectangular
• Script: pictographic, written right to left
• Used for commercial and ritual purposes

Important Seals

• Pashupati seal (proto-Shiva yogic figure)
• Mother Goddess seal with plant motif
• Rhinoceros seal from Amri
• Garuda-like seal from Harappa
• No seals found at Alamgirpur

Pottery of Harappan Period

• Red and Black Ware pottery
• Black inside, red outside (inverted firing)
• Wheel-made pottery
• Decorated with animals, trees and geometric designs
• Perforated pots used for straining liquor

Ornaments and Beads

• Men and women used necklaces, armlets, rings
• Women wore girdles, anklets and earrings
• Beads made of carnelian, amethyst, quartz
• Bead factories at Chanhudaro and Lothal
• Burials with ornaments at Farmana cemetery

SCULPTURE DURING MAURYAN PERIOD
Divided into Court Art and Popular Art (A.K. Coomaraswamy)

Court Art (Pillars and Capitals)

• Sarnath Lion Capital
• Sanchi Lion Capital
• Rampurva Bull and Lion
• Lauriya-Nandangarh Lion
• Lumbini Horse Capital
• Sankisa Elephant Capital

Popular Art

• Yaksha Manibhadra (Parkham)
• Yakshini from Besnagar
• Didarganj Yakshini – polished sandstone
• Dhauli Elephant – Odisha
• Lomus Rishi Cave – Barabar Hills (Ajivika caves)

BUDDHIST SCULPTURAL SCHOOLS

Gandhara School

• Region: North-west India
• Material: Bluish-grey sandstone, stucco
• Patrons: Shakas and Kushanas
• Strong Greco-Roman influence
• Buddha shown with curly hair, toga-like dress
• Realistic facial expressions
• Sites: Taxila, Bamiyan, Begram

Mathura School

• Region: Mathura
• Material: Red spotted sandstone
• First to produce Buddha images
• Emphasis on inner calm and spirituality
• Buddha in Abhaya mudra and Padmasana
• Yakshas, Yakshinis, Brahmanical deities
• Sites: Mathura, Mat, Kankali Tila

Amaravati School

• Region: Andhra Pradesh
• Material: White marble
• Highly dynamic narrative panels
• Emphasis on feminine beauty and tribhanga
• Secular themes also present
• Spread to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia
• Sites: Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda, Goli

Sanchi and Bharhut Sculptures

• Narrative reliefs from Jataka stories
• Use of symbols instead of Buddha image
• Toranas with detailed carvings
• Important for early Buddhist art

GUPTA SCULPTURE

• Golden age of Indian sculpture
• Material: Cream sandstone and metal
• Graceful, balanced human figures
• Decorated halo around Buddha
• Sultanganj Buddha (copper)
• Varaha relief at Udayagiri
• Mehrauli Iron Pillar

MEDIEVAL SCULPTURE

Pallava Sculpture

• Mahabalipuram reliefs
• Descent of the Ganga
• Rock-cut monuments

Chola Bronze Sculpture

• Made using cire perdue method
• Highly expressive and elegant
• Nataraja as the finest example

Nataraja Iconography

• Shiva dancing within circle of flames
• Right foot on Apasmara demon
• Upper right hand holds damaru
• Upper left hand holds fire
• Lower right hand in Abhaya mudra
• Lower left hand in Dolahasta
• Symbolises cosmic cycle of creation and destruction

---

PDF File:

No PDF attached

---

Subject: Art and Culture

← Back