VisionIAS - Video Classroom Lecture

Art and Culture Class

POST-MAURYAN STUPA (01:06 PM)

GUPTA AGE ARCHITECTURE (01:20 PM)

Gupta age is regarded as Golden age of Art and Architecture.
There was a holistic development during this period in the field of Architecture, literature and scientific development.
Cave making reached its climax during this period.
Not only temples were constructed but also Manuscript related to temple construction was also written-
Vishnudharmottara Purana and Vastushastra

Cave Architecture (01:26 PM)

1. Ajanta caves:
Gorge of Waghura river.
There are a total of 29 caves- 25 Viharas and 4 Chaityas.
These caves were based on Buddhist tradition.
Ajanta caves were created on the steep side of the hill. As such, it didn't have any courtyards.
Inside Ajanta, maximum double-storey caves are there
Inside the Ajanta caves, one can find paintings and sculptures based on Buddhism.
Fresco Mural Paintings adorn Ajanta caves.

Fresco Mural Paintings:

In the very first step- a mixture of clay, cow dung, and rice husk was mixed thoroughly to be applied to the wall of the cave.
It was coated with lime plaster.
In the final step, Images were created to be filled with colours.
The initial mixture was meant for absorbing the colour and moisture and further imprinting the image on the wall of the cave
With the absorption of moisture, the painting looks freshly created.
Examples- Padampani (Bodhisattva holding the Lotus); Vajrapani (Bodhisattva holding the thunderbolt); Maitreya (Future Buddha); Manjushri(Buddha of wisdom); Flying apsara and Dying Princess; Avalokiteśvara
Avalokiteśvara: The lord who looks down with compassion.
Another name of Avalokiteswara: Padampani

2) Ellora Caves (01:48 PM)
Located in Aurangabad in Maharashtra
There are 34 caves-17 are Hindu;12 Buddhist and 5 Jain;
The caves created on the slope side of the hill because it had courtyards in Ellora;
There are instances of Single-storey, double-storey, and triple-storey caves in Ellora.
In Buddhist caves, sculptures of Buddha and Bodhisattva can be seen. Similarly, in Jain caves, sculptures of 24 Tirthankaras can be seen.
Jain Cave was popularly referred as Indra Sabha.
Hinduism is the dominant religion in the Ellora.
Premise number 16 of Ellora is popularly known as the Kailashanatha temple. It is a monolithic temple created from a single stone.
It is regarded as one of the Architectural wonders of India.
The top-down approach was followed in the construction of the temple.
It was created by Rashtrakuta ruler - Krishna I
Fresco Mural Painting was also created In the Ellora, particularly during the Rashtrakuta period and the most popular example is Lord Vishnu riding on garuda

Nasik Caves (02:06 PM)

24 sandstone caves were created at this place.
They all were viharas and belong to the Hinayana tradition of Buddhism.
Nasik is also a sacred Hindu religious place which is known for Khumba Mela and one of the Shiva Jyotirlinga.
12 Shiva jyotirlinga- (Maximum in Maharashtra) :

1. Bhimashankar	Pune
2. Tryambakeshwar	Nashik
3. Girishneshwar	at Ellora near Aurangabad
4. Mahabaleshwar	Ujjain, MP
5. Omkareshwar	Madhya Pradesh
6. Mallikarjuna	Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh
7. Rameshwar	Tamil Nadu.
8. Somnath	Gujarat
9. Nageshwar	Gujarat
10. Kashi-Viswanath	UP
11. Kedarnath	Kedarnath in Uttarakhand
12. Baidyanath Temple	Deoghar District of Jharkhand

Bagh Cave
In Madhya Pradesh
There are 9 sandstone Buddhist caves at Bagh out of which Cave no:4 is known as Rang Mahal-beautiful frescos based on Buddhism
Elephanta Cave (02:28 PM)
Located off the coast of Mumbai;
Initially, Buddhist tradition also existed in this cave but in the later time only Hindu tradition is prevalent at this place
The most popular specimen in the Elephanta is the Trimurti sculpture of Mahesh, Uma, and Bhairav.
Udayigiri-Khandgiri Caves:
Located in Odisha;
It is a Jain premise, patronized by Jain king Kharvela.
In this cave, one can find the sculptures based on Jainism and Odissi dance form.
Udayagiri- Vidisha, MP
Varaha Avatar of Lord Vishnu
(Boar- incarnation)
Junagarh Caves:
Located in Girnar hills of Gujarat; Also known as Uparkot caves, which means that cave chambers in the upper layers connected through stairs.
Specimen related to both Buddhist and Hindu traditions found at this place.

SARNATH STYLE OF SCULPTURE (02:37 PM)

Developed in the areas of Sarnath and Nalanda; Created from Pink sandstone obtained from Chunar mines.
In terms of iconography, Sarnath is closer to Mathura; The halo in Sarnath was intricately decorated on the margins.
There was a depiction of transparent drapery in Sarnath. Many times, along with the single dominating image of Buddha, Jataka panels were also attached in Sarnath.
There was a beginning of metal sculpture of copper and bronze in Sarnath style.

TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE (03:07 PM)

Evolution of Temple Architecture in North

First Stage
In the very first stage, a flat roof square temple was created on the grounded platform with a shallow pillar
An example is Temple No. 17 at Sanchi
Second Stage
In this stage, the temples were created on an upraised platform.
Moreover, an in-depth pillar was created to support the structure.
An example of it is Parvati Temple in Nachna Kuthara, Madhya Pradesh
Third Stage
In this stage, the upraised platform and In-depth pillar and square chamber approach continued with the introduction of the curvilinear tower known as Shikara
It is believed that this stage gave rise to the Nagara Style of temple.
An example of it is Bhitargaon temple (Kanpur, UP); Dashavatar Temple (Deogarh, Jhansi)

Nagara Style of Architecture (03:20 PM)

Features:
Generally, the Nagara temples do not have boundary walls.
The upraised platform in the temple is known as Jagati.
The characteristic feature of the Nagara is the presence of curvilinear tower Shikhara.
The Particular part of Jagati where the chamber is created and installation of the Image of main God happens.
There is a concept of the ambulatory passageway for the circumambulation around the deity.
Garba Griha is the most important chamber of the temple, where the deity is placed.
In many of the Nagar temples, the Panchayatana pattern of placing the idols was followed
It is one of the most sacred place and is also referred as Brahmasthan.
Panchayatana style was followed in some of the temples, whereby in the main chamber an image of one main god is placed along with 4 Subsidiary Gods.
Generally, Nagara temple was created with crucified Ground plan
The tower of the temple was representative of the Mythological mountain of Meru and Kailash.
In some of the temples, In the entrance of Garbagriha, the images of River Goddess Ganga and Yamuna were created.
An example is Kashi Vishwanath Temple; and Bhuimara Temple.

TOPICS FOR THE NEXT CLASS: WILL CONTINUE WITH THE SUB-TYPES OF NAGARA STYLE