Arts of the Mauryan Period: Pillars and Sculptures

Mauryan pillars are a type of pillar that was used by the Mauryans

• Unlike the Achaemenid pillars, which were built in sections, the Mauryan pillars were monolithic or homogeneous rock-cut pillars. Many stone pillars with inscriptions etched on them were built in the Mauryan Empire’s north Indian region
• The pillar’s upper portion is etched with capital figures like the bull, lion, and elephant, and it stands on a square or circular abacus with stylized lotuses
• Basarah-Bakhira, LauriyaNandangarh, and Rampurva are located in Bihar, whereas Sankisa and Sarnath are located in Uttar Pradesh
• The Lion Capital is considered to be one of the outstanding specimens of Mauryan sculpture

Sculptures

Stupendous images of Yaksha, Yakhinis and animals that belonged to the third century BCE have been located in different parts of India. It showers light on the popularity of Yaksha worship in the Buddhist and Jain Periods.

• Enormous statues of Yakshas and Yakhinis were constructed at places like Patna, Vidisha and Mathura
• Yakshini figure from Didarganj, Patna is the most exceptional model of the sculptural tradition of the Mauryan Period

 Lion Capital, Sarnath

The Lion capital was built by Ashoka in remembrance of the historical event of the first sermon or the Dharmachakrapravartana by the Buddha at Sarnath.

 The capital is made of five component parts:

• The shaft
• A lotus bell base
• A drum (circular abacus)on the bell base with four animals proceeding clockwise
• The figures of four majestic addorsed lions
• The crowning element, Dharamchakra, a large wheel

Features of the Abacus: 

• It represents a chakra (wheel) having twenty-four spokes in all four directions.
• Four animals in the abacus are a horse, a bull, a lion, and an elephant
• It is supported by an inverted lotus capital which can be viewed from all the sides
• The surface of the sculpture is steadily polished which is a classic of the Mauryan Period
•  The capital, consisting of four lions without the crowning wheel and the lotus base, has been adopted as the National Emblem of Independent India

 Rock-Cut Architecture

• Modelling in round with linear rhythm is present on a rock-cut elephant at Dhauli, Odisha. It additionally has an Ashokan inscription
• Lomus Rishi Cave — A rock-cut cave near Gaya in the Barabar Hills. A semicircle chaitya arch decorates the cave entrance. On the chaitya, an elephant is sculpted in great relief. The cave’s inner hall is rectangular, with a circular chamber towards the back. This cave was patronised by Ashoka for the Ajivika sect

Yakshini Didarganj

• It’s a life-size standing sculpture of a Yakshini from Didargunj, which is located near modern-day Patna
• The right hand is grasping a chauri (flywhisk), while the left hand is broken
• The sculptor’s understanding of the spherical muscular body is evident
• The necklace beads are fully encircled and dangling from the belly button
• The bulging look is created by modifying the garment around the belly button
• Like most other sculptures, it has a shiny finish

Conclusion

The building of stupas and viharas as part of monastic establishments became a part of Buddhist tradition. Aside from stupas and viharas, stone pillars, rock-cut caverns, and colossal figure sculptures were carved in a number of locations throughout this time period. The custom of creating pillars is quite old, and it can be shown that installation of pillars was very common in the Achamenian empire. However, the Mauryan pillars vary from the Achamenian pillars. The Mauryan pillars are rock-cut, demonstrating the carver’s talents, but the Achamenian pillars are built in parts by a mason. Throughout the Mauryan Empire, stone pillars with inscriptions were built.