Arts of the Mauryan Period: Rock cut architecture

History and Significance of the Rock-cut Architecture:

• Rock-cut architecture is a form of Rock Art wherein a structure is carved from a solid natural rock
• The Mauryan period, particularly Ashoka (273-232 BC) and his grandson Dasharath, are credited with the oldest rock-cut caves in India
• Caves were commonly utilised as viharas, or residential quarters, by Jain and Buddhist monks during this time period
• Caves were first utilised as monasteries by the Ajivika sect, and afterwards by Buddhists
• The Barabar and Nagarjuni caves in Bihar were created during the reign of Dasharath, Ashoka’s grandson

The Mauryan Era’s Architecture

• In the sixth century B.C., new religious and social movements in the Gangetic valley emerged in the shape of Buddhism and Jainism (Sramana/Shraman Tradition)

• Magadha became a strong state, consolidating its hold on the other religions

• By the third century, Maurya had seized control of a considerable portion of India

• Ashoka rose to prominence as the Maurya dynasty’s most powerful ruler

• During this time, religious rituals took on a variety of forms

• Worship of Yakshas and Mother Goddess was popular at the period

• Yaksha worship was widespread both before and after the arrival of Buddhism, and it was incorporated into Buddhism and Jainism

• Stupas and viharas (monks’ living places) were built as part of the Buddhist tradition

• Aside from stupas and viharas, stone pillars, rock cut caves, and colossal figure sculptures were carved in a number of locations throughout this time period

Pillars of The Mauryan Period

• Despite the fact that pillar construction is very old, Mauryan pillars vary from other regions of the world’s pillars (such as Achaemenian pillars) in that they are rock cut pillars, exhibiting the carver’s talents
• Throughout the Mauryan Empire, stone pillars were built
• A capital is the topmost part of a pillar or column
• The pillar’s top was carved with images such as a bull, lion, elephant, and so on
• All of the capital figures (typically animals) are carved to stand atop a square or circular abacus
• Abacuses are typically adorned with stylised lotuses
• The Lion Capital, a Mauryan pillar capital unearthed at Sarnath, is the best specimen of Mauryan sculpting tradition

Architecture carved out of the rock:

• A rock-cut elephant in Dhauli, Odisha, depicts modeling in the round with a linear rhythm
• It also includes Ashokan rock-edict

Lomus Rishi’s Cave:

• Several rock-cut caverns may be found in the Barabar hills near Gaya, Bihar
• A semi-circular chaitya arch, which acts as the cave’s entrance, adorns the cave’s front
• The elephant frieze is sculpted in high relief on the chaitya arch and has many movements
• The inner hall of the cave is rectangular, with a circular room towards the back
• One of the hall’s sidewalls serves as the entrance
• Ashoka gave this cave to the Ajivika sect as a gift

Stupas and Viharas:

Buddhist and Jain monastic complexes have stupas, viharas, and chaityas, but the Buddhist religion has the most—for example, the Bairut Stupa in Rajasthan and the Great Stupa in Sanchi.

• A cylinder drum and a circular Anda with a harmonic and chhatra on top make up a stupa
• In Bihar, Rajagraha, Vaishali, Vethadipa, and Pava, Nepal’s Kapilavastu, Allakappa, and Ramagrama, Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar and Pippalvina stupas were built over the Buddha’s relics

• There had been numerous stupas built previously, but in the 2nd century BC, additional enhancements such as enclosing the Circumambulatory path with railings and adding gateways were made
• There are only a few cases of royal patronage. Lay worshippers to Gahapatis and rulers are among the patrons. Guild donations are also stated on various websites
• Artists: At the Pitalkhora and Kondane caves, a few inscriptions describe artisans such as Kanha and Balaka

Buddhism and Stupa

The early phase of Buddhism:

Buddha’s footprints, stupas, lotus throne, chakra, and other symbols represent him. This can mean basic worship, paying reverence, or depicting the historicization of real events.

The later phase of Buddhism:

• In the later stages of Buddhism, the tale became a part of the Buddhist tradition
• Synoptic, continuous, and episodic narratives are all used in the visual tradition
• The railings and torans of the stupas carried Jataka tales, which depicted incidents from the Buddha’s life
• The primary moments in the Buddha’s life that were shown repeatedly were: birth, renunciation, enlightenment, Dharmachakrapravartana, and Mahaparinibbana (liberation from the cycle of birth.
• Some of the Jataka stories include Chhadanta Jataka, Vidur Pandita Jataka, Ruru Jataka, Sibi Jataka, Vessantara Jataka, and Shama Jataka

Conclusion

The excavation of solid rock where it exists naturally to create structures, buildings, and sculptures is known as rock-cut architecture. Temples, tombs, and cave homes were the three principal applications of rock-cut architecture. The oldest rock-cut construction is the Barabar caves in Bihar, which were erected about the third century BC. The first rock-cut caves were built by Ashoka and his grandson Dasaratha. Thus, rock cut architecture throughout India provides information on the lives and times of ancient Indian people and aids us in understanding their culture through their perspective. It enables us to follow the history of India and its evolution through a sociopolitical lens, as well as how it affected the Indian way of life.