The Mauryan Period: An Important Period in the History of Indian Art and Architecture
Question1. Describe the sculptures, chaityas and viharas of the Mauryan Dynasty constructed to spread Buddhism during Ashoka’s reign.
The Mauryan period is an important period in the history of Indian art and architecture, with the foundations for Indian art being laid, which would later reach their height during the golden age of the Guptas. Our main pieces of evidence and material come from the time of the great Mauryan king Ashoka.
Ashoka’s Maurya Dynasty consisted of present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Assam, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. With 5,000,000 sq km, the Mauryan dynasty was the largest empire in the world during that time. From 321 to 185 BC, Ashoka’s empire grew because of his massive takeover when Alexander the Great’s Greek and Persian armies withdrew from the area. The headquarters of his empire was in Magadha, or present day
Bihar, India.
Ashoka encompassed Buddhism after witnessing massive killings in the violent war of
Kalinga. From that moment on, he dedicated his life to the propagation of Buddhism across the Asian continent. Because of Ashoka and his empire, the history and development of
Buddhist Architecture has developed from a growing culture and religion of Buddhism.
Throughout India, Ashoka carved inscriptions on rocks and pillars, allowing humankind to trace his Buddhist path in life.
“I have enforced the law against killing certain animals and many others, but the greatest progress of righteousness among men comes from the exhortation in favor of non-injury to life and abstention from killing living beings.”
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The legacy of Ashoka the Great
The Buddhist missionary son of Ashoka, Venerable Rahul, established Buddhism on the island of Ceylon, now called Sri Lanka. He built thousands of stupas and viharas for religious followers, with the Stupas of Sanchi becoming world famous.
Buddhist architecture in Sri Lanka has been associated with the spread of Buddhism in India, with the earliest
The Mauryan period is an important period in the history of Indian art and architecture, with the foundations for Indian art being laid, which would later reach their height during the golden age of the Guptas. Our main pieces of evidence and material come from the time of the great Mauryan king Ashoka.
Ashoka’s Maurya Dynasty consisted of present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Assam, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. With 5,000,000 sq km, the Mauryan dynasty was the largest empire in the world during that time. From 321 to 185 BC, Ashoka’s empire grew because of his massive takeover when Alexander the Great’s Greek and Persian armies withdrew from the area. The headquarters of his empire was in Magadha, or present day
Bihar, India.
Ashoka encompassed Buddhism after witnessing massive killings in the violent war of
Kalinga. From that moment on, he dedicated his life to the propagation of Buddhism across the Asian continent. Because of Ashoka and his empire, the history and development of
Buddhist Architecture has developed from a growing culture and religion of Buddhism.
Throughout India, Ashoka carved inscriptions on rocks and pillars, allowing humankind to trace his Buddhist path in life.
“I have enforced the law against killing certain animals and many others, but the greatest progress of righteousness among men comes from the exhortation in favor of non-injury to life and abstention from killing living beings.”
-
The legacy of Ashoka the Great
The Buddhist missionary son of Ashoka, Venerable Rahul, established Buddhism on the island of Ceylon, now called Sri Lanka. He built thousands of stupas and viharas for religious followers, with the Stupas of Sanchi becoming world famous.
Buddhist architecture in Sri Lanka has been associated with the spread of Buddhism in India, with the earliest