Page 21
Gandhara Art Features Mathura Gandhara Amravati Time period 2nd C. BC 1st C. BC 1st C. BC Flourished in Mathura region North western part of Indian subcontinent Valley of Krishna and Godavari Prominent places Mathura and Jamalpur village Taxila, Bimaran, Jalabad and Hada Amravati, Nagarjunikonda, Goli, Ghantasala and Vengi. Buddhist images adopted from Mathura’s artists 1st to make the images of Buddha Adopted from Mathura Adopted from Mathura Patronization by Initially – local rulers but later by Shakas and Kushanas Shakas and Kushanas Vakatakas and Ikshavakus Influenced by Initially indigenous but after the Shakas and Kushanas patronization, influence of Greeko-Roman Greeko-Roman and so also known as Greeko Roman, Indo-Roman and Greeko Buddhist school of art. No one; Indigenous from beginning to end. Type of Stone used White spotted Red sandstone Blue-Grey Stone White marble Religious or Secular images Both Only religious Both
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Emphasis or focus on Facial expression Clean shave and head Abhaymudra and Dharmachakraparivartana Mudra Physical beauty Muscular body Transparent cloth Curly hairs Physical beauty Expression through postures Erotic images Continuation Continued till early Medieval age Destroyed by Huna invasions in 5th century AD Got transformed into Pallava and Chola architecture
Buddhist Sangha
Buddhist Sangha was the Buddhist religious order in which Buddhist monks had to live in a certain manner.
Rules for entering the Sangha:
Age should be at least 15 years.
No criminal charges should be pending. If a person was convicted and has served the term than he is allowed.
Person should not be under debt.
Must not be suffering from a communicable disease.
Code of Conduct:
Meal was served only once a day.
Not to sleep on comfortable bed.
Not to wear any ornaments
Not to drink
Not to indulge in any corrupt practices
Not to have any relationship with the opposite sex
Dress code: simple unstitched clothes
Had to ask for bhiksha(begging) from nearby villages. It was believed that asking for bhiksha killed the ego.
Significance of the code of Conduct:
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To establish a disciplined order
It helped in resolving the conflicts of the contemporary society like differences between rich and poor, and powerful and weak.
It is believed, that possibly Buddha wanted to replicate the same in the society.
However, later, the money started pouring in, in the Sangh and monks got inclined towards the materialistic pleasures. From this point the pure Buddhism started decaying.
Decline of Buddhism:
By early 12th century A.D. it became extinct.
Several reasons can be attributed to the decline of Buddhism like:
It lost its own identity: gradually the religion became more ritualistic and also started practicing the rituals of Brahmanical and Vedic religion.
Reforms by Brahmana in their religion.
Monks took Sanskrit language.
From the first century AD. they practiced idol worship on a large scale and received numerous offerings from devotees.
Buddhist monasteries - dominated by ease-loving people and became centers of corrupt practices
Invasion of monasteries by Turkish because of monastries’ riches.
Sangh lost way: There were cracks in the Sangh, there was no more discipline.
Revival of Brahmanism: Brahmanical religion was revived during Gupta Period and the new Religion adopted many practices of Buddhism like vegetarianism etc.
Lack of Patronage: Palas were the last rulers which provided patronage to Buddhist monasteries. Once the Brahmanical religion was revived, Buddhism lost its grip. Also many kings suppressed them with force. In 7th Century, a Shaivite King ‘Shashank’ chopped the Bodhgaya Pipal tree.
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GUPTA PERIOD
Background
Emerged over a good part of the former dominions of both the Kushans and Satavahanas.
Gupta empire may have been of vaisya origin.
It was not as large as the Maurya empire but it kept north India politically united for more than a century, from AD 335 to 455.
UP was the center point of Gupta empire.
The Guptas were possibly the feudatories of the Kushans in Uttar Pradesh
Their basic strength was because of horses.
The Guptas enjoyed certain material advantages like –
o Fertile land of MP, Bihar and UP
o Iron ores
o Proximity to silk trade route and Byzantine empire (Roman empire)
Guptas set up their rule over –
o Anuganga (the middle Gangetic basin)
o Prayag (modern Allahabad)
o Saketa (modern Ayodhya) (Important terms can be asked in exam)
Gupta Dynasty was started by SriGupta. He was a feudatory of Kushans and not a sovereign ruler. The true independent ruler of Guptas was Chandragupta I. Gupta Empire 320 CE–550 CE
Sri Gupta (240 – 280) not an independent ruler Ghatotkacha (280 – 319) not an
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independent ruler Chandragupta I (320 – 335) Samudragupta (335 – 380) Ramagupta (375 – 380) Chandragupta II (380 – 413/415) Kumaragupta I (415 – 455) Skandagupta (455 - 467) Purugupta (467 – 473) Kumaragupta II (473 - 476) Budhagupta (476 – 495) Narasimhagupta (495 – ?) Kumaragupta III Vishnugupta (540 – 550) Vainyagupta (550 – ?) Bhanugupta
Beyond Skandgupta the chronology is not well established.
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Chandragupta I (AD 319 - 334)
Gandhara Art Features Mathura Gandhara Amravati Time period 2nd C. BC 1st C. BC 1st C. BC Flourished in Mathura region North western part of Indian subcontinent Valley of Krishna and Godavari Prominent places Mathura and Jamalpur village Taxila, Bimaran, Jalabad and Hada Amravati, Nagarjunikonda, Goli, Ghantasala and Vengi. Buddhist images adopted from Mathura’s artists 1st to make the images of Buddha Adopted from Mathura Adopted from Mathura Patronization by Initially – local rulers but later by Shakas and Kushanas Shakas and Kushanas Vakatakas and Ikshavakus Influenced by Initially indigenous but after the Shakas and Kushanas patronization, influence of Greeko-Roman Greeko-Roman and so also known as Greeko Roman, Indo-Roman and Greeko Buddhist school of art. No one; Indigenous from beginning to end. Type of Stone used White spotted Red sandstone Blue-Grey Stone White marble Religious or Secular images Both Only religious Both
Page 22
Emphasis or focus on Facial expression Clean shave and head Abhaymudra and Dharmachakraparivartana Mudra Physical beauty Muscular body Transparent cloth Curly hairs Physical beauty Expression through postures Erotic images Continuation Continued till early Medieval age Destroyed by Huna invasions in 5th century AD Got transformed into Pallava and Chola architecture
Buddhist Sangha
Buddhist Sangha was the Buddhist religious order in which Buddhist monks had to live in a certain manner.
Rules for entering the Sangha:
Age should be at least 15 years.
No criminal charges should be pending. If a person was convicted and has served the term than he is allowed.
Person should not be under debt.
Must not be suffering from a communicable disease.
Code of Conduct:
Meal was served only once a day.
Not to sleep on comfortable bed.
Not to wear any ornaments
Not to drink
Not to indulge in any corrupt practices
Not to have any relationship with the opposite sex
Dress code: simple unstitched clothes
Had to ask for bhiksha(begging) from nearby villages. It was believed that asking for bhiksha killed the ego.
Significance of the code of Conduct:
Page 23
To establish a disciplined order
It helped in resolving the conflicts of the contemporary society like differences between rich and poor, and powerful and weak.
It is believed, that possibly Buddha wanted to replicate the same in the society.
However, later, the money started pouring in, in the Sangh and monks got inclined towards the materialistic pleasures. From this point the pure Buddhism started decaying.
Decline of Buddhism:
By early 12th century A.D. it became extinct.
Several reasons can be attributed to the decline of Buddhism like:
It lost its own identity: gradually the religion became more ritualistic and also started practicing the rituals of Brahmanical and Vedic religion.
Reforms by Brahmana in their religion.
Monks took Sanskrit language.
From the first century AD. they practiced idol worship on a large scale and received numerous offerings from devotees.
Buddhist monasteries - dominated by ease-loving people and became centers of corrupt practices
Invasion of monasteries by Turkish because of monastries’ riches.
Sangh lost way: There were cracks in the Sangh, there was no more discipline.
Revival of Brahmanism: Brahmanical religion was revived during Gupta Period and the new Religion adopted many practices of Buddhism like vegetarianism etc.
Lack of Patronage: Palas were the last rulers which provided patronage to Buddhist monasteries. Once the Brahmanical religion was revived, Buddhism lost its grip. Also many kings suppressed them with force. In 7th Century, a Shaivite King ‘Shashank’ chopped the Bodhgaya Pipal tree.
Page 24
GUPTA PERIOD
Background
Emerged over a good part of the former dominions of both the Kushans and Satavahanas.
Gupta empire may have been of vaisya origin.
It was not as large as the Maurya empire but it kept north India politically united for more than a century, from AD 335 to 455.
UP was the center point of Gupta empire.
The Guptas were possibly the feudatories of the Kushans in Uttar Pradesh
Their basic strength was because of horses.
The Guptas enjoyed certain material advantages like –
o Fertile land of MP, Bihar and UP
o Iron ores
o Proximity to silk trade route and Byzantine empire (Roman empire)
Guptas set up their rule over –
o Anuganga (the middle Gangetic basin)
o Prayag (modern Allahabad)
o Saketa (modern Ayodhya) (Important terms can be asked in exam)
Gupta Dynasty was started by SriGupta. He was a feudatory of Kushans and not a sovereign ruler. The true independent ruler of Guptas was Chandragupta I. Gupta Empire 320 CE–550 CE
Sri Gupta (240 – 280) not an independent ruler Ghatotkacha (280 – 319) not an
Page 25
independent ruler Chandragupta I (320 – 335) Samudragupta (335 – 380) Ramagupta (375 – 380) Chandragupta II (380 – 413/415) Kumaragupta I (415 – 455) Skandagupta (455 - 467) Purugupta (467 – 473) Kumaragupta II (473 - 476) Budhagupta (476 – 495) Narasimhagupta (495 – ?) Kumaragupta III Vishnugupta (540 – 550) Vainyagupta (550 – ?) Bhanugupta
Beyond Skandgupta the chronology is not well established.
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Chandragupta I (AD 319 - 334)
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Figure - Queen Kumaradevi and King Chandragupta I, depicted on a coin of their son Samudragupta, 335–380.
Chandragupta I was the first independent ruler of Gupta Dynasty.
He married a Lichchhavi Princess.
The Guptas were possibly vaisyas, and hence marriage in a Kshatriya family gave them prestige.
He seems to have been a ruler of considerable importance because he started the Gupta era in A.D. 319-20, which marked the date of his accession.
Later many inscriptions came to be dated in the Gupta era.
Two of the Greatest kings of Guptas were –
Samudragupta
Chandragupta II
Samudragupta (A.D. 335-380)
The Gupta kingdom was enlarged enormously by Chandragupta I’s son and successor Samudragupta (A.D. 335-380).
Samudragupta delighted in Violence and conquest. (Opposite to Asoka’s policy of peace and non-aggression)
His court poet Harishena wrote a glowing account of the military exploits of his patron in Allahabad’s inscription.
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The best source to know about Samudragupta is the Prayag Prashasti in Allahabad.
It is written on an Ashokan pillar. It is of great historical importance as details of three kings are engraved on it.
o 1st - Ashoka, who initially established it.
o 2nd - Samudragupta, who got his account written on it in Sanskrit
o 3rd - Jahangir, who got his account inscribed in Persian.
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Figure Prayag Prashasti
According to Prayag prashasti:
Samudragupta defeated
9 kings of Aryavrata, the most famous of them being Nag dynasty.
18 kings of central India – most famous being Atvika (a forest tribe)
12 kings of Southern India – most famous of them being Pallavas.
Vincent Arthur Smith called him the Napoleon of India.
According to the Prayag Prashasti he returned the kingdoms of most of the kings on three conditions:
The defeated king had to pay tribute to Samudragupta.
The defeated king had to come personally to his court at least once in a year, generally on his birthday.
They had to get their daughter married to Samudragupta.
He minted several type of gold coins with different images. His own image with goddess Lakshmi as he claimed he is an Avatar of Vishnu on earth.
Coin issued by Samudragupta
Images of ‘Garuda’ were also minted.
Images showing him playing Veena and doing Ashvameghayajna.
He was also known as Kaviraja.
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