Commissioned by Mauryan Rulers.

1. PALACES:

• Capital at PATALIPUTRA.

• Wood was principal building material.

• Ashoka’s palace at KUMRAHAR was massive structure. It had cenral pillar hall and was a three storeyed structure.

2 . PILLARS:

• During time of Ashoka, the pillars with inscriptions were installed.

• These were symbols of state power and used to propogate imperial sermons.

• Average of 40 feet height, these pillars were made of chunar sandstone.

• Comprised of four parts :

1. Long shaft

2. Capital on top of shaft ( bell or lotus shaped)

3. Abacus (circular or rectangular base)

4. Animal figure

Example – LAURIYA NANDAN GARH PILLAR in Champaran, SARNATH PILLAR near Varanasi.

3. STUPA:

• These were the structures in which relics and ashes of the dead were kept.

• Ashoka built 84000 stupas.

POPULAR ART:

These art forms were result of individual effort.

1. CAVE ARCHITECTURE

• This period saw emergence of rock cut cave architecture.

• During this period, these caves were generally used as viharas (living places for monks).

• Interior walls were highly polished and had decorative gateways.

Example- BARABAR and NAGARJUNI CAVES in Bihar were formed during time of DASHRATH (grandson of Ashoka).

2. SCULPTURES

• Sculptures were primarily used for decoration of stupas.

• Two famous sculptures of Mauryan period are YAKSHA and YAKSHI. They were related to all three religions – Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism.

• DHAULI ELEPHANT in ODISHA (near BHUBANESHWAR)

3. POTTERY

• Pottery of this period is NORTHERN POLISHED BLACK WARE (NPBW).

• They were characterized by black color and highly lustrous finish.

• These were generally used as luxury items.

MAURYAN ART AND ARCHITECTURE COURT ART | GS ARTICLES