Indian Art and Architecture

Indian Art and Architecture
•Early art and architecture based on religion/religious needs
•Architecture reflects the circumambulation necessary during worship
•Use of symbols to identify deities
•Figures: smooth, simplified, idealized based on nature, voluptuous
•Artwork to teach stories of the religion AND to reinforce stories one already
knows
•Dislike of plain/blank spaces= overly decorative, sculptural spaces
•Buddhism:
–Siddhartha (Buddha) born 563 BCE
–Stories from Buddha‟s life often the subject
•Hinduism:
–Not one single deity, numerous gods/goddesses with various attributes
–Emphasis on the senses=„sensual‟
Maya’s Dream,
Birth of the Buddha
Maya’s Dream,
Birth of the Buddha
Birth of the Buddha
Birth of the Buddha
Siddhartha (Buddha) leaving the palace, relief
Siddhartha fasting=
Asceticism
Buddha at Moment of Enlightenment (touching the earth),
Meditating Under Bodhi Tree, Gandharan, 100s
Buddha's 1st Sermon, Turning of the Wheel
Buddha: abhaya mudra (fear not/protection/welcome)
Death of the Buddha= achievement of nirvana
Buddha:
•Earth-touching mudra=moment
enlightenment
•Yoga asana (lotus position)
•Ushnisha- cranial bumb
•Urna- dot
•Elongated earlobes
Buddha= dharma chakra mudra (symbolic of teaching/first sermon)
Lion capital of column, erecte by
Ashoka at Sarnath, India, 250 BCE
Chaitya Hall at Karle
Chaitya Hall at Karle
Chaitya Hall at Karle
Great Stupa at Sanchi, Early Christian Era
chatras
Harmika
stupa dome
Upper-level
walkway
torana
Sanchi north gate
illustrating Jataka
tales, 1c BCE
Yakshi, detail of
eastern gateway;
Great Stupa
Gandharan Budda Sculptures: Hellenistic influences (Greek & Roman styles)
Gandharan
Greek: Polykleitos
Roman
(2nd Cent. BCE)
(450 BCE)
(late 1st Cent)
Buddha, Indra,
Dipankara Gandhara
Roman, Ara Pacis,
Imperial Procession frieze
Standing Buddha from Sarnath, Gupta pd, 474CE
Mathura, India
(2nd Cent)
Ghandhara Style
( late 3rd Cent)
Ghandhara Style
(2nd -3rd Cent)
Gupta Period: Southern India
(4th – 6th Cent)
Sarnath, India
(late 5th Cent)
Four Goals of Humans on Earth:
1.
dharma: righteous living
2.
artha: wealth acquired through the pursuit of a profession
3.
kama: human and sexual love
4.
moksha: spiritual salvation
Sensual artwork= appealing to the senses (not simply erotic)
Yakshi: idealized,
voluptuous female forms
Yashoda Nursing Krishna
Amorous (loving) couple
Yakshi at Great Stupa at Sanchi
Birth of the Buddha
Hindu god
Vishnu w/ attributes & consorts
Vishnu w/ companions
Vishnu Temple at Deogarh: Dedicated to Vishnu
Vehicle (mount) of Vishnu
-has his own powers
Consort (wife) of Vishnu
Consort (wife) of Vishnu and Krishna
Standing Krishna
Vishnu
Avatar of Vishnu
Friend and lover of Krishna
Vishnu on Sesha (5-headed serpent) dreaming the creation
Hindu, Vishnu dreaming creation
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
Buddhist, Teaching Buddha, Gupta
Hindu god:
•
Considered: the destroyer, “Lord of the Dance”
•
Shown with: piled-up hair with a crescent moon, flame of
destruction, drum of creation, vehicle is the bull
Sadashiva
Shiva
Nataraja
Shiva as Nataraja:
“Lord of the Dance”
Shiva Nataraja,
Chola Bronze,
11th century
Shiva as Nataraja:
“Lord of the Dance”
Shiva as Nataraja:
“Lord of the Dance”
Seated Nandi
Nandi facing Shiva temple, 7-8c,
Shivalinga (face).
Found in the garba griha (“womb chamber”) of temple
Shiva temple
Linga found in the garba
griha (“womb chamber”) of
temple
Vishvanatha:
“Lord of the Universe”,
Name for Shiva
Northern Temple
Nandi looking up at Shiva & Parvati
(Nandi- devoted bull vehicle)
Shiva w/ Parvati & Skanda
-seated in lalitasana position
Ganesha w his wives
Dancing Ganesha
Hindu goddess
Goes by many names:
•
Shakti, Devi, Parvati (consort of Shiva), Uma (another consort of
Shiva), Lakshmi (consort of Vishnu)
•
Killed the buffalo demon, Mahisha
Durga Worshipped by Triad
Devi constituted from anger of gods
Durga defeating Mahisha: Buffalo demon
Durga & Mahisha, 11c
Durga Killing Buff Demon, 15c
Durga Standing on Mahisha
Standing Parvati
(consort of Shiva)
Chola dynasty, 10c
•Consort (wife) of Vishnu and Krishna
•the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity
(both material and spiritual), light, wisdom,
fortune, fertility, generosity and courage;
and the embodiment of beauty, grace and
charm.
Who is this?
Who is this?
Who is this?
Who is this?
Who is this?