Indian Art and Architecture · 2012-01-10 · Indian Art and Architecture •Early art and architecture based on religion/religious needs •Architecture reflects the circumambulation

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

torana

stupa dome

Upper-level

walkway

Sanchi north gate

illustrating Jataka

tales, 1c BCE

Yakshi, detail of

eastern gateway;

Great Stupa

Gandharan Budda Sculptures: Hellenistic influences (Greek & Roman styles)

Gandharan (2nd Cent. BCE)

Greek: Polykleitos (450 BCE)

Roman (late 1st Cent)

Roman, Ara Pacis,

Imperial Procession frieze

Buddha, Indra,

Dipankara Gandhara

Standing Buddha from Sarnath, Gupta pd, 474CE

Mathura, India

(2nd Cent) Ghandhara Style

( late 3rd Cent)

Gupta Period: Southern India

(4th – 6th Cent)

Ghandhara Style

(2nd -3rd 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 Buddhist, Teaching Buddha, Gupta

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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”

Nandi facing Shiva temple, 7-8c,

Seated Nandi

Shivalinga (face).

Found in the garba griha (“womb chamber”) of temple

Shiva temple

Linga found in the garba

griha (“womb chamber”) of

temple

Northern Temple

Vishvanatha:

“Lord of the Universe”,

Name for Shiva

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?