Famous sculptures in India

 FOR MORE UPDATES, JOIN US ON TELEGRAM : https://t.me/notesandknowledgehindienglish

 Also Read : What is Sculpture, its meaning and definition Types-of-sculptures-methods-and-process

Famous sculptures in India:

Sculptures were the first kind of "Art form" that came into existence. Since the humans started to settle, they decided to make houses and those beautiful mud abodes( home/houses), were nothing less than sculptures. 

And in Harappan Civilization, the abodes became more oriented, in that period making of bricks has been started. Later, sculptures became the means of depicting the culture and lifestyle of a place.

Notes And Knowledge

Some of the famous Sculptures in India are as follows:-

1. The Dancing Girl, Mohen Jo Daro, c. 2500 BC-

The statue of the famous 'Dancing Girl, found to be in the times of Harappa. 

The statue, in bronze, is 10.5 centimetres (4.1 in) tall, and depicts a naked young woman or girl with stylized proportions standing in a confident, naturalistic pose. 

Dancing Girl is well-regarded as a work of art, and is a cultural artefact of the Indus Valley Civilisation. It is one of the oldest and magnificent artwork till date.

Also Read : Mauryan-empire

2.  Ashoka Pillar, Sarnath, 3^rd Century B.C.-

The most celebrated capital (the four-lion one at Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh)) erected by Emperor Ashoka circa 250 BC, also called the "Ashoka Column" . 

Four lions are seated back to back. At present the Column remains in the same place whereas the Lion Capital is at the Sarnath Museum. This Lion Capital of Ashoka from Sarnath has been adopted as the National Emblem of India and the wheel "Ashoka Chakra" from its base was placed onto the centre of the flag of India.

Notes And Knowledge

3.  Buddha Statue, Sarnath-

Sculpture of Gautama Buddha delivering his first sermon in the deer park at Sarnath. He preached the Four Noble Truths, the middle path and the Eightfold Path. 

In the statue, he is seated in Padmasana with his right hand turning the Dharmachakra, resting on a Tri-ratna symbol, flanked on either side by a deer. 

4.   Nataraj, Chola Bronze Sculpture-

The famous Shiva Dance- Nataraja and the bronze sculpture, of the Natatraj of the Chola period is one of the most significant religious sculptures, and beholding the stature (quality) even today.

Also Read : Meaning-and-Definition-of-Arts

5. Sanchi Stupa-

         The oldest living stone structure in India, the Great Stupa of Sanchi was         initially commissioned by the Mauryan king Ashoka, who was an ardent believer      in Buddhism, in the 3rd century BCE.

 It is located in Sanchi in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh. The main structure is basically a hemispherical brick building which covers relics of the Buddha. The stupa is crowned by a parasol-like structure called the chhatra.

Along with the main structure, a pillar made of finely polished sandstone was also erected. There are also the remains of an Ashoka pillar (four lions) on the site. According to Ashokavandana, a narrative about the life and reign of King Ashoka, the stupa may have been vandalized at some point in time, most probably around the time of the Shunga emperor Pushyamitra, who had overtaken the Mauryan empire as an army general. Pushyamitra is rumoured to have destroyed the stupa and his son, Agnimitra, to have restored it. The complex flourished until the 11th century BCE and is now a major tourist attraction.

6. Ajanta Caves-

             The Ajanta Caves are a group of around 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves in the shape of a horseshoe in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. 

They were constructed some time in the 2nd century BCE and include cave paintings and rock-cut sculptures which are considered as some of India’s best surviving specimens of art and sculpting. 

According to UNESCO, the caves were built in groups of two; one group in the 2nd century BCE and the other between 460 and 480 CE. 

The cave paintings and sculptures that one can see in the Ajanta Caves inspired a lot of the later art that was prevalent in India. 

Many caves depict the stories of the past lives and rebirths of the Buddha. Some of the highlights of the caves are the Reclining Buddha in cave number 26 and the numerous vivid ceiling paintings.

Each cave has its own unique characteristics which make it difficult to write about the Ajanta Caves as a whole.

 The caves are also a major tourist attraction.

They are under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Notes And Knowledge

7. Kailesh Temple-

                 The Kailasa Temple, a part of the Ellora Caves in Aurangabad district of          Maharashtra, India, is one of the biggest rock-cut structures in India. 

It is a gigantic megalith, having been carved out of just one single rock. The Kailasa Temple, also known as the Kailasanatha Temple is present in cave number 16 of the 34 cave temples and monasteries of the Ellora Caves. 

Its construction is generally attributed to the 8th century Rashtrakuta King, Krishna I in the 756-773 CE. The architecture indicates the influence of the Pallava and Chalukya styles and varies from the generally prevalent architecture styles of the Deccan region in those times. 

It is considered a remarkable feat because of its architecture, sculptural treatment and the sheer size. 

 Important points about Indian sculpture:

•       Stone and bronze carvings are the earliest sculpture known from India.

•       As in painting and other arts of India, the mystical dance-like figures, gods and   goddesses, and symbols are frequently depicted in sculpture.

•      The art and culture of India influenced much of Asia and other parts of the     world.

•      Sculptures as well as intricately carved panels can be found in the temples and caves of India
•    Indian art encompasses a huge amount of work over thousands of years.

•    Although the art developed and changed over those years, many aspects remained the same.

•      Two things you need to remember about Indian art are the intricate detail and the mystic qualities.