🦁 Chapter 4: Mauryan Art

Ashoka Pillars, Stupas & Edicts (321-185 BC)

📖 Introduction

The Mauryan Empire (321-185 BC) witnessed the emergence of imperial art and architecture.

Emperor Ashoka (269-232 BC) was the greatest patron of art
Mauryan art is characterized by monumental pillars, stupas, rock edicts, and palaces
Court art (royal patronage) with high technical skill
Influenced by Persian Achaemenid art (polished stone, bell-shaped capitals)

🏛️ Ashoka Pillars Super PYQ

                Purpose: To propagate Dhamma (moral & ethical teachings)
                
Material: Chunar sandstone (from near Varanasi)
                
Feature: Monolithic (single piece of stone), highly polished surface

📐 Structure of Ashoka Pillar:

Component	Description
Shaft	Tall, tapering column (40-50 feet high)
Capital	Top decorative portion
Ab acus	Inverted lotus (Persian influence)
Animal Figure	Lion, Bull, Elephant, Horse
Dharma Chakra	Wheel on top (now lost in most pillars)

🦁 Famous Ashoka Pillars: Super PYQ

Sarnath Lion Capital National Emblem of India
- 4 lions standing back-to-back (originally had Dharma Chakra on top)
- Abacus shows: Horse, Bull, Elephant, Lion (separated by Dharma Chakras)
- Below abacus: Inverted lotus
- Inscription: "Satyameva Jayate" (from Mundaka Upanishad)
- Found at Sarnath (where Buddha gave his first sermon)
Lauriya-Nandangarh Pillar (Bihar)
- Single lion capital
- Well-preserved, still standing at original location
Rampurva Pillar (Bihar)
- Bull capital (now in National Museum, Delhi)
Sanchi Pillar (MP)
- Lion capital (4 lions, similar to Sarnath)

                💡 Unique Features:
                Mirror polish (Mauryan polish) - still shines after 2000+ years!
No joints - monolithic structure
Animal figures are realistic & naturalistic

            

📜 Ashoka's Edicts PYQ

Types of Edicts:

Rock Edicts - Carved on large rock surfaces (14 major rock edicts)
Pillar Edicts - Inscribed on pillars (7 pillar edicts)
Cave Inscriptions - Found in Barabar caves (Bihar)

Script & Language:

Brahmi script (Most edicts, left-to-right)
Kharosthi script (Northwest region, right-to-left)
Greek & Aramaic (Kandahar, Afghanistan)

Content Themes:

Dhamma (moral teachings: non-violence, respect for elders, truth)
Conquest of Kalinga & remorse
Religious tolerance
Social welfare (hospitals, wells, shade trees)

                📍 Famous Rock Edict: 13th Rock Edict describes Kalinga War & Ashoka's
                remorse
            

🕉️ Mauryan Stupas

Ashoka is credited with building 84,000 stupas across India (according to tradition)
Most famous: Sanchi Stupa (commissioned by Ashoka)
Originally a small brick stupa, later enlarged by Shungas
Contains relics of Buddha and his disciples

🏰 Mauryan Palaces & Caves

1️⃣ Kumrahar Palace (Pataliputra):

Remains of Mauryan palace found at Kumrahar (Patna, Bihar)
80-pillared hall with polished sandstone pillars
Described by Megasthenes in his book "Indika"
Influenced by Persian Achaemenid architecture

2️⃣ Barabar Caves (Bihar):

Oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India
Donated by Ashoka to Ajivika sect
Famous for highly polished interior walls (Mauryan polish)
Caves: Lomas Rishi, Sudama, Karan Chaupar

⚖️ Mauryan vs Persian Art

Feature	Mauryan Art	Persian (Achaemenid) Influence
Pillar Capital	Animal figures (realistic)	Bell-shaped capital
Polish	Mirror-like Mauryan polish	Polished stone technique borrowed
Monolithic	Single stone pillars	Similar technique
Animal Style	Indian (naturalistic, muscular)	Persian (stylized, stiff)

                Conclusion: While Mauryan art borrowed techniques from Persia (polish,
                monolithic pillars), the artistic expression (realistic animals, Buddhist themes) is
                uniquely Indian.
            

🎯 PYQ Sniper Shots

Q: What is the National Emblem of India?
A: Sarnath Lion Capital (Ashoka Pillar)

Q: Which stone was used for Ashoka Pillars?
A: Chunar Sandstone (from near Varanasi)

Q: What does the abacus of Sarnath Lion Capital show?
A: Horse, Bull, Elephant, Lion (separated by Dharma Chakras)

Q: Which script was used in most Ashoka Edicts?
A: Brahmi script (left-to-right)

Q: Which rock edict describes Kalinga War?
A: 13th Rock Edict

Q: Barabar Caves were donated to which sect?
A: Ajivika sect

Q: UPPCS 2019: Sarnath Lion Capital has how many lions?
A: 4 lions (standing back-to-back)

Q: What is "Mauryan Polish"?
A: Mirror-like polish on stone surfaces (still shines after 2000+ years)

Q: Where is the motto "Satyameva Jayate" from?
A: Mundaka Upanishad (inscribed below Sarnath Lion Capital)

UPPCS Art & Culture • From Your Class Notes