Foreign Influence on Mauryan Sculpture

• The influence of the Achaemenid Empire is visible in the design of Ashoka’s edicts, yet there is a notable difference between the Mauryan and Achaemenid pillars. While Achaemenid pillars were constructed in separate pieces by masons, Mauryan pillars were carved from solid rock.

Stupa Sculpture of Mauryan Empire

• The stupas, which are solid dome-like structures made from bricks and stones, were also a significant development during the Mauryan period. They were initially created as symbols of artistic tradition and served as a prominent feature in the Mauryan Dynasty’s architectural and religious legacy.
• The greatest instances of the architecture of the Mauryan period is the great Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh, surrounded by exquisitely carved stone railings around it.
• It is also famous and notable due to the four gateways called Toranas, since before this there was no such tradition of carving gateways. These gateways are elaborately carved and depict the various scenes from the life of Buddha and also about the lifestyle of people in that era.

Pillar Sculptures of Mauryan Empire

• The Pillars were one of the major works accomplished by Emperor Ashoka.
• The most famous Lion Capital (pillar showing fourlions) erected by Ashoka at Sarnath in sandstone realistically represents the artistic achievements of Indian artists and patronage of their masters.
• Two kinds of stone had been employed in the creation of the pillars which consisted of fine grained hard sandstone of Chunar region close to Varanasi as well as spotted white and red sandstone belonging to Mathura.
• Inscriptions containing principles of ‘Dhamma’ or righteousness were embedded on all these pillars. The Lion Capital at Lauria Nandangarh and Bull Capital of Rampurva are impressive sculptural art which evolved during the Mauryan Empire.

Figurine Sculptures of Mauryan Empire

• The whisk- bearer of Didarganj, female ‘Yakshi’ figurine of Besnagar and the male statue at Parkham are some of the famous figurine sculptures of Mauryan Empire.
• Numerous terracotta idols were also sculpted by the artisans and clay idols of Mother Goddesses have been discovered by some excavations conducted at Ahicchatra.
• The rock cut sculpture of Elephant in Dhauli, near Bhubneshwar in Odisha represents the fore-part of an elephant carved over the Edicts of Asoka, including the two specially meant for Kalinga.