Key Points

The sixth century BCE saw the rise of new religious movements like Buddhism and Jainism in the Gangetic valley, which opposed the prevailing varna and jati systems.

In the third century BCE, Mauryan emperor Ashoka became a powerful patron of the Buddhist tradition, leading to the construction of numerous stupas, viharas, and pillars.

Mauryan pillars are monolithic, meaning they are rock-cut from a single piece of stone, showcasing carver's skills. This is different from Achaemenian pillars which were constructed in sections by masons.

Erected by Ashoka, these stone pillars are known for their highly polished surface, inscriptions, and a top capital figure like a bull, lion, or elephant standing on an abacus.

The Lion Capital from Sarnath is the finest example of Mauryan sculpture, built by Ashoka to commemorate Buddha's first sermon, known as Dhammachakrapravartana.

The capital, featuring four majestic lions seated back-to-back on a circular abacus, has been adopted as the National Emblem of Independent India.

The circular abacus of the Sarnath capital features a horse, a bull, a lion, and an elephant carved between four chakras, or wheels, each with twenty-four spokes.

The worship of Yakshas and mother-goddesses was prevalent during this period. Monumental images of them have been found at places like Patna, Vidisha, and Mathura.

A life-size, free-standing sandstone sculpture from Didargunj, Patna, this Yakshini holding a chauri (flywhisk) is a prime example of Mauryan art, noted for its polished surface and realistic depiction.

The Lomus Rishi cave at the Barabar hills, near Gaya, is an early example of Mauryan rock-cut architecture, which was donated by Ashoka to the Ajivika sect.

Its facade is distinctively decorated with a semicircular chaitya arch as the entrance, which features a beautifully carved elephant frieze in high relief.

Located in Dhauli, Odisha, this monumental rock-cut sculpture depicts the forepart of an elephant emerging from a rock. It is remarkable for its rounded modeling and linear rhythm.

Stupas were burial mounds constructed over the relics of the Buddha. A typical stupa includes a cylindrical drum, a circular dome called an anda, and a harmika with a chhatra on top.

An early stupa from the third century BCE is found at Bairat in Rajasthan. The Great Stupa at Sanchi was originally built with bricks by Ashoka and later expanded.

In the early phase of Buddhism, the Buddha was not depicted in human form but was represented symbolically through elements like footprints, stupas, a lotus throne, and the chakra.

Events from the life of the Buddha and the Jataka stories, which are tales of his previous births, became important themes for sculptural decoration on stupa railings and gateways.

While Ashoka provided significant royal patronage, later Buddhist art was funded collectively by a wide range of patrons including lay devotees, merchants, guilds, and kings.