Ch. 6. Religion, art and Architecture

1. Religion: Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism

2. Literature3. Art, Architecture

Religion• Evidence of East-West understanding is clear in the religious ideas• Doctrines of Manichaeans, Gnostics and Neo-Platonists are some

of the examples• Certain aspects of life of the Christ (supernatural birth and the

temptation of the evil) are so closely parallel to the events in the legends of the life of the Buddha that it is difficult to avoid suspecting some indirect borrowing.

• The observances of Essenes (of whom the Christ was said to be one) indicate knowledge of Indian religious belief and practice in the mediterranean world.

• Childhood of Krishna and Childhood of Christ also show resemblances

• The interaction was two sided- Influence of Zoroastrianism on Buddhism

Buddhism

• Buddhism is at the background of much of the artistic and literary creation of this period (200 B.C.E -300 C.E).

• Series of councils (4 Buddhist councils) were held to resolve disputes over issues of belief and theology

• Buddha changed- although he opposed deification- he wad deified

• Stories of his past births were composed

• Two new sects emerged• Hinayana- lesser vehicle- nirvana as one

reaches enlightenment• Mahayana- Nirvana with the help of future

Buddhas• Missions were sent to many East Asian and

South East Asian countries• Almost all the countries in Asia received

Buddhism at this time• Thailand, Burma, Tibet still remain to be major

Buddhist countries.

Nagarjuna

• Sunyavada- the middleway• His discussion with Menander are well

known• New philosophy in Buddhism• Also resided in Satavahan court• Written a series of letters to Gautamiputra

Satakarni• Lived in a monastery near- Amarawathi- in

Nagarjuna konda.

Bodhisattwa

• Not a Buddha yet- a person who postpones his enlightenment- Buddhahood- to attain liberation for the humans through his own suffering.

• Number of Boddhisattwas and stories in Buddhism

Buddha-Bodhisattwa

Jainism

• Divided into two sects-• Digambaras (sky clad)• Shvetambaras ( whit-clad)• Not theological division, but the question of

practice• Western India• Also in the south• Not a huge following like Buddhism- but

remained popular among dedicated group

Hinduism

• The theology and pantheon evolves• Hindu trinity• Brahma- Creator- not many temples- asceticism• Vishnu- Balancer- numerous temples• Siva- destroyer- numerous temples, worshipped

as a linga (phallus) also. Fertility symbolism in this worship- the male and female energies of the universe.

• Practice and ritual important aspect of the religion

Bhakti= personal religion

• from community ritual to personal worship

• Bhagavadgita- the holy text of Hinduism

• Christianity enters India

• St. Thomas- enters India- 52 C.E.

Literature

• Kavya (long poem) are written during this period.• Tamil poem- Shilappadigaram is an outstanding

poem of this time. • Story of the husband who neglects his wife for

the courtesan- ends in the tragic death of the three- but the wife and husband are united in the heaven.

• Manimekhalai- sequel to the first story. Daughter of the hero and courtesan.

• Drama (nataka) survived in the plays of Ashvaghosha and Bhasa

Drama

• Bhasa’s plays- stories from Mahabharata, Ramayana

• Ashwaghosha- for wider audiences- may have been played at the religious assemblies.

• Bharata- study of dramatics (Natya sastra) laid down the techniques and rules of dramatics.

Art

• Gandhara art

• North-West India

• Indo-Greek mixture

• Kushana patronage

• Buddha is depicted - similar to Apollo

Mathura Art

• Gangetic basin and western India• Typical Indian art- • Buddha and Mahabharata and Ramayana

subjects• With India dress, and curly hair.• Also Jain art• First Buddha image

Mathura Buddha

Amaravathi art

• Satavahanas and Sungas

• Buddhist subjects

• Typical dress and depictions of India

Stupa worship

Architecture

• Stupa=mound

• Fenced path

• Railing around it – the four cardinal points- gateways

• Sanchi and Barhut stupas are well known examples of this period.

Ajanta Cave

Ajanta Buddha

Bamiyan Buddha

Chaitya= Worshipping hall

• Barrel vault root- elongated structure

• Karle and Kanheri caves

• Miniature stupa at the center

• Ajanta caves

• Jains also built cave temples

Ajanta- Buddhas

Worshipping headdress

Stupa image

Stupa parts

Vihara=Monastery

• Where the monks stayed

• A series of rooms with a prayer hall (chaitya)

• Nasik caves

• But in other places as well

Karle cave