The document discusses Mauryan art and architecture under the patronage of the Mauryan rulers from the 4th century BCE. It details the various architectural works like palaces described as magnificent structures and pillars that served as symbols of the empire and carried edicts of Ashoka. Stupas that were burial mounds for Buddha are described along with examples like Sanchi Stupa. Cave architecture is mentioned as living quarters for monks. Sculptures during this period moved from symbols to depictions of Buddha in various mudras or symbolic hand gestures.

1. MAURYAN ART AND ARCHITECTURE
The project is submitted to the Bengaluru City University. For the
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master Of
Arts.
Paper name: History And Computing
Bengaluru city University
Central College Campus, Dr Ambedkar Rd,
Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001
SUBMITTED BY
VARUN P
2ND YEAR (M.A)
HS190411
Government First Grade College &Post Graduate Centre
Yealahanka-560064
SUBMITTED TO
BHARATHI H.M
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Government First Grade College &Post Graduate Centre

2. DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the project entitled “Mauryan Art and Architecture” which is being
submitted as “Picture Project” 4th semester in Master Of Arts (History) is an authentic record of my
genuine work done under the guidance of Asst Prof Bharathi H.M Dept. Of History, Government First
Grade College &Post Graduate Centre Yealahanka.
Place: Yealahanka
Date:
VARUN P
2ND YEAR (M.A)
HS190411
Government First Grade College &Post Graduate Centre Yealahanka-560064

3. CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Varun.P of Government First Grade College &Post Graduate Centre,
Yealahanka has successfully completed the project work titled MAURYAN ART AND
ARCHITECTURE in For the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master
Of Arts.This project report is the record of authentic work carried out by him. He has
worked under my guidance.
Place: Yealahanka
Date:
BHARATHI H.M (M.A B.Ed M.Phil)
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Government First Grade College &Post Graduate Centre Yealahanka-560064

4. The project work titled Mauryan Art and Architecture in
For the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of Master Of Arts and evaluation of the paper History And
Computing have been recommended for submission.
GUIDE H.O.D
PRINCIPAL

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We express our sincere indebtedness towards our Asst Prof. H.M Bharathi
Ma’am, for her invaluable guidance, suggestions and supervision throughout
the work. Without her kind patronage and guidance the project would not have
taken shape. We would also like to thank our HOD Dr. Narayanappa Sir
Department of History G.F.G.C Yelahanka for his expert advice and counseling
from time to time. We owe sincere thanks to all the faculty members in the
department of History for their kind guidance and encouragement from time to
time.
Date:
Place:

6. Mauryan Art
The Buddhism and Jainism, which were part
of the shramana tradition, in 4th century BCE,
the religious and social scenario of gangetic
valley began to undergo changes. As both the
religions were opposed to the ‘varna’ and ‘jati’
system of Vedic age, they gained patronage
of the kshatriya rulers who had grown wary of
brahmanical supremacy. As the Mauryas
established their power, we see a clear
demarcation of architecture and sculpture
developed under state patronage and those
that were developed by individual initiative.
Thus, Mauryan art can be classified as
follows:

7. Mauryan Art and Architecture-
Mauryan Court Art: Implies architectural works
(in the form of pillars, stupas and palaces)
commissioned by Mauryan rulers for political
as well as religious reasons.
Palaces: Greek historian, Megasthenes,
described the palaces of the Mauryan empire
as one of the greatest creations of mankind
and Chinese traveler Fa Hien called Mauryan
palaces as god gifted monuments.

8. Pillars
Ashoka pillars, (chunar
sandstone), as a
symbol of the state
assumed a great
significance in the
entire Mauryan Empire.

9. Objectives
The main objective was to
disseminate the Buddhist
ideology and court orders in
the entire Mauryan empire.
Language:While most
Ashoka pillar edicts were in
Pali and Prakrit language,
few were written in Greek or
Aramaic language also.

10. Mauryan pillars mainly comprise of four parts:
1.Shaft:A long shaft formed the base and was
made up of a single piece of stone or monolith.
2. Capital:On top of shaft lay the capital,
which was either lotus-shaped or bell-shaped.
3.Abacus: Above the capital, there was a
circular or rectangular base known as the
abacus
4.Capital Figure: All the capital figures
(usually animals like a bull, lion, elephant, etc)
are vigorous and carved standing on a square
or circular abacus.

11. Pillar Edicts and Inscriptions
Ashoka’s 7 pillar edicts: These were found at Topra (Delhi),
Meerut, Kausambhi, Rampurva, Champaran, Mehrauli:
Pillar Edict I: Asoka’s principle of protection to people.
Pillar Edict II:Defines Dhamma as the minimum of sins, many
virtues, compassion, liberality, truthfulness, and purity.

12. Pillar Edict III: Abolishes sins of harshness, cruelty, anger,
pride, etc.
Pillar Edict IV: Deals with duties of Rajukas.
Pillar Edict V: List of animals and birds which should not be
killed on some days and another list of animals which have not
to be killed at all.
Pillar Edict VI: Dhamma policy
Pillar Edict VII: Works done by Asoka for Dhamma policy.

13. Minor Pillar Inscriptions
Rummindei Pillar
Inscription:
Asokha’s visit to
Lumbini and exemption of
Lumbini from tax.

14. Major Pillar Inscriptions Sarnath Lion Capital:
Near Varanasi as built by Ashoka in
commemoration of Dhammachakrapravartana
or The first sermon of Buddha.
Vaishali Pillar, Bihar, single lion, with no
inscription.
Sankissa Pillar, Uttar Pradesh
Lauriya-Nandangarth, Champaran, Bihar.
Lauriya-Araraj, Champaran, Bihar Allahabad
pillar, Uttar Pradesh.

15. STUPAS:
Stupas were burial mounds
in India from the vedicperiod.
Stupas consist of a
cylindrical drum with circular
anda and a harmika and a
chhatra on the top. Anda:
Hemispherical mound
symbolic of the mound of dirt
used to cover Buddha’s
remains (in many stupas
actual relics were used).

16. Harmika: Square railing on top of the mound.
Chhatra: Central pillar supporting a
triple umbrella form

17. Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh is the most famous
of the Ashokan stupas
Piprahwa Stupa:in Uttar Pradesh is the oldest one.

18. Stupa at Bairat, Rajasthan: Grand stupa with a circular mound and
a circumambulatory path.
Depiction of Buddha at Stupas Symbols:In the early stages, Buddha was represented
through symbols that represented the different events of Buddha’s life like footprints, lotus
thrones, chakras, stupas, etc.

19. Cave Architecture:During the Mauryan period, caves
were generally used as viharas, i.e. living quarters,
by the Jain and Buddhist monks.

20. Nagaragunja Caves:
In Bihar were formed during the time of Dasharath, grandson of Ashoka , Gopi
Cave, Bahayak Cave and Vedantika Cave.
Lomas Rishi Cave:

21. School of Arts

22. Abahayamudra: Indicates fearlessness
Dhyana mudra: Indicates meditative position
Dharmachakramudra: Means turning the wheel of
law
Bhumisparshamudra: Touching the earth with right
hand and calling it to witness truth
MUDRAS OF THE GREAT BUDDHA

23. Bibliography
Singh, Upinder. A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India.
Delhi: Pearson Education India, 2009
Thapar, Romila. Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300.
Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003.
Metropolitan Museum Website-
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/maur/hd_maur.htm