I travelled across India to witness Indian history with my own eyes. Here is the story of India in 50 photos (POST 3 - Classical and Medieval History)
BACKGROUND
About 4 years ago, after I started following Buddhism, I visited Bodh Gaya and decide to do a pilgrimage to the important Buddhist sites gradually. As I spent more time studying Buddhism, I took a bigger interest in Indian history in general and I decided to map them in a chronological order instead of just reading about them. I created a list of 200 places which I believed represented the history of India.
This is a continuation of the 50 photo series as reddit doesn't allow posting more than 20 photos at once.
Link to Post 1 about Prehistory and IVC: https://www.reddit.com/r/IndianHistory/comments/1sbgu5n/i_travelled_across_india_to_witness_indian/
Link to Post 2 about Vedic History and Buddha: https://www.reddit.com/r/IndianHistory/comments/1scd0ln/i_travelled_across_india_to_witness_indian/
PART 4 - THE IMPERIAL AGE
As Buddha was getting older, we see mentions of the imperial ambitions of the Magadha Mahajanapada. The Magadha Mahajanapada was followed by Sishunaga Dynasty which was followed by the Nanda Empire which was followed by the Maurya Empire which is a landmark empire in the history of India ruling over the subcontinent.
The Mauryan Empire is known for its usage of both wood and stone for structures inspired by the Greeks.
Figure 36: A pillar of the Mauryan Palace's 80 pillared hall, Kumrahar Park, Patna
The imperial spread of the empire is best visualized by Ashoka who built religious and secular structures showing the extent of his influence.
Figure 37: An assortment of some Ashokan Pillars and capitals
FROM SYMBOLS TO STATUES
Immediately after Buddhism, we see the birth of Stupas as structures which are the earliest examples of major religious public structures.
It is important to note that the Hindu and Buddhist Statues we see today also didn’t exist. Hinduism was still focused on yagna and nature worship. Hence the earliest religious structures; mostly belonging to Buddhism are aniconic in nature.
Figure 38: Aniconism- Describing Buddha without showing him, 300 BCE, Sanchi
It was only during the Kushana Empire through Mathura Art that we see a shift from aniconism to iconism; where there the symbols of Buddhism in Stupas are replaced with Buddhist statues. This also coincides with the creation of Hindu statues which evolved into the statues of Gods we see today, with the earliest statues being of Vasudeva.
Figure 40: Herakles slaying the Nymean Lion, Mathura Art, 150 CE
Somewhere around 200 BCE, we also start to see the use of natural and artificial caves for the use of creation of an idea which would evolve into the temple we know today. These are known as Chaityas or prayer halls where Buddhist monks would meditate in or pray.
Figure 41: From Aniconism to Iconism
Figure 42: Full Blown display of deities, Ajanta Caves, 600 CE
Figure 43: Vishnu, 600 CE, Badami Caves
Figure 44: Varaha, 650 CE, Ellora Caves
FROM CAVES TO TEMPLES
While such architectural progress was taking place inside caves, some architects were also making rock cut temples wherein the temples were carved out from a rock/mountain. This allowed them to make massive structures which caves couldn’t accommodate and whose height couldn’t be matched by free standing temples.
Figure 45: Kailasha Rock Cut Temple, Ellora
Figure 46: Underground Shiva Temple, Hampi
However, the style of temple which eventually became the standard style as we see today was the free standing temple. Its origin can be attributed to the Gupta Empire at around 500 CE in the North and the Chalukya Empire at 600 CE in the South.
Figure 47: Temple 17, 500 CE, Sanchi
Figure 48: Durga Temple, 650 CE, Aihole, Karnataka
Figure 49: Galaganatha Temple, 700 CE, Patadakkal, Karnataka
Once the architects figured out how to make temples from free standing stone pillars and how to take heavy construction materials to the top, we see a gradual increase in complexity and grandeur even in free standing temples. From this point onwards, we see the divergence in temple architecture; ultimately giving birth to Nagara and Dravida temple architecture. Around 1000 CE onwards we see bigger and taller temples with complex designs.
Figure 50: Viswanatha Temple, Nagara Architecture, Maru Gurjara Style, 900 CE, Khajuraho
Figure 51: Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho
Figure 52: Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, Dravida Architecture, 1000 CE, Thanjavur
Figure 53: Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur
This brings an end to the story of India I wanted to share with the internet. While I have visited places dated between 1100-1900 CE, I have chosen to not share that story due to personal reasons.
I am grateful to my parents for kick starting this journey as kid and to the Buddha who gave me the wisdom to rethink about what it meant be a part of this holy land. I will continue to make some detailed posts about particular sites and topics in the future.
