{"id":3556,"date":"2026-01-05T21:27:53","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T15:57:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=3556"},"modified":"2026-01-06T12:21:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T06:51:01","slug":"mauryan-art-architecture-and-literature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/mauryan-art-architecture-and-literature\/","title":{"rendered":"Mauryan Art, Architecture and Literature"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>Types of Mauryan Art<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>Mauryan art\u00a0is divided into two types, which are Court art and Popular art<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Court art<\/strong>: These art forms exemplify or illustrate a royal court's elegant tastes or customs. These are often opposed to folk art.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Popular art:\u00a0<\/strong>It is an art form intended to be received and appreciated by ordinary people. Examples being any dance, literature, music, theatre etc.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/ny9CCDPbUc411upZX413G8NQb-LNOaLUdcdpzS8jOq9sy-_yWt--aLMr-mNA4vd3Pfb6KYNhbf3Qvin_xOOfQwfhWw3i4DCsyHhBAWWyD05N-M5wp6wvF_ue-_ZyoZzIto92jeaKnVCb5Qe-Q540yQ\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<h2><strong>Features of Mauryan Art and Architecture<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>By the fourth century BC, the Mauryas established their power in the Magadha region. By the third century BC, a large part of India was under Mauryan control.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Mauryan art and architecture were a culmination of a long<strong>\u00a0movement which began indigenously.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Mauryan art was\u00a0<strong>different from the earlier art traditions<\/strong>\u00a0in that it departed from the use of wood, sun-dried brick, clay, ivory and metal to that of stone in huge dimensions.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>One of the important features of Mauryan art is its\u00a0<strong>Achaemenid connection<\/strong>. Mauryan dominions under Chandragupta Maurya touched Afghanistan and what had been erstwhile Achaemenid possessions.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Stambha architecture which had its beginning in wood, was transformed into a new medium, Stone. Gradually it acquired capitals and bases, with the shaft also becoming eight or sixteen-sided.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>Mauryan Art and Architecture<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>The Mauryas made a remarkable contribution to art and architecture.They introduced stone masonry on a wide scale. It can be understood from different forms of art and architecture like caves, stupas, pillars and palaces.<\/p>\r\n<h3><strong>Palace<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<figure>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><strong>Mauryan Palace\u00a0(Eighty pillared hall and Arogya Vihar, Pataliputra)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/Y-Dy9e4ovTUtDu0wbBm3E3911Baszpfm0cAadOOdEvPez1IPkY5b38L58hmP3U6t7UFBcU1d4Xbnl7Ak3EYi4I091NtV0TsOP88TBJqlkySC8OxQT9bzAwsabTbof2t_zkK-cPcSoZl9Nu6KidRkHA\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It was\u00a0<strong>inspired by Achaemenid palace art.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>The Greek historian\u00a0<strong>Megasthenese\u00a0<\/strong>described the palaces of the Mauryan empire as one of the greatest creations of mankind.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The Chinese traveller\u00a0<strong>Fa-Hian<\/strong>\u00a0called Mauryan palaces god-gifted monuments or monuments built by gods, not humans.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>About<strong>\u00a0Pataliputra,\u00a0<\/strong>Megasthenese mentions that towns were surrounded by\u00a0<strong>wooden walls<\/strong>\u00a0where a number of holes were created to let the arrow pass by.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The town had 64 entrances and 570 towns.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The royal assembly building in<strong>\u00a0Kumhrar<\/strong>\u00a0was a\u00a0<strong>hall with 80 pillars<\/strong>. Its roof and floor were made of wood.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The hall has been variously assigned as the palace of Asoka, the audience hall, the throne room of Mauryas, a pleasure hall, or the conference hall for the third Buddhist council held at Pataliputra in 3rd Century B.C. during the reign of Ahsoka.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Patanjali\u00a0<\/strong>also mentioned Chandragupta\u201fs Rajsabha in his Mahabhashya.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Arrian\u00a0<\/strong>(a Greek historian) compared Chandragupta\u201fs palace with the buildings of Susa and Ekbatan.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<h3><strong>Pillars<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Mauryan pillars are\u00a0<strong>free-standing, tall, well proportionate,\u00a0<\/strong>with tapering shafts and monolithic. They are made of sandstone which was quarried at Chunar.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The pillars have a lustrous polish.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The erection of\u00a0<strong>pillars\u00a0<\/strong>was prevalent in the\u00a0<strong>Achaemenian empire<\/strong>.\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Difference between both:\u00a0<\/strong>Mauryan pillars are rock-cut, thus displaying the carver\u2019s skills, whereas the Achaemenian pillars are constructed in pieces by a mason.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Stone pillars were erected by Ashoka, which have been found in north India with inscriptions engraved by them.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The top portion of the pillar was carved with capital figures like the bull, the lion, the elephant, etc.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<figure>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\"><strong>Pillar<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\"><strong>Description<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Sarnath\u00a0(Lion Capital) (Uttar Pradesh)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/NZE5iP_g485NLR80blt0aHuNZ6YGY6VxaDOHsuH_WrIeaseSS_71libCP7TKF2pK4xHMIbRmc3_X92seKyvSmwSOUGGFer0TuAQMFV5F3Q57dEksGsQAR8X_Q0YIBkAVqmlRdDXBrUP3f5awY3TZrw\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Known as the Mauryan pillar capi.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Roaring lion:<\/strong>\u00a0It is carved with notable voluminous roaring lion figures firmly standing on a circular abacus.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Abacus:\u00a0<\/strong>It depicts a\u00a0<strong>chakra (wheel)\u00a0<\/strong>with twenty-four spokes in all four directions.\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It is carved with the figures of\u00a0<strong>a horse, a bull, a lion and an elephant between every chakra\u00a0<\/strong>in vigorous movement, executed precisely.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>A bell-shaped lotus:\u00a0<\/strong>It forms the lowest portion of the pillar.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>This pillar capital symbolises\u00a0<strong>Dhammachakrapravartana\u00a0<\/strong>(the first sermon by the Buddha).<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It is our national emblem adopted by the Government of India on 26 January 1950.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Hsuen Tsang:<\/strong>\u00a0Mentions of a seventy-foot high pillar with shining polish standing at the same site.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Lauriya Nandangarh\u00a0(Bihar)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/ej7cLAEUoSglZhe60txbOW6V3zLJvN_dj-PuAZl1FYNGEM9L6OTY8VLIlKNoyzxtUTA-mo420HA7b9MUtBLWgNgmGHky5kKd8d-XYWqSd67RBD1YZHJV8qJ7w1sK7L_KUsE-xHnpHp8ZdL7P54f3gw\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>The top of the pillar is bell-shaped with a circular abacus.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It has six edicts inscribed on its polished stone shaft.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Situated on the\u00a0<strong>trade route\u00a0<\/strong>that connects the eastern Gangetic basin with western Asia.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The lotus bell capital supports a drum carved with a row of geese. A seated lion crowns the capital.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The pillar reveals the\u00a0<strong>Achaemenid and Hellenistic influences<\/strong>\u00a0on the Indian stone carving tradition.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Emperor Ashoka commemorated the site of Lauriya Nandangarh with a<strong>\u00a0Dhamma Stambhadorned<\/strong>\u00a0with a single Lion Capital at the top.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Rampurva\u00a0(Bull Capital) (Delhi)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/e8EvVDQxX8i7zIN3MLKL8i0XrfBB603iMoYaQvGtz2tymiN-L4NtEGo7727_W8SReAK9epJDzkMB67FtOIcTWP8-g8OvocTPhoR8kTl03yuPXyRbzdgPGFt-T-9IilagF5S0wORK9eWxIy5cpqWVLA\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It is a realistic depiction of a\u00a0<strong>Zebu bull.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>It is a mixture of Indian and Persian elements.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The motifs on the base, atop the inverted lotus, the rosette, the palmette, and the acanthus ornaments are not Indian features.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Rashtrapati Bhavan houses the magnificent sandstone capital.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Prayag -Prashasti (Allahabad Pillar) (Uttar Pradesh)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/snAaGWs24swX_u-vRdr2KnXn6FSaD1Drs_LTUl7O9Tmkovl24U-WUwHoVMxfcKmm_4-8Ho5Ty4CJiX_CTYc-kLy8TcRZZKfp27HJyoq9SbbJr_p91ALRzxn1wk2xQo0-xgK1Bd5WMDUsVI36LhpDcg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It carries major pillar edicts from 1 to 6.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It also contains the schism edict of Ashoka.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Inscriptions of Gupta Emperor Samudragupta and Mughal Emperor Jehangir are also attributed to this pillar.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The inscription mentions that Samudragupta defeated twelve rulers in his South India expedition.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<h3><strong>Stupas<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Due to the popularity of Buddhism and Jainism, stupas were constructed on a large scale.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Stupas were constructed over the relics of the Buddha.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<figure>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><strong>Sanchi Stupa\u00a0(Madhya Pradesh)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/Cx4Pby9I_FVwGGl9IQQRlGzsaAKocMprI28DjdlyIjpO6i9Kgo4VRxMIyTWByk4a-rciOClLNOT4pvU7c3-e88EzzVuQoovpfQJPSm6QsIauwHJaZXdIk_VA62phaqtLG6LXX-DKJjCs7ZnGYN6JSg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>The great stupa at Sanchi was\u00a0<strong>built with bricks during the time of Ashoka\u00a0<\/strong>and later was covered with stones.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It was enlarged using local sandstone during the Sunga period.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The\u00a0<strong>elaborately-carved gateways\u00a0<\/strong>were added later (by Satvahanas) in the 1st century BC. It depicts\u00a0<strong>Jataka stories.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>The main body of the stupa symbolises the cosmic mountain.\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It is topped by a \u2018harmika\u2019 to hold the triple umbrella, or \u2018chhatraveli\u2019, representing the three jewels of Buddhism \u2013<strong>\u00a0the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The reliefs of Sanchi display the following quite prominently.\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>The<strong>\u00a0four great events of the Buddha's life<\/strong>- birth, attainment of knowledge, dharma chakra - pravartana and Mahaparinirvana.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Representations of birds and animals<\/strong>\u00a0like lions, elephants, camels, ox, etc., are abundant.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Some animals are shown with riders in heavy coats and boots.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Lotus and wishing vines and<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Unique representation of forest animals.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Bharhut Stupa (Madhya Pradesh)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/Q1moq9bhVDy_S0Rgr-AQ8CjzmoXewprBdG7udhVkeJDGFTD0mV6xlpCdSAwUcyqhEIbD7hgI5xz9F_8WKwSQE0AfT4VQ0Fbe-867bAzpEga6f54FVUPIDyY29jDH01DGDjO4_HO7By4QcQmCCnc4tA\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Originally\u00a0<strong>built by Ashoka but enlarged later\u00a0<\/strong>by Shungas.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It is important for its sculptures.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The important\u00a0<strong>features:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Gateways<\/strong>\u00a0or toranas, which are imitations in stone of wooden gateways.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Railings made of red sandstone<\/strong>\u00a0spreading out from the gateways. They also are imitations, in stone, of post and rail fence, but the stone railings of Bharhut have, on top, a heavy stone border (coping).<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Railings hav<strong>e carvings of Yakshas, Yakshis<\/strong>\u00a0and other divinities associated with Buddhism.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>There are, as in other Stupa railings, representations of Buddhist themes like<strong>\u00a0Jataka stories<\/strong>\u00a0in combination with various natural elements.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Dhauli Shanti Stupa (Orissa)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/AYXHQ4tOTHNOwsxNiKb-TF_DK9XnrsfzLxVtS6K_jtrMuJpgczWq4Zh6gtCJsNnaUt3-tbBXHnn8S82EamCoHDxvwx9sftCQAnu4tLeo-r6VuyX6M07r2rnP22kqz86d0Q4QgNoGW0XF-EvVDEPYKA\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Ashoka laid the foundation of Dhauligiri Shanti Stupa at a\u00a0<strong>place known for the end of the Kalinga War.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>The overall structure is in the\u00a0<strong>shape of a dome.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>The Dhauli Shanti Stupa has four massive idols of Lord Buddha in various postures, along with episodes from Gautam Buddha's life carved on stone slabs.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Dhamek Stupa\u00a0(Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/j7Uv7b_cbFg_USg3eqR5EcO9bO22VidskVa-Glz52kmWd5RnSj_vFvQxrjFWUThUOMbqnKfZmS-TxrZZTCFtkBcNsqY2RiTsPn6W_H0gkYsGnbKBTkSC0lD8mrhqVedOSMySMX02kZG-yfJujtm-LQ\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Its construction was ordered by Emperor Ashoka.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It is the exact spot of<strong>\u00a0Buddha\u2019s first sermon.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>At Dhamek stupa Buddha r<strong>evealed an eight-fold path\u00a0<\/strong>leading to nirvana.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The site is described as\u00a0<strong>Mriga-daya-vanam\u00a0<\/strong>(sanctuary for animals).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<h3><strong>Caves<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Caves are generally\u00a0<strong>used as viharas.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Mauryan caves are\u00a0<strong>highly polished.<\/strong>\u00a0For example-<strong>\u00a0Lomas Rishi cave.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<figure>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" rowspan=\"2\">\r\n<p><strong>Barabar\u00a0and Nagarjuni Hill Caves\u00a0(Bihar)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/GjUsiIc5m7KPeEo-1o7iVO3-Y3oDLKmbNU06zzn-v8GhQx3rolzocpMX81whvSsNIV853oPGHIf4kEOLIF0kvM3FnC9JaaufJG9IRdIN5At9ST6KlSvZ8tSI7_Dtv5Ll3GWwG-d0s8x8oQHI_Rt1dQ\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/FnVks6x0v-7xbOyQMGx4ckZbJIY2sOJLwHNUoySHxgwaKbLAjQ_il-BRF1XdUn3m3U6UWwOBLoKp9XvTdqwMAjPNPXwYnmH8CCIjgsPL--E20fvZTisZqZ2fS1g00fbFJR7ydJnHZyY9he1h-2VO-Q\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" rowspan=\"2\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>They are among India's oldest rock-cut caves.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>They are dedicated to the monks of the\u00a0<strong>Ajivika sect.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>There are seven caves.\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Four in Barabar Hill (Lomus Rishi, Sudama, Viswamitra and Karna Chopar Caves).<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Three in Nagarjuni Hill (Vahiyaka, Gopika and Vadathika Caves).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Chambers bear dedicatory inscriptions\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>King Piyadassi for the Barabar group, and<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Devanpiya Dasaratha for the Nagarjuni group<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Some of the rock-cut chambers resemble the wooden buildings of that period. For example- It can be seen in the<strong>\u00a0Lomus Rishi and Sudama caves of Barabar Hills<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Sitamarhi cave in Nagarjuni Hill.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>The facade of the Lomas Rishi cave is decorated with the semicircular chaitya arch as the entrance and interior hall are rectangular, with a circular chamber at the back.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<h3><strong>Pottery<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<figure>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><strong>Northern Black Polished Ware<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/qBZCFojnVY3uXsh4eiU1WnIUZnAYvyUHe3-70IEXBliOIkdoVYjFCsGS-uCvXUgzvYHNU4P0QxkCnIvG36zEmXbf969aYlddSffSudsCeh5SWzU5jgu_f1rLbUnkIaundgJrbU3yx5E2AfkNJbbQSg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Highly polished gaze coating with black colour.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Generally used as luxury items.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>NBPW usually have a thin section, grey core, and distinctive glossy lustre.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>NBPW does not include large or heavy forms but is mainly confined to the usual dining set and table wares.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<h3><strong>Sculptures<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Large statues of Yakshas and Yakshinis are found at places like Patna, Vidisha and Mathura.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It shows the popularity of Yaksha worship and how it became part of figure representation in Buddhist and Jain religious monuments.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<figure>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><strong>Didarganj Yakshini (Chauri bearer) (Bihar)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/EmegUxTleICSgGjFx7DTsGFHs4xlie9xbabm45MiHfHKIxLePXjBA3iGUBAH_c2eqMWuFodrTTD-IisIYMHenWB8ua8ASXWAQ_g3NlLvURDTLsDz1CmhyLJ230MEsrRRlT2R7Ects9qN5o38SACBaA\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Tall, well-proportioned, free-standing sculpture.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Made in sandstone<\/strong>\u00a0with a polished surface.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It exhibits happiness and bounty.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Chauri (flywhisk) is held in the right hand.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The image shows sophistication in the treatment of form and medium.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Dhauli Elephant (Orissa)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/b-fxSyn60vgriVF70Dwhqfo8SW_L9iBoRgCzD8HufK3eiunmY3qThaRYG7vdRcbRfnCNeo8oRwo8qUz4WaFoilEJnrILF1CWO7JM5YFFQEyl6K1cRImlU9_urlubF1EnVfabYrJZY7gOMo0l5vmd-A\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Carved in the living rock.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>the Ashoka edict at the place ends with the word Sevto (white) in Pali. It suggests that it depicts Airavat, a white elephant depicted in Indian religious texts.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Situated near the battlefield where<strong>\u00a0Ashoka renounced violence and turned towards Buddhism.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<h2><strong>Mauryan Literature<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>Mauryan Kings patronised Buddhism and other religious sects like Ajivikas. The tolerant religious policies, flourishing economy and peaceful empire under Ashoka made literature flourish. The literature is described as under.<\/p>\r\n<figure>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\"><strong>Kautilyas Arthashastra<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It is a detailed<strong>\u00a0work on statecraft.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Kautilya\u201fs work consists of 15 volumes(Adhikarnas).\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>The first five deal with internal administration\u00a0<strong>(tantra).<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>The next eight with inter-state relations\u00a0<strong>(avapa)\u00a0<\/strong>and<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The last two with miscellaneous topics.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Kautilya clearly distinguishes<strong>\u00a0between Dharmasthiya (civil law) and Kantaka Sodhana (penal law).<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Several types of enslavement are mentioned in Arthashastra.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>There was a variety of\u00a0<strong>protection offered to the slaves,\u00a0<\/strong>especially to the enslaved women.\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>\u00a0As per the Arthashastra, When a child is begotten on a female slave by her master, both the child and its mother shall at once be recognised as free.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>According to the Arthshastra, if a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master\u2019s son.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Kautilya also wrote\u00a0<strong>Chanakya-shataka<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Bhadrabahu<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Spiritual teacher of Chandragupta Maurya.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Works:\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Kalpa Sutra<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Bhadrabahu Samhita<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Vasudevcharita<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Indica by Megasthenes\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It tells the story of India during the reign of the Maurya Dynasty.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>According to Indica, Heracles (a legendary Greek hero) helped to build the great city of Pataliputra.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It also talked about the\u00a0<strong>economy and society\u00a0<\/strong>prevalent in the Mauryan period.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Other Literary Sources of Mauryan Empire<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Mudrarakshas of Vishakadutta.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Rajtrangini of Kalhana.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Mahabhashya of Patanjali.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Vishnu Purana.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Buddist literature:\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Deepvamsha and Mahavamsha.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Divyavadana<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Ashokavandana<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Mahabodhivamsha<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Digghanikaya<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Milindpanho<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mauryans had a notable impact on art &#038; architecture in diverse forms like caves, stupas, pillars &#038; palaces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8370,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[684,40],"class_list":{"0":"post-3556","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-quest-level-3","8":"tag-mauryan-art","9":"tag-quest"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3556"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22072,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3556\/revisions\/22072"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}