Describe the Mauryan contribution to Indian art and architecture.

During the Mauryan period significant progress was made in the fields of craft, architecture, sculpture, stone polishing, engineering and jewellery making, etc.

1. Craft and Architecture: The grand palaces built by the Mauryan emperors struck foreign travellers with amazement. As most of these structures were built of wood so none of their fine specimen have survived to this day. But we knowabout it through th ewords left behind by the travellers. The Chinese traveller Fa hsein says that Asoka’s palace was so beautiful that it could have been built only by gods and not by human beings.

Besides the royal palaces, the Mauryan emperors built several thousand stupas throughout the empire. These stupas were built with brick or stones and were domeshaped whose diameter decreased as the building rose higher. Of these stupas those of Sanchi and Bharhut are notable for the their grandeur.

2. Sculpture: The greatest stride was made by the art of chiseling stone columns, the beautiful icons and caves. Asokan pillars are the best specimen of Mauryan art. Their pillars are 50-60 feet high weighing about 50 tons. It is amazing how such huge pillars were carved from a single rock. In spite of their huge size these pillars has a capitol head carved with the unique figures of birds and animals. The four headed iron capitol at Sarnath, which has been adopted as the official seal or national emblem of India, is the living example of Mauryan art. Another unique feature of Mauryan sculpture is the rock cut cave which was a herculean feet accomplished by Mauryan craftsmen.

3. The art of polishing: The art of polishing hard-rock was so advanced during the Mauryan period that even today we are far behind in this field. The cave walls near Gaya are so well polished that they shine like a mirror. The Asokan pillar in Firozshah Kotla at Delhi was mistaken by an English Bishop Heber, as made of metals. It was all because of its mirror like shine.

4. Engineering Skill and Technology: Huge rocks were cut, preserved and chiselled into pillars which were as high as 50 feet and as heavy as 50 tons. These huge rocks were cut probably from the Chunar Hills and from here they were carried to distant destinations. It was a marvellous feat to transport such huge rocks to such distances. It can be easily imagined from the fact that in 1356 A.D., king Firoz Tughlak desired to carry on Asokan pillar from Topara in Ambala to Delhi. It is said that he employed 8,400 men to carry it on a huge carriage fitted with 42 wheels. Thus there were 200 men to pull each wheel on an average. It proves the advanced skill of the Mauryan engineers.

5. Jewellery: The art of jewellery was also advanced. Some ornaments of Asokan period (250 B.C.) have been found during the excavation at Taxila. They testify the skill of the Mauryan craftsmen and goldsmiths.