Indian Sculpture

Indian sculptures have their roots in the Indus valley civilization of the 2nd and 3rd millennium BC. Small terra-cotta seals excavated from the valley reveal carvings of peepal leaves, deities and animals. These elemental shapes of stones or seals were enshrined and worshipped by the people of the civilization. Two other objects that were excavated from the ruins of the Indus valley also indicate the level of achievement that Indian art had attained in those days.

The bust of a priest in limestone and a bronze-dancing girl show tremendous sophistication and artistry. The next golden chapter of Indian sculpture opens in the 3rd century BC with the rise and spread of Buddhism.

The Mauryan Emperor Ashoka adopted Buddhism and set out on a mission to spread the teachings of the faith as far and wide as possible. In the process, he created some of the eternal sculptures of India. Buddhist sculptures of Sarnath, Sanchi, the Gandhara and Mathura school are still revered objects of art. The 4th, 5th and 6th centuries AD witnessed a tremendous resurgence of Hinduism as it became the official religion of the Gupta Empire. Thus, this era was also marked by the emergence of innumerable images of popular Hindu deities. Images of Vishnu, Shiva, Krishna, Ganesha, the Sun-God and goddess Durga evolved in this period. Mention should also be made of the art works at Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta and Khajuraho. India is thus a treasure trove of sculptural art. Spread throughout the land are statuettes, carved caves and temples with stunningly intricate designs and other sculptural artifacts. By traveling through the sculptural artifacts of India does one relive Indian glorious past, its rich cultural heritage and its present achievements.