Day 1 – Q 4.Buddhism and Jainism were the prominent motivating forces for the artistic activity in in many parts of India during the ancient and medieval periods. Do you agree? Substantiate.

4. Buddhism and Jainism were the prominent motivating forces for the artistic activity in in many parts of India during the ancient and medieval periods. Do you agree? Substantiate. 

प्राचीन और मध्यकाल में बौद्ध धर्म और जैन धर्म भारत के कई हिस्सों में कलात्मक गतिविधि के लिए प्रमुख प्रेरक ताकत थे। क्या आप सहमत हैं? पुष्टी करें।

Introduction:

Buddhism and Jainism were the prominent motivating forces for the artistic activity in many parts of India during the ancient and medieval periods. Buddhism and Jainism has influenced and contributed to many artistic spheres in India, such as painting, sculpture, and architecture, literature.

Body:

Buddhism as prominent motivating force for the artistic activity:

• Stupas: were to commemorate important events or mark important places associated with Buddhism or to house important relics of Buddha. The best examples of stupas are those constructed at Amaravati, Sanchi, Barhut, Saranath and Gaya. One of the most striking architectural remains of ancient India and the earliest and largest of the three stupas found in Sanchi was built by Ashoka (273-236 B.C.)
• Viharas or monasteries: constructed for prayer with a running verandah on three sides or an open courtyard surrounded by a row of cells and a pillared verandah in front. These cells served as dwelling places for the monks. These monastic buildings had a Chaitya hall or Chaitya mandir attached to a stupa – the chief object of worship. Some of the important Buddhist viharas are those at Ajanta, Ellora. Nasik, Karle, Kanheri, Bagh and Badami.
• Paintings: Paintings which has been an accepted art since early times attained heights of excellence in Gupta period. These exquisite paintings or frescos are to be seen in the caves of Ajanta. The entire surface of the caves is exquisitely painted and shows the high standard reached in mural painting.
• Sthambas or Pillars: with religious emblems were put up by pious Buddhists in honour of Buddha or other great Buddhists. Fragments of sthambas belonging to Mauryan times and later were found at Sanchi, Sarnath, Amaravati and Nagarjunkonda.
• Literature: The canonical literature is best represented by the “Tripitakas”, that is, three baskets -Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka. The non-canonical literature is best represented by the Jatakas.

Jainism as prominent motivating force for the artistic activity:

• Excellent Jain architecture and sculpture can be seen in their Stupas and rock-cut caves found in Mathura, Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa cave temples. A number of rock-cut caves have been built in Udaigiri and Khandagiri, twin hills in Puri District of Orissa and in Ellora in Maharashtra.
•  Medieval Jains built many temples, especially in western India. Dilwara Temple complex built in Rajasthan consists of five ornately carved marble temples, each dedicated to a different Tirthankara .
• The statue of Bahubali called Gomatesvara at Sravan Belgola and Karkal in Karnataka are examples of wonderful jaina architecture. The statue of Bahubali 21 metered high, carved out of a mass of granite was erected in 984 A.D.
• Kannada literature owes its origin to the Jaina literary works. Vikramarjuna-Vijaya, written by Adi Pampa, is famous as Pampa-Bharata. Pandavapurana was written by Shubhachandra. Harivamsapurana was written by Jinasena.
• Ardhakathanaka, by Banarasidasa, is the first autobiography in Braj Bhasha which is termed as the precursor to the Hindi.
• Many Jaina literary works were written in Apabhramsa such as Kahas, grammar etc. Apabhramsa is known as the precursor to many Indian languages of the Gangetic plains.
• Some of the oldest Jaina literature is available in Shauraseni, which led to the development of languages such as Gujarati, Marwari etc.
• The motivating force for the painting activity in Western India was Jainism.  Malwa painting, Rajasthan School of painting style were prevailed during the time of Jainism. 

Conclusion:

Jainism and Buddhism arose to suit the needs of a changing society, patronized by an emerging class and left an indelible mark on India’s culture, architecture, philosophy and way of living. These religions also found their influence in neighboring countries and helped India expand its footprint in these regions, paving way for a cultural connect to this day.