Transcript bharhut-Queen Mayax

BHARHUT
QUEEN MAYA’S DREAM
Dr.Guneeta Chadha
Associate Professor, Dept of Fine-Arts,P.G.G.C.G11
INTRODUCTION
In 185 B.C the last Mauryan emperor was killed
by one of his Brahman generals.
 He then became the ruler and gave his name of
Shunga to the new dynasty.
 This particular piece of relief sculpture belongs to
the Shunga period.
 The Shunga dynasty dominated for 112 years
from here on and Buddhism was their major
reliogion.

STUPA
The finest monuments of the Shunga period are,
in, fact Buddhist creations.
 During this period the Stupa emerged as the
central focus of the Buddhist worship.
 Stupa a symbolic representation was made in
simple dome shape, more so in the shape of a
hemispherical mound.
 It was symbolic as the symbol for release of
material bindings and sufferings and the
attainment of nirvana.

The stupa is also symbolic and represents Buddha’s
parinirvana, his passage from the world of pain and
illusion to the world of bliss and true reality.
 BHARHUT STUPA
 The stupa was built by Ashoka, but it was further
extended during the Shunga period.
 It was re-discovered in 1873 A.D.
 This mound was 212 feet in diameter from its base and
88 feet high.
 This was made in red sandstone.

Bharhut stupa is one of the important monuments of
the Shunga Dynasty.
 Buddha was never depicted as in human form, but
represented only by symbols.
 The pillars and the lintels of the gateway of the stupa
were decorated with beautiful narratives from the lives
and various births of Buddha.
 Decorated in Bas-relief, these railings had relief
sculptures based on various Jataka Kathas.

THE DREAM OF QUEEN MAYA
QUEEN MAYA’S DREAM
It is a relief done on the railing of the Bharhut
stupa.
 It is a medallion carving.
 The period is Shunga dynasty
 Time period is 2nd C. B.C.
 It is made of red sandstone.
 Diameter is 54 cms (21.5 inches)
 Its now in the Indian Museum, Calcutta.

The dream of queen Maya is an excellent example of
the narrative scenes in relief depicted at Bharhut.
 This remarkable composition is done on a large round
medallion on the railing.
 According to the Buddhist legend, Buddha took the
form of a white elephant in one of his lives.
 This medallion depicts the queen maya has a dream,
and in that dream Buddha took the form of a white
elephant and entered the womb of the royal queen.

The divine elephant descends from the heaven.
 The queen sleeps on the bed with her right hand under
her head. The left hand rests comfortably on her leg.
 She is accompanied by her attendants and her ladiesin-waiting in her resting chamber.
 The two attendants seated on the cushion seem half
asleep while the third one has her hands folded in
adoration.
 The divine elephant approaches her from above.

The lamp flickers at the foot of her bed.
 The medallion is only 21.5 inches, yet the sculptor has
very beautifully and with ease accommodated all the
details in the circular space.
 Each figure is made in distinct and poised form. The
detail in the jewellery and clothing of the queen are
remarkable.
 Her sleeping figure is the centre of interest in the
whole composition.
 Floral depiction is noticed above with feet of the
nymphs on the upper two corners while the creeper is
laden with fruits.

VIEW OF THE RAILING
STYLISTIC FEATURES:
 The Bharhut relief appears flat, without any suggestion
of depth at the background.
 They look like plasticine figures on a flat board.
 The Bharhut railings had remarkable relief sculptures
which had a freshness of vision.
 They manifested and in a war celebrated life with
interest and delight.

CONCLUSION
Bharhut is one of India’s earliest and most
significant monuments.
 It is important as a ‘library’ of Buddhist
mythology.
 It also has prime value because it preserves the
early iconographic motifs.
 These motifs are of immense value and
importance as they later matured in the art
forms in the centuries to come, both in the
Buddhist and the Brahamanical Art.
