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Ch. 6. Religion, art and
Architecture
1. Religion: Buddhism, Jainism,
Hinduism
2. Literature
3. Art, Architecture
Religion
• Evidence of East-West understanding is clear in the religious ideas
• Doctrines of Manichaeans, Gnostics and Neo-Platonists are some of
the examples
• Certain aspects of life of the Christ (supernatural birth and the
temptation of the evil) are so closely parallel to the events in the
legends of the life of the Buddha that it is difficult to avoid suspecting
some indirect borrowing.
• The observances of Essenes (of whom the Christ was said to be
one) indicate knowledge of Indian religious belief and practice in the
mediterranean world.
• Childhood of Krishna and Childhood of Christ also show
resemblances
• The interaction was two sided- Influence of Zoroastrianism on
Buddhism
Buddhism
• Buddhism is at the background of much of
the artistic and literary creation of this
period (200 B.C.E -300 C.E).
• Series of councils (4 Buddhist councils)
were held to resolve disputes over issues
of belief and theology
• Buddha changed- although he opposed
deification- he wad deified
• Stories of his past births were composed
• Two new sects emerged
• Hinayana- lesser vehicle- nirvana as one
reaches enlightenment
• Mahayana- Nirvana with the help of future
Buddhas
• Missions were sent to many East Asian and
South East Asian countries
• Almost all the countries in Asia received
Buddhism at this time
• Thailand, Burma, Tibet still remain to be major
Buddhist countries.
Nagarjuna
• Sunyavada- the middleway
• His discussion with Menander are well
known
• New philosophy in Buddhism
• Also resided in Satavahan court
• Written a series of letters to Gautamiputra
Satakarni
• Lived in a monastery near- Amarawathi- in
Nagarjuna konda.
Bodhisattwa
• Not a Buddha yet- a person who
postpones his enlightenmentBuddhahood- to attain liberation for the
humans through his own suffering.
• Number of Boddhisattwas and stories in
Buddhism
Buddha-Bodhisattwa
Jainism
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Divided into two sectsDigambaras (sky clad)
Shvetambaras ( whit-clad)
Not theological division, but the question of
practice
• Western India
• Also in the south
• Not a huge following like Buddhism- but
remained popular among dedicated group
Hinduism
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The theology and pantheon evolves
Hindu trinity
Brahma- Creator- not many temples- asceticism
Vishnu- Balancer- numerous temples
Siva- destroyer- numerous temples, worshipped
as a linga (phallus) also. Fertility symbolism in
this worship- the male and female energies of
the universe.
• Practice and ritual important aspect of the
religion
Bhakti= personal religion
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from community ritual to personal worship
Bhagavadgita- the holy text of Hinduism
Christianity enters India
St. Thomas- enters India- 52 C.E.
Literature
• Kavya (long poem) are written during this period.
• Tamil poem- Shilappadigaram is an outstanding
poem of this time.
• Story of the husband who neglects his wife for
the courtesan- ends in the tragic death of the
three- but the wife and husband are united in the
heaven.
• Manimekhalai- sequel to the first story. Daughter
of the hero and courtesan.
• Drama (nataka) survived in the plays of
Ashvaghosha and Bhasa
Drama
• Bhasa’s plays- stories from Mahabharata,
Ramayana
• Ashwaghosha- for wider audiences- may
have been played at the religious
assemblies.
• Bharata- study of dramatics (Natya sastra)
laid down the techniques and rules of
dramatics.
Art
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Gandhara art
North-West India
Indo-Greek mixture
Kushana patronage
Buddha is depicted - similar to Apollo
Mathura Art
• Gangetic basin and western India
• Typical Indian art• Buddha and Mahabharata and Ramayana
subjects
• With India dress, and curly hair.
• Also Jain art
• First Buddha image
Mathura Buddha
Amaravathi art
• Satavahanas and Sungas
• Buddhist subjects
• Typical dress and depictions of India
Stupa worship
Architecture
• Stupa=mound
• Fenced path
• Railing around it – the four cardinal pointsgateways
• Sanchi and Barhut stupas are well known
examples of this period.
Ajanta Cave
Ajanta Buddha
Bamiyan Buddha
Chaitya= Worshipping hall
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Barrel vault root- elongated structure
Karle and Kanheri caves
Miniature stupa at the center
Ajanta caves
Jains also built cave temples
Ajanta- Buddhas
Worshipping headdress
Stupa image
Stupa parts
Vihara=Monastery
• Where the monks stayed
• A series of rooms with a prayer hall
(chaitya)
• Nasik caves
• But in other places as well
Karle cave