Indian

 INFLUENCES 

HISTORY

Here is the third great civilization to emerge in a fertile river valley known as Indus river around 2500 BC. Now present it is in Pakistan and Northwest India. Major cities were Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa at that time.  Each city was ruled by priest-kings, citadels atop the city. But it lasted only 800 years.

In 1500 BC Aryans from the north moved into India. They set-up 16 separate kingdoms all over. Most powerfu was the Magadha kingdom, conquered all other kingdoms. After that they established the Mauryan Empire in 300 BC under King Ashoka. Successive military and economic incursions brought art and architecture: Aryan, Persian, Greco-Roman, Sassanian, Muslim, Portuguese, French, English.

RELIGION

                        

Hinduism was the main religion of India along with Judaism which is the worlds oldest surviving religion present at that time. Chief gods were Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. They had the belief in reincarnation which means the soul comes back to life in a different body. Caste system was present at that time. (priests, warriors and nobles, farmers and traders, laborers and servants, untouchables)

Apart from Hinduism people followed Buddhism also. Because  many people disliked the way Hindu society divided people into castes. Gautama Siddhartha (563 – 483 BC), gave up his princely life to search for wisdom. After 6 years of wandering, he found enlightenment through a deep thinking process called meditation which overcome human weakness including greed and anger.

EXAMPLES

STAMBHAS or LATHS

• Monumental pillars standing free without any structural function

• Circular or octagonal shafts

• Capital Persepolitan in form, bell-shaped and crowned with animals carrying the Challra, wheel of law

MANDIRA

• Hindu temple with a interior sanctuary called a vimana

• Capped by a tapering spire-shaped tower – sikhara

• Porch-like mandapa halls for dancing and music

VIHARAS

• Buddhist monasteries often excavated from solid rock

• Central pillared chamber or quadrangle surrounded by verandah

• Small sleeping cells on the sides

• In front stood the courtyard containing the stupa

STUPAS

• Buddhist memorial mound erected to enshrine a relic of Buddha, to commemorate special events or     mark a sacred spot

• Regarded as symbols of the universe

• Based on the pre-historic funerary tumulus

• Artificial domical mounds raised on a platform

• With processional paths, rails, gateways, crowning umbrella called a chattri

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