Art & Culture Notes

CULTURE OF INDIA ‘Culture’ is derived from Latin term ‘cult or cultus’ meaning cultivating or refining and worship. The term ‘Sanskriti’ has been derived from the root ‘Kri (to do). ‘prakriti’ (basic matter or condition), ‘Kri; ‘Sanskriti’ (refined matter or condition) ‘vikriti’ (modified/ decayed matter or condition) When ‘prakriti’ is refined it becomes ‘Sanskriti’ and when broken/damaged it becomes ‘vikriti’. CULTURE Culture is a way of life. Culture may be defined as the way an individual and especially a group live, think, feel and organize themselves, celebrate and share life. Culture thus refers to a human-made environment which includes all the material and non-material products of group life that are transmitted from one generation to the next. In deeper sense it is culture that produces the kind of literature, music, dance, sculpture, architecture and various other art forms as well as the many organizations and structures that make the functioning of the society smooth and well-ordered. Culture is the expression of our nature in our modes of living and thinking. Material (dress, food, and household goods) Culture Non-Material. (ideas, ideals, thoughts and belief) Self restraint in conduct, consideration for the feelings of others, for the rights of others, are the highest marks of culture. CIVILIZATION ‘Civilization’ means having better ways of living and sometimes making nature bend to fulfill their needs. On the other hand ‘culture’ refers to the inner being, a refinement of head and heart. One who may be poor and wearing cheap clothes may be considered ‘uncivilized’, but still he or she may be the most cultured person. One possessing huge wealth may be considered as ‘civlilized’ but he may not be cultured’ Civilization is advanced state of culture. 1 HERITAGE The culture we inherit from our predecessors is called our cultural heritage. Humanity as a whole has inherited a culture which may be called human heritage. A nation also inherits a culture which may be termed as national cultural heritage. Culture is liable to change, but our heritage does not. Architectural creations, material artifacts, the intellectual achievements, philosophy, pleasure of knowledge, scientific inventions and discoveries are parts of heritage. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE Culture is learned and acquired: Culture is shared by a group of people: Culture is cumulative: Culture changes: Culture is dynamic (i.e able to adapt and is changing from period to period) Culture gives us a range of permissible behaviour patterns: Culture is diverse: Culture is ideational: IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE IN HUMAN LIFE Culture is closely linked with life. It is what makes us human. Culture is made up of traditions, beliefs, way of life, from the most spiritual to the most material. Human beings are creators of culture and, at the same time, culture is what makes us human. The three eternal and universal values of Truth, Beauty and Goodness are closely linked with culture. CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIAN CULTURE Due to its adaptability and comprehensiveness, Indian culture has survived through the ages. Unity in diversity is one of the major characteristics of Indian culture which makes it unique. A synthesis of various cultures came about through the ages to give shape to what is recognised as Indian culture today. Spirituality and value based life style is the core of Indian culture but it has a scientific temperament too. 2 INDIAN ARCHITECTURE INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION traced as far back as third millennium BC. on the banks of the river Indus particularly at the bends that provided water, easy means of transportation of produce and other goods and also some protection by way of natural barriers of the river . consisted of walled cities which provided security to the people. rectangular grid pattern of layout with roads that cut each other at right angles. used standardised burnt mud-bricks as building material. evidence of building of big dimensions which perhaps were public buildings, administrative or business centres, pillared halls and courtyards. no evidence of temples. granaries which were used to store grains which give an idea of an organised collection and distribution system. ‘Great Bath’ - public bathing place shows the importance of ritualistic bathing and cleanliness in this culture. It is still functional and there is no leakage or cracks in the construction. most of the houses had private wells and bathrooms. dominant citadal - treated as evidence of some kind of political authority ruling over the cities. evidence also of fortifications with gateways enclosing the walled cities which shows that there may have been a fear of being attacked. Dholavira , Rangpur, Rojdi, Lothal , Sarkotada , Kuntasi, Padri (Gujarat) Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Bhagwanpura, Banawali (Haryana), Diamabad (Maharashtra), Alamgirpur (U.P.), and Mauda (Jammu). THE MAURYAN PERIOD Ashoka, first Mauryan to "think in stone". most of the shapes and decorative forms employed were indigenous in origin, some exotic forms show the influence of Greek, Persian and Egyptian cultures. beginning of the Buddhist School of architecture in India. monolithic Ashokan pillars are marvels of architecture and sculpture. These were lofty free standing monolithic columns erected on sacred sites. Originally there were about thirty pillars but now only ten are in existence, of which only two with lion capitals stand in situ in good condition at Kolhua and Laurya Nandangarh respectively. Sarnath pillar - finest pieces of sculpture of the Ashokan period. 3 Two Ashokan edicts - found at Laghman, near Jalalabad ( Afghanistan). most important ones are located at Bharhut, Bodhgaya, Sanchi, Amravati and Nagarjunakonda. Chinese traveller Fa-hien stated that "Ashoka’s palace was made by spirits" and that its carvings are so elegantly executed "which no human hands of this world could accomplish". Its existence was pointed out during the excavations at Kumrahar, near Patna, where its ashes have been found preserved for several thousand years. Megasthenese, the Greek ambassador of Selucas Nikator who visited the Mauryan court described Chandragupta Maurya’s palace as an excellent architectural achievement. THE STUPAS SANCHI STUPAS: hemispherical in shape with a low base. symbolized the cosmic mountain. inscription by the ivory carvers of Vidisha on the southern gateway throws light on the transference of building material from perishable wood and ivory to the more durable stone. AMARAVATI STUPA: built in 2nd or 1st century BC was probably like the one at Sanchi but in later centuries it was transformed from a Hinayana shrine to a Mahayana shrine. GANDHARA STUPA: further development of stupas at Sanchi and Bharhut. the base, dome and the hemisphere dome are sculpted. stupas of Nagarjunakonda in Krishna valley were very large. 4 Maha Chaitya of Nagarjunakonda has a base in the form of Swastika, which is a sun symbol. THE SCHOOLS OF ART GANDHARA SCHOOL OF ART (50 B.C. TO 500 A.D.): region extending from Punjab to the borders of Afghanistan was an important centre of Mahayana Buddhism up to the 5th century A.D. imbibed all kinds of foreign influences like Persian, Greek, Roman, Saka and Kushan. origin can be traced to the Greek rulers of Bactria and Northwest India. during the reign of Kanishka that the art received great patronage. also known as the Graeco- Buddhist School of Art since Greek techniques of Art were applied to Buddhist subjects. most important contribution- evolution of beautiful images of the Buddha and Bodhisattavas, which were executed in black stone and modelled on identical characters of Graeco-Roman pantheon. “Gandhara artist had the hand of a Greek but the heart of an Indian." most characteristic trait - depiction of Lord Buddha in the standing or seated positions. seated Buddha is always shown cross-legged in the traditional Indian way. typical feature - rich carving, elaborate ornamentation and complex symbolism. tallest rock-cut statue of Lord Buddha - Bamiyan (Afghanistan) - 3-4 century AD. 5 MATHURA SCHOOL OF ART( 50 B.C. - 500 A.D.): The oldest of all the three schools at the holy city of Mathura between 1-3 A.D. established tradition of transforming Buddhist symbols into human form. Buddha’s first image can be traced to Kanishka’s reign (about 78 A.D.). earliest sculptures of Buddha were made keeping the yaksha prototype in mind. strongly built - right hand raised in protection and left hand on the waist. The figures do not have moustaches and beards as in the Gandhara Art. seated figures are in the padmasana posture. not only produced beautiful images of the Buddha but also of the Jain Tirthankaras and gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. although of indigenous origin, but greatly influenced by the Gandhara School of Art. Guptas adopted, further improvised & perfected Mathura School of Art. observed at - Sarnath, Sravasti and even as far as Rajgir in Bihar. AMRAVATI SCHOOL OF ART(200 B.C. - 200 A.D.): on the banks of the Krishna River in modern Andhra Pradesh. largest Buddhist stupa of South India. construction began in 200 B.C. and was completed in 200 A.D. stupendous stupa could not withstand the ravages of time its ruins are preserved in the London Museum. 6 TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE OF INDIA NAGARA STYLE- NORTH INDIA Nagara temples have two distinct features : In plan, the temple is a square with a number of graduated projections in the middle of each side giving a cruciform shape with a number of re-entrant angles on each side. In elevation, a Sikhara, i.e., tower gradually inclines inwards in a convex curve. PRATHIHARAS- UJJAIN (8TH - 9TH CENTURIES AD) Mahakaleshwar temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of India, Kal Bhairava temple, finds a mention in the Skanda Purana, and Mangalnath temple, regarded as the birthplace of Mars, according to the Matsya Purana. 7 PALAS- BENGAL AND BIHAR (8th -13TH CENTURIES AD) flourished in Bengal and Bihar under the Pala and the Sena rulers.

Load more