Buddhist Sculptures of Karnataka

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-4, 2017 (Special Issue), ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Recent Trends in Science Technology, Management and Society

Dr. Jayashree Deshmanya Lecturer, Dept. of History, Karnatak Arts College Dharwad

ABSTRACT 2) It enriches our knowledge. The earliest remains of the monument art in India 3) It enriches and helps to maintain pressure the are ascribed by historians to the mauryan period. culture of Buddhism. For the first line in Indian history a strong unified Objectives: state was built by Chandragupta. In the article an attempt is made to stress The first mauryan ruler (321-297 BC) and this on architecture features along with size, periods further strengthened by his two great successors, they belonged to and also references done then and Bindusara 297-272 B.C. and Asoka (273 – 232 there by. BC). All the products of mauryan art we attributed Methodology: by scholars to king Ashoka this is mainly because My work is based on purely field oriented of the fact that he alone from among the mauryan primary sources as first of all, collecting data and kings felt the need for propogating ideas through analyzing the data and visiting field. the medium of art to the people from the 9th year of Objectivity is maintained in the subject. his reign, Ashoka was drawn after the ravages of Discussion the Kalinga war towards Buddhism and became the Buddha Pada (soul prints of Buddha) (Fig) latter part of his reign the foremost missionary of Location – Sanmati Kanaginahalli Buddhism. Taluka – Chitapur For, propagating Buddhism, Ashoka built strip as District – Gulbarga and erected pillars he was also responsible for Name of sculpture – Buddha Pada constructing rock-cut sanctuaries in the barber and Measurement – 23”x 24”cm Nagarjun Hills and a palace at Pataliputra his Period – 1st & 2nd century AD capital city. Published Reference–Indian Archaeological Ashoka, as Percy Brown points out, might have Report a review 1996-97 PageNo 54, New Delhi employed the craftsmen hailing from west Asia, guided them to adopt their work to the Indian Stucco - Buddha’s Head (Fig) conditions and made them to worth in Location – Malimatha of Mallikarjun temple at collaboration with their Indian counter parts. Togarso Pre and early Chalukyan art and architecture Taluka – Shikaripur thesis by Kulkarni has discussed about Buddhism District – Shimoga and its cultureal aspects. Name of sculpture – Stucco Head In the Quarterly Journal of mythic society Buddhist Measurement – 1-42 cm B – 25 cm remains in Karnataka done by Dr. A. Sundrara Period –2nd & 3rd century AD discussed about Buddhist remains and their Published Reference – A sundara, 1977, Kelava importance. Ithichina Gamanarha Purathana Sodhanegalu, Kapatral Krisharao has done baccavation in Karnataka Bharati Vol 19 Pt 4, 94-95 Some Sannathi for the first time that is in Karnataka recent note worthy Archaeological discoveries. Dr. Nagaraj of mythic society in his thesis Buddhist Description – A stucco head of Buddha bears first discuused architectural factors of Andhra Ushnisha only. It is in bad condition. which influenced on Karnataka art and TERRACOTTA BUDDHA’S HEAD architecture. Location – Mr. Hagaragundagi’s house in Gulbarga K.V. Ramesh of Mysore has done a greater work on Taluka – Gulbarga Buddhism. Taltaje Vasanthkumar, has done thesis District – Gulbarga on Buddhism in Karnataka based on secondary Name of sculpture – Head of Buddha sources. R.C. Hiremath also done work on Measurement – Length – 3 cm Breadth – 2 ½ cm Buddhism in Karnataka only based on secondary Period – 1st & 2nd century AD sources. Published Reference – In the collection of Sri Vijaya Hagaragundagi. Importance of the study Description : A terracotta head collected in Sannati 1) The study of architectural features help us to Village in now in custody of Sri Vijaya understand the cultural aspects of Buddhism.

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Hagargundgi. It is a broken piece, earlier it was wearing varities of necklaces, uttariya, dhoti probably fixed on the surface of a vase or jar. (Panje), anklets, Vastra etc. It is in red fabric, the right ear is damaged. It has a beautiful face, flat mustaka (fore head) prominent opened eyes, straight nose wirh disctinctive Deepasthamba (Fig – 6) nostrails, the bulgy cheeks, chin eyelids and mouth. Location – Malimatha of Mallikarjuna The ear seem to be owrn with rings, the head has Taluka – Togarsi Shikaripur curly hairs, ornamented in 3 rows and at the middle District – Shimoga of the back at the head is a hairbun. Name of sculpture – Deepasthamba It was obviously ushrisha, the facial features, the Posture - Standing hair style with ushnisha indicates it could be the Measurement – Length – 113 cm Breadth – 30 cm figure of Buddha’s head part around the head part Period – 1st & 2nd century AD is well finished and flat. It indicates that this was Published Reference – A Sundara – 1977, Kelava earlier fixed on a vessel of a poltery. Ithichina Gamanarsha Puratana Sodhanegalu, On the basis of physical features the figure may be Karnataka Bharati, Vol 18, PP-4, 10-22 Some comparable to the sculptures of Nagarjuna Konda recent, noteworthy Archaeological discovaries. and Amaravati of 1st and 2nd century AD. It gives Description : The Deepasthamba, which has there clues to carry out further research in the village of panels is shown Kubja, yaksha over his head, kept sannati to trace still more figurines. It may be noted a lamp. It is in round relief. Kubja is shown on two that this head part of Buddha is hallow. sides, middle part is in circular form. Bhumisparsha Buddha (fig 4) In the front and back of Buddha is shown his Location – In Vasudeva temple followers and royal person. It is in round relief the Taluka – Kapu fighters are in the lower part of the panel is not District – Udupi distinct and it is in diamond shape with no figures Name of sculpture – Bhumisparsha and it is in a simple way. The right hand of Buddha Psture – seated is letted down in the left hand holded cloth which is Measurement – Length – 22 cm Breadth – 14 cm comparable to 2nd century of Amaravathi sculpture Period – 10th century which is in standing postion. By the Kubja Yaksha Reference – Dr. Gururaj Bhat. 1975. Studies in features, the stambha can be comparable to 2nd and Tuluva History and culture P 298, Manipal 3rd century. It is first of its kind. South Kanara. Description : By the side of the National highway TERRACOTTA FIGURIN : BUDDHA near light house in Vasudeva temple the icon is Location – Dharmastahala state museum (Buddha placed. It is in round relief and seated in image found earlier at Hampi is placed here now) padmasana over the padmapeetha. This sculpture is Taluka – South Kanara places over a square peetha with pranala on its District – South Kanara northern side. He has a long ishnisha. Name of sculpture –Buddha (White terracotta He is two armed, the right hand is in figure) Bhumisparsha and left hand is Yogamudra. He has Measurement – Length – 9 cm Breadth – 4.6 cm ushnisha which is elongated and there is worm Period – 1st & 2nd century AD cloth on the body. Published Reference – A. Sundara 1989 Avalokitesvara (Fig 5) Hampeyalli Doretiruva Ettichinaa Shatamanada Location – Infront of the ASI museum at Nalligaru Eradu Aupurva Biliya Jedimannina Taluka – Shikaripur Gombegalu. Ithihasa Darshana – Vol -8 B’lore. District – Shimoga Description : Its appears like Buddha had lost its Name of sculpture – Avalokitesvara head, hand and legs. It's dress is decorative like Posture – Seated in Savyalitisana frills, reached upto knees from left shoulder, he Measurement – Length – 105 cm Breadth – 70 cm wears uttariya on the body. It has many frills. The Period – 10th century AD tooth are made out of black soil. The style of the Published Reference – NIL. dress is comparable to Gandhara School of Description : The head of Avalokiteshavarais Sculptures. broken and lost. He is seated in Savyalalitasana He appears to have worn in is hand and the sword over an padmapeetha. Right hand is half broken on the waist on the rightside. It could be and left hand is completely broken. He worn representing the figure of a soldier. But style of the uttasiya. His head is also broken. cloth worn upto knew is resembling Buddha figures He is wearing different types of necklaces. The and Gandhara school of art. seated yaksha is shown below on his right side

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