Gupta Architecture

Gupta Architecture

Gupta period is considered as the golden age of Indian Art and Architecture.

There was a holistic development in many fields. For example - Astrology, Astronomy, Medicine, Surgery, Metallurgy, Mathematics, Sanskrit literature and Temple architecture.

Not only temples were created but also manuscripts were written regarding how to construct a temple.

Cave Architecture during Gupta period

 

Cave making reached its climax during Gupta period.

★   Ajanta Cave 

• Location - Aurangabad, Maharashtra
• Total no. of caves - 29 (4 Chaityas & 25 Viharas)
• Ajanta caves were created on the steep side of the hill and that's why there was no scope of creating courtyard.
• Ajanta cave is purely Buddhist Cave.
• The specialty of the Ajanta Cave is Fresco Mural Painting based on Buddhist themes.

Ajanta Caves

Paintings created on the walls (of the caves) are known was Mural Painting. There are two types of Mural Paintings -

1. Fresco Mural Paintings (in which Natural colours were used)
2. Duco Mural Paintings (in which Oil colours were used)

Fresco Mural Paintings -

A mixture of Cow dung, rice husk, clay & water is applied on walls of the cave → then a lime plaster was applied on it → create a image → then it was filled with colours

Fresco Mural Paintings -

Initially, a mixture of cow dung, rice husk, clay and water was applied on the wall of the cave. In the second stem, white lime plaster was done on this mixture. In the last step, images were created and was filled with colours.

The initial mixture was meant for providing freshness to the painting and also absorbing the colours to imprint on the wall of the cave and hence increase longevity of the painting.

Examples of Fresco Mural Paintings - 

1.   Padmapani (Bodhisattva holding a lotus)

Padmapani

2.   Vajrapani (Bodhisattva holding a thunder bolt)

Vajrapani

3.   Maitreya (means future Buddha)

Extreme left one is Maitreya

4.   Manjushri (means Buddha of wisdom)

Manjushri

5.   Flying Apsara and Dying Princess

Dying Princess

Avalokiteshvara - The lord who looks down with compassion. Padmapani is an example of it.

★   Ellora Cave 

• Location - Aurangabad, Maharashtra
• Total no. of Caves - 32 (17 Hinduism, 10 Buddhism and 5 Jainism)
• Caves were created on the sloping side of the hill and that's why there was a scope of courtyard.
• Though the development of Ellora Cave started in Gupta Period, it reached its climax in the Rashtrakuta Period.
• The Fresco Mural Paintings inside the Ellora Cave belong to Rashtrakuta period and not to the Gupta Period.
• The most important features of the Ellora is Cave premise no. 16 which is known as Kailash Nath Temple. It is a monolithic temple which was created by Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna I.
• This temple is known as Architectural wonder of India for the following reason -
• Top down approach was followed in the construction (i.e., first the top, then the bottom was created)
• Also, it was constructed with in a very short period of time.
• In Ajanta Cave one can find double storey caves but in Ellora, triple storey caves can also be found.

Kailash Nath Temple of Ellora

★   Bagh Caves 

• Location - Madhya Pradesh
• 9 Sandstone Buddhist Caves were created in Gupta Period.
• Cave no. 04 of Bagh is known as Rang Mahal which is noted for its beautiful Fresco Mural Paintings on Buddhist theme.

Bagh Cave

Fresco Mural Paintings of Bagh Cave (Rang Mahal)

★   Nashik Caves 

• Location - Trimbak hills, Maharashtra
• Nashik is a sacred place of Hinduism, but 23 Sandstone caves of Nasik cave were dedicated to Hinayan Buddhism (no idol worship).
• This cave is also known as Pandavleni Caves (Pandav Cave) as it is believed that Pandavas lived here during their Vanawash (exile).

Nashik Cave (Pandvaleni Cave)

★   Mandapeshwar Caves 

• Location - Maharashtra
• They are the only Christian caves in India.
• These caves are equally important for Buddhist, Hinduism and Christianity.
• The Hindu caves are dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Mandapeshwar Caves

★   Junagarh Caves 

• Location - Girnar hills, Gujarat
• They are also known as Uparkot Caves.
• These caves were created on a upraised platform connected through stairs.
• One can find specimen related to both Hinduism and Buddhism in Junagarh Caves.

Junagarh Caves

PYQs

Which of the following Fresco Mural Paintings are from Gupta Period?

1. Ajanta
2. Ellora
3. Bagh

Ans - 1 and 3 only

PYQ

Which of the following is Sun Temple?

1. Amarkantaka
2. Arsavalli
3. Omkareshwar

Ans - 2 only 

• This question can be solved by using elimination method. As the third one Omkareshwar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. So, by eliminating 3 we can get the answer. Options are -

1. 1,2 and 3
2. 2 and 3
3. 3 only
4. 2 only

Some Facts 

4 Kumbh Melas

1. Prayagraj
2. Haridwar
3. Ujjain
4. Nashik

12 Shivjyotirlinga

1. Trimbakeshwar (Trimbak hills, Nashik, Maharashtra)
2. Girishneshwar (Maharashtra)
3. Bhimashankar (Maharashtra)
4. Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu)
5. mallikarajana (Andhra Pradesh)
6. Somnath (Gujarat)
7. Nageshwar (Gujarat)
8. Mahakaleshwar (MP)
9. Omkareshwar (MP)
   
10. Baidyanath (Jharkhand)
11. Kashi Vishwanath (UP)
    
12. Kedarnath (Uttarakhand)

Note - Amarnath is not a Shivjyotirlinga.

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Next Article - Nagara Temple Architecture

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Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own. 

Hope! It will help you to achieve your dream of getting selected in Civil Services Examination 👍