This civilization created a myriad of stone, terra-cotta, and bronze sculptures, a final tour of force. Then, at the end of the 3rd millennium BC, Mauryan Emperor Ashoka tried to expand Buddhism across the nation, constructing around 85,000 stupas (dome shape monuments) with pillars bearing Buddhist doctrines inscribed.
“The Great Sanchi Stupa,” located in Sanchi, is forty-four feet tall. It has amazingly intricately carved gateways depicting Buddhist myths, and “The Ashoka Pillar” at Sarnath in Madhya Pradesh are excellent examples of the excellence and elegance of the Early Art of India since its beginning.
Through the 4th, 5th, and sixth century AD, the dawn of a new age that was a part of Early Indian Sculpture surfaced. The sculptures of Hindu gods, including the Lord Vishnu, Shiva, Krishna, and the Sun God and Goddess Durga, were created in a huge number. Hinduism was declared to be the official religious system of India. A massive statue depicting “Lord Shiva” incarnated as wild boar rescuing mother earth can be found at “The Udaigiri Caves” in Madhya Pradesh. The Sixth century in India witnessed skillful cave building. “The Elephanta Caves” in Maharashtra is a prime example of skilled craftsmanship. Another impressive work in the Art of India is a 20-foot tall piece depicting “Lord Shiva” in these caves, featuring three heads representing his feminine, fierce, and meditative features.
The Khajuraho Temples’ sculptures were created from the tenth to 11th century AD, were lost into obscurity until archeologists discovered the treasures lost in the entire town of Madhya Pradesh that housed 85 temples, out of which only 22 survived. The sculptures of the time are depictions of Gods, Goddesses, and animals, mostly made from sandstone. They also have an overarching theme that symbolizes the eternal connection between the female and male gender. Khajuraho Sculptures are among the most sexually erotic, sensual, and artistic sculptures worldwide.
The famed “Buddhist marvels” made over 14 centuries and “The Ajanta & Ellora Temples” are the other treasures of the fantastical Art of India. “The Ajanta & Ellora” temples are made of live rocks and rock cliffs. They are home to gigantic sculptures of animals and Gods and paintings depicting the history of the past, Buddhist fairytales, and a variety of Buddha images. The most impressive and striking work of art at the Ellora temple is “Kailasa Temple,” a great representation of Lord Shiva’s temple with elephants, elaborately carved out of huge rocks. In addition, “The Sun Temple of Konark,” “The Arjuna’s Penance” located at Mamallapuram as well as those temples in “Kanchipuram,” “Madurai,” “Rameshwaram,” “Amravati,” “Nagarjunakonda,” and “Varanasi” contain several impressive and stunning sculptures.