Civil Services Prepby Garima Malik & Nitin Sangwan Account

UPSC Prelims · General Studies

Ancient, medieval & culture

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Indian art and culture / Sculpture

Early Buddhist narrative art and aniconic symbols

Practise 1 PYQ

Concepts to cover

  1. Aniconic representation: empty seat (meditation and enlightenment), Bodhi tree, wheel (first sermon), stupa (mahaparinibbana), riderless horse (mahabhinishkramana), footprints
  2. Bharhut railings (Shunga): shallow relief, yakshas and yakshis, Jataka labels, Kubera
  3. Sanchi toranas (Satavahana): deep relief, Jataka scenes, Ashoka's visit, shalabhanjika
  4. Continuous narration and the Jatakas as the subject matter of early Buddhist art
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