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Around 200BCE King Ashoka ruled over many parts of India. According to Ashoka the story of art depends on the patrons. Since he had a love for the Buddhist religion, as well as a fund for art, Ashoka started producing aniconic sculptures of the Buddha. These figures included pillars with carvings, the sacred stupa, and many other sculptures. The Great Stupa of Sanchi was one of the first sacred places that held a portion of the Buddha's ashes. A stupa is not an object, but a complete spacial environment where you can participate by walking around the structure. Depicted on the Stupa is a legend of the Buddha's "path". There is a "horse" that Buddha supposedly rode on his journey, a "Bodhi Tree / tree of life" which is another representation of the Buddha, and lastly it shows the Buddha's footprints as he "dismounts from his horse to begin his path". I really like how the Buddha has many aniconic representations.

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Standing Buddha, Gandhara region, schist, circa 200 CE

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The Reign of Kanishka. (Beginning of Buddhist figurative sculpture). 100CE - 200CE 

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The Reign of Kanishka. (Beginning of Buddhist figurative sculpture). 100CE - 200CE 

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Around 100CE Buddhism had been around for more than 500 years, and was expanding to find a more deified conception of the Buddha. As South Asia was engaging more and more in foreign trade and cross-cultural exchange, King Kanishka of the Kushan Dynasty created the figurative sculpture of the Buddha.

After being forced out of their home in South-West China, and wandering for awhile, Kanishka and some others had taken over Bactria at around 130 BCE. He then paired up with Ashoka and both worked to create the figure.

One thing that stood out was King Kanishka's creation of  gold coins for the regions he controls ( along silk road, Iran, Roman Empire, and South Asia). The coins are stamped with sacred images of the different kinds of peoples in his cosmopolitan relm. He stamped the Buddha, Shiva, and even Greek gods on the coins to unify his people and embrace diversity.

Two sites that are responsible for the production of the figurative sculpture of the Buddha are Gandhara in the northwest, and Mathura in North Central India. The different locations has caused a discrepancy and variance between the multiple Buddha statues.

The Gandhara style uses a dark gray schist stone and incredible detail. It also depicts more naturalistic folding of "rippling" in the drapery pictured on the Buddha, similar to the Roman Emperors draping.

The Mathura style uses a red sandstone to carve the Buddha. He is shown almost nude, with broad shoulders suggesting he's taking a big breath, and lastly depicts a vibrant bodily energy and alertness.

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Buddha Setting the Wheel of the Dharma in Motion From Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh

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The Classical Gupta Period approx. 300sCE - 550CE 

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The Classical Gupta Period approx. 300sCE - 550CE 

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The Gupta period was a truly classical period in Indian art. After the creation of the original "figurative" sculpture of the Buddha, many created their own versions of how the buddha should look. While all following the usual look of the Buddha, the Gupta period Buddha was the "perfection " style of Buddha. It showed an exquisite balance between the Buddha as an ideal, serene, and calm, but real human
proportionate limbs, lifelike qualities, and clarity of form. The  simplified shapes causes the spectator a clarity of mind, and a mind uncluttered. This became one of the most classical images of the Buddha.
gupta = classical period in indian art

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Vishnu Temple (The Cosmic Mountain) at Deogarh 530 CE 

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Vishnu Temple (The Cosmic Mountain) at Deogarh 530 CE 

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Vishnu is one of the main principal Hindu deities who is considered the preserver and protector of the universe. This Temple was a bridge built to connect him to his worshippers so they can honor and pray to him. Surrounding his temple made out of stone and masonry block, are Legends of Vishnu's tales and lessons.

During the Gupta Period, after realizing that it is a lot harder to make temples out of mountains, they began constructing the temples above ground. There were slight changes in the architecture of the buildings between the North and South.

The Northern (nagara) style temples/buildings had more curved tops and included towers on top as well as flatter cap stones.
The Southern (dravida) style temples/buildings had more pyramid shaped tops and round capstones.

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Sadashiva, south wall of Elephanta’s Cave of Shiva

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In "The Cave of Shiva at Elephanta" by Dr. Arathi Menon, he talks about the "nearly 21 foot tall, three-headed Shiva known as Sadashiva (fourth head at the rear and a fifth head at the top is implied) located on Gharapuri island on the west coast of India. Shiva is known as the Destroyer god.
In the cave he is pictured from the chest upwards, and with the suggestion is that he is emerging from the mountain.
Each of the faces  acknowledge an aspect of Shiva — "the image at the center is calm and welcoming while the face to the viewer’s left shows Shiva’s ferocious aspect. His fierceness is emphasized by a twisted mustache, frowning expression, skulls and snakes in his matted hair, and earrings in the form of snakes. The face on the viewer’s right is meant to signify a gentler aspect of Shiva. This face is shown with soft curls, wearing a sweet-tempered smile, and carrying a lotus. "