The Mauryan Emperor Ashoka adopted Buddhism and set out on a mission to spread the teachings of the faith as far and wide as possible. In the process, he created some of the eternal sculptures of India. Buddhist sculptures of Sarnath, Sanchi, the Gandhara and Mathura school are still revered objects of art. The 4th, 5th and 6th centuries AD witnessed a tremendous resurgence of Hinduism as it became the official religion of the Gupta Empire. Thus, this era was also marked by the emergence of innumerable images of popular Hindu deities. Images of Vishnu, Shiva,Krishna, the Sun-God and goddess Durga evolved in this period. Mention should also be made of the art works at Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta and Khajuraho. The trend of sculptures continues from the past and still is a vibrant and dynamic force shaping Indian art. |
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