📌 Topic 05 of 6 · Chapter 05 · Mauryan Empire
Mauryan Art & Architecture
Ashokan pillars, Sanchi Stupa, Pataliputra palace, lion capital (national emblem), Mauryan sculpture.
🏛️ Mauryan Art — Overview
The Mauryan period produced some of the finest art in ancient India. Mauryan art is characterised by polished stone surfaces (Mauryan polish), monumental scale, and a blend of Indian and Persian (Achaemenid) influences.
🏛️ Ashokan Pillars
- Ashoka erected monolithic stone pillars across his empire — about 40 survive
- Made of Chunar sandstone (from Chunar, UP) — highly polished
- Height: 40–50 feet; weight: 40–50 tonnes
- Each pillar has: shaft (smooth, tapering), capital (animal/lotus), abacus (decorated disc)
- The Mauryan polish — mirror-like finish — is a unique achievement
Famous Pillar Capitals:
| Capital | Location | Animal | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarnath Lion Capital | Sarnath, UP | Four lions back-to-back | India’s National Emblem; Dharma Chakra below; “Satyameva Jayate” |
| Rampurwa Bull Capital | Bihar | Bull | Now in Rashtrapati Bhavan |
| Rampurwa Lion Capital | Bihar | Lion | — |
| Sankissa Elephant Capital | UP | Elephant | — |
| Vaishali Lion Capital | Bihar | Single lion | Near Buddha’s last sermon site |
⭐ Sarnath Lion Capital: The Sarnath Lion Capital (4 lions back-to-back on an abacus with 4 animals — lion, elephant, horse, bull — and a Dharma Chakra) was adopted as India’s National Emblem on January 26, 1950. The motto “Satyameva Jayate” (Truth alone triumphs) is from the Mundaka Upanishad.
🏛️ Pataliputra Palace
- Chandragupta’s palace at Pataliputra was described by Megasthenes as more magnificent than Persian palaces at Susa and Ecbatana
- Made of wood (not stone) — hence little survives
- Excavations at Kumrahar (Patna) revealed 80-pillar hall — possibly Ashoka’s assembly hall
- The polished stone columns show Persian influence
🏛️ Stupas
- Ashoka built 84,000 stupas across India (traditional account)
- Most important: Sanchi Stupa (MP) — originally built by Ashoka; enlarged by Shungas and Satavahanas
- Stupas contain relics of Buddha or Buddhist saints
- Ashoka distributed Buddha’s relics among 84,000 stupas
🗿 Mauryan Sculpture
- Yaksha and Yakshi figures — large, polished stone sculptures; found at Patna, Mathura
- Didarganj Yakshi (Patna) — finest example of Mauryan sculpture; polished sandstone
- Parkham Yaksha — large stone figure; Mathura
- Mauryan sculpture shows Persian influence in polished surfaces and animal capitals
📝 Exam Tip:
• Sarnath Lion Capital = India’s National Emblem; 4 lions; Dharma Chakra
• Satyameva Jayate = from Mundaka Upanishad
• Mauryan polish = mirror-like finish on stone = unique achievement
• Chunar sandstone = material for Ashokan pillars
• Didarganj Yakshi = finest Mauryan sculpture; Patna
• Sarnath Lion Capital = India’s National Emblem; 4 lions; Dharma Chakra
• Satyameva Jayate = from Mundaka Upanishad
• Mauryan polish = mirror-like finish on stone = unique achievement
• Chunar sandstone = material for Ashokan pillars
• Didarganj Yakshi = finest Mauryan sculpture; Patna