Sunga and Satvahan a art

The monumental and sophisticated style of the Mauryas was followed by a simpler folk style under the Sungas. The sculpture of this period depicts scenes from Budhas life and Jataka stories.

The art of this period unlike Mauryas had a much wider social base.lt was a period of Chaityas, Viharas and Stupa building. The Sungas enlarged the Stupas built by the Mauryans at Sanchi and Satavahanas added the beautifully carved gateways around the Stupas. It was a phase of popular and truly Indian Art.

The Sungas terracotta were made from single mould depicting large number of folk deities. Men and women are shown clad in dhoti with large turbans. The terracottas from the Satavahana period are more detailed than that of Sunga period. The Satavahana artists used a whitish fine clay called Kaolin and fashioned them in double moulds to produce exquisite figures of men and animals.

A Chaitya is a shrine cell with a votive stupa placed in the centre of the apsidal end. It is derived from the Sanskrit 'chita' or the mound of ashes formed when a dead person was cremated. Chaitya therefore, meant the earthern mound built over the remains of a saint or holy relic. The Chaitya Hall (Prayer hall) had ventilated window above the entrance door.

NAVE - A place where monks assembled for prayers.

APSE - Semi-circular end of the cave.

AISLE - Prayer path of a stupa.

Most of the major chaityas of this period were in Western and Eastern Ghats. For example in Western Ghats they are located at Bhaja, Karle, Kondane, Nasik, Ajanta and Kanheri etc. Similarly in the Easter Ghats they are cut at Udyagiri (Orissa). The caves at Udyagiri and Khandagiri were excavated during the time of Kharavela the Jain King of Kalinga (Ancient Orissa). Rani Gumpha at Udayagiri is the largest cave and nearby Hathi Gumpha inscription records the life and achievements of King Kharavela. The Bagh Gumpha or Tiger cave forms the part of Khandagiri caves.

Amaravati school

It flourished in eastern deccan in the lower valleys of the Krishana and Godavari.

It was partronized by the Satvahans and Ikshvaku rulers.

The main centers of this school were Nagarjunakonda, Amravati, Goli, Ghantasala, Jaggayyapeta.

The most productive phase of this school has been dated to 150 BC - 350 AD.

Important features of this school are:

• The sculptures of this school have detailed ornamentation and are finely carved.
• It is famous for its excessive use of white marble and use of white and softgreen limestone.
• The human figures have long legs and slender frames.
• The central characters are human figures with nature as a background.
• It is a narrative art depicting themes from Jataka Stories and Buddha's life, for example, the Amravati medallion depicts the story of the taming of an elephant by the Buddha.
• This school affected the art of S.E. Asia and the Pallava's sculptures.
• In thematic treatment there is a striking similarity in certain cases with Mathura.
• The Ist stage of development-C. 200 B.C. to 100 B.C.
• The 2nd period lasted upto C.A.D. 100 (For the first time we have Buddha represented in human form. Women still appear to be nude).
• The 3rd period covered the 2nd century A.D.
• The     4th period covered the 3rd century A.D.
• The earliest type of Torana or Gateway of a Buddhist stups (consisting of only a pair of pillars to which were tied the two ends of a fresh wreath daily or periodically) is found at Amaravati.
• Vachehhomi: A style evolved at Vatsagulma in the Vakataka period.
• Based on the principle of Art for the sake of Art, the craftsmen of Amravati school created beautiful human images.
• This school successfully depicted love, compassion devotion,  and serenity yet the physical beauty and sensual expression commands its art.

Mathura school

The origin of this school can be traced back to 2nd century BC which matured by 1st century AD. It prospered under Kushans. The excavations carried out at Sonkh, Tokri Tila, KankiTila in Mathura region have exposed a number of sculptures of this school which are very important from the point of viewof Indian art and iconography.

Important features of this school are:

• Continuation of early art forms of Central lndia(particularly of Bharhut).
• It used red buff (Sikri) Sandstone as a raw material.
• It was perhaps the first school to build a life like image of Buddha.

In a time span of four hundred years this school produced a variety of sculptures and artifacts for the followers of Buddhism, Jainism and Brahmanism. Therefore it was secular in character, It produced the images of Kings for example standing Kanishka and notables thereby catering to the demands of different social groups.

It depicted various patterns of life on the votive pillars.

The general characteristic of the Buddha idols are:

• The head and face are shaven.
• The right hand is shown in abhaya posture.
• The dress is always tight on the body and the left hand holds the frill,
• The Jaina specimens included sculptures, A yagapatas or stone slabs with eight auspicious marks. The Brahmanical images included Balarama, Durga, Shiva, (represented by Chaturmukha linga) Saraswati, Surya, Kubera, Karttikeya and Naga images.
• A number of Yaksha Yakshni images associated with Buddism, Jainism, Brahmanism were produced resulting in fusion of the primitive Yaksha cult with pantheon of other sects. Production of black terracotta is the speciality of this school.

Gandhar a school

Flourished from the 2nd half of the first century B.C. to about 5th century A.D.

It shows Greek influence therefore is known as Indo-Greek art. The important feature of this school are:

Buddha is shown as Roman and Greek Gods.

Mustache and beard are added to Buddha's face.

The figures of this school follow a given ratio between the size of the face and rest of the body, The draperies have fold lines.

The ornaments are of minimum use.

Halo is plain with no decorations.

The anatomical accuracy have been given due consideration.

Buddha hair is wavy.

It was first to produce image of hungry and sad Buddha.

 The other sculptures are generally related with Buddha's life and Buddhistava. The statue of Roma shows the Greek and Roman influence.

A stupa of this school can be seen at Guldara in Afghanistan. Votive Stupa of this school have been found at LoriyanTangai (in Swat Valley). The geographical area covered by this school are Peshawar, Buner, Bajjora, Bimaran and above all Gandhara located in the N.W India on the banks of river Indus.

Based upon the use of the raw materials, the Gandhara art can be divided into two schools:-

a. Early School (1st and 2nd century A.D.) during which Blue-Grey schist stone was used to make idols.

b. Later School - instead of schist stone, mud, plaster and stucco was used to make idols.