7 - Gupta Period Flashcards
Who was the Mahārājadhirāja during the early Gupta period?
Candragupta I (ca. 319-335), married to Kumaradevi, a Licchavi princess, even depicetd on coins
- marriage alliance with Nepal (Licchavi)
- Gupta rise with help of Liccahvi
Who succeeded Candragupta I as the Mahārājadhirāja?
Samudragupta (ca. 335-375), son of Candragupta I and Kumaradevi.
Which prominent sculptures represent the Gupta period Buddha statues and the GUPTA CANON?
Standing Buddha sculptures from the 2nd school of Mathurā and the school of Sarnath, both from the 5th century.
- GUPTA CANON: Imperial style: broad shoulders, narrow hips
What is the material and size of the Standing Buddha from the 2nd school of Mathurā?
**Reddish sandstone, height: 85.5 cm, 5th century.
Where is the Standing Buddha from the school of Sarnath located, and what is its material?
Located in the Guimet Museum, Paris, made of white sandstone, height: 98 cm, 5th century.
How many caves are there at Ajanta, and what period do they span?
29 caves at Ajanta, spanning from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century CE.
- master pieces of Buddhist art and architecture.
- finest indian paintings
- excavations 19th CE
Ajanta cave 6 (vihara)
- famous paintings, murals
- change in doctrine to Mahayana: no more austerity
- Buddha wears elaborate cronwns
- dense compositions
- idealized bodies
- fine contours
- dry fresco and wet plaster
- Nepalese painters
- “The beautiful Bodhisattva”
What is significant about Ajanta Cave 10?
It is one of the key caves at Ajanta from the Gupta period
probablay oldest cave
What is notable about Ajanta Cave 26 from the Gupta period?
Ajanta Cave 26, dating from the 5th century, is significant for its religious murals and statues.
- stupa in center for circunambulation
- sculpted pillars
- fries narratives: Jataka stories
- teaching Buddha on throne
- Bodhisattva representations
- auspicous couples
- 2 standing Buddhas outside
What is Ajanta Cave 1 known for?
Ajanta Cave 1 is a vihara (monastic complex) from the Gupta period, important for its murals and sculptures.
What is the significance of the perfumed chamber (gandhakuti) in Ajanta Cave 1 (vihara)?
The perfumed chamber (gandhakuti) in Ajanta Cave 1 is associated with the Buddha’s smell and has archaeological importance.
- all senses are addressed in meditation
- richer Mahayana style
What period do the Udayagiri caves belong to?
The Udayagiri caves in Maharashtra belong to the Gupta period (4th-5th centuries).
- Hindu Rock-Cut architecture is similar to Buddhist
- BUT NO Stūpa in centrer
What are the three main deities of the Hindu triad, and their roles?
- Trio of supreme gods
- symbolize cycle of rebirth and liberation like in Buddhism
- link to succession of cosmic order
- the world has no beginning and no end
- Brahma (creator)- 4 heads in 4 cardinal directiion: shaping of the world
- Vishnu (protector): Tiara: kingdom is the earth
- Shiva (destroyer): Ascetic bun, 3rd eye, angry, powerful, ascetic. Enables re-creation
What cycle does Hinduism emphasize in relation to life and afterlife?
The cycle of rebirths (samsara) and Moksha (liberation from the cycle).
What was the origin of Hinduism and what was its early phase called?
Hinduism originated from Vedism, which began in the 2nd millennium BC with the arrival of the Aryans.
What texts were central to the development of Hinduism during the Vedic period?
The Vedas (revealed knowledge), written between 1500-500 BC.
What is the difference between Śruti and Smṛti literature in Hinduism?
Śruti is revealed tradition (the Vedas), while Smṛti is transmitted tradition (derivative works based on Śruti).
What is Bhakti in the context of Hinduism?
Bhakti refers to devotion, particularly to deities such as Vishnu, significant during the Gupta period.
What famous works were written during the Gupta period, contributing to Hindu culture?
Works by Kālidāsa, including Śākuntala, Kumārasambhava, Meghaduta, and Raghuvaṃśa, and the epics Mahābhārata and Bhagavadgītā.
What is the significance of the Udayagiri caves, Cave 5?
Cave 5 depicts Vishnu as protector (Avatāra: Varaha BORE incarnation holding Prithivi, the earth goddess, Naga water deities)
To protect the earth when in danger, Visnu incarnantes on worldly figures to protect the world
and is associated with the reign of Candragupta II (375-415 CE).
What is depicted in Udayagiri Cave 4?
Udayagiri Cave 4 features Shiva (Śiva) in the form of a Lingam, as abstract of Siva, fromless reality, pure consciousness
Siva as destroyer, that destroys the world to cretae the world,
Phallic symbol vertival, male
Yoni symbol horizontal, female
What is the role of Durga in Gupta period art?
Durga, depicted as Mahishasuramardini (the slayer of the buffalo demon), was an important figure in religious iconography during the Gupta period.
Durga as aspect of Mother Goddess Mahadevi
Multiple arms and heads: symbol of gods multiple powers and actions
What is the Dashavatara?
The Dashavatara refers to the ten incarnations of Vishnu, a central motif in Gupta period art.
What is the significance of the Vishnu temple at Deogarh (early 6th century)?
The temple features the Dashavatara and is crucial in the development of Hindu temple architecture during the Gupta period.
What is Pradakshina or Circumambulation?
Pradakshina is the act of walking around a sacred object or image, an important ritual in Hindu worship.
What is Gajendra-moksha?
Gajendra-moksha refers to the story of Gajendra, the elephant, and his liberation by Vishnu.
Symbols:
Anjali mudra: prayer hand gesture
vidyadhara: bearer of knowledge, Visnu stits on
King cursed into elefant 1000 years
Naga snake around his feet
Visnu salves king
How does devotion to Vishnu relate to liberation in Gupta period Hinduism?
Devotion to Vishnu (Bhakti) is seen as an effective path to achieving Moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirths).
