State PCS
The Stupa of Bharhut, with its carved stone railings and gateways, is a fine example of the art of the:
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Answer: Option B — Shunga period
Detailed Solution
The Stupa of Bharhut, in the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh, is a fine example of the art of the Shunga period (2nd-1st century BCE).
About the Bharhut stupa:
- The original brick stupa may have been built in the Mauryan period, but its famous stone railings (vedika) and gateways (toranas) were added in the Shunga period.
- An inscription on one of the gateways says that it was built "in the reign of the Shungas" (Sugananam raje) by Dhanabhuti.
- The site was discovered by Alexander Cunningham in 1873.
- Most of the surviving railings and a gateway are now kept in the Indian Museum, Kolkata; some pieces are in the Allahabad Museum and other museums.
Features of Bharhut art:
- The carvings illustrate stories of the previous lives of the Buddha and scenes from the life of the Buddha.
- The Buddha is not shown in human form; he is represented through symbols such as the Bodhi tree, an empty throne, footprints, the wheel and the stupa (the "aniconic" phase of Buddhist art).
- There are figures of yakshas and yakshis (nature spirits), such as Chulakoka Devata and Kubera Yaksha, carved on the pillars.
- Many carvings have short inscriptions (labels) identifying the scenes and the donors, which is very useful for historians.
- The carvings are in low relief and have a flat, somewhat stiff style, typical of early Indian art.
- Many donations were made by ordinary people, including monks, nuns and lay devotees.
About the Shungas:
- The Shunga dynasty was founded by Pushyamitra Shunga in about 185 BCE, after he killed the last Mauryan king, Brihadratha.
- The Shungas ruled from Pataliputra and Vidisha.
- Other Shunga-period monuments include parts of the Sanchi stupa and the Besnagar (Heliodorus) pillar.
Other early Buddhist art:
- Sanchi: the gateways were added under the Satavahanas.
- Amaravati: developed under the Satavahanas.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Mauryan period is known for polished stone pillars.
- ✗The Gupta period is known for classical sculpture.
- ✗The Kushana period is known for Gandhara and Mathura art.
Quick tip
Remember: Bharhut stupa = Shunga period (Satna, MP; discovered by Cunningham, 1873; previous-life stories of the Buddha; aniconic Buddha; now in Indian Museum, Kolkata).
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Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the period after the Mauryas: the Shungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Shakas and Kushanas, followed by the Gupta Empire, often called the classical age of India, and the reign of Harshavardhana. It includes art, literature, science and administration in these periods. Exams test the rulers and their achievements (Kanishka and the fourth Buddhist council, Samudragupta's Allahabad Pillar inscription, Chandragupta II and Fa-Hien), the Gandhara and Mathura schools of art, and Gupta scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata and Varahamihira. Harsha's reign is usually tested with Hiuen Tsang and Nalanda University. Practise the post-Mauryan and Gupta age questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.