Cultural Contributions TheMauryan Kushan Empire Period

7/23/2019 Cultural Contributions TheMauryan Kushan Empire Period

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/cultural-contributions-themauryan-kushan-empire-period 1/9

Cultural ContributionsMauryan Kushan empire period

The study of the Cultural Contributions would enable to understand the development

under theMauryan Kushan empire period. The Cultural, Social, Political, Artistic and

Economic History would give an in- depth knowledge of the Society then.

Significance of Mauryan Kushan Administration:

• By the understanding of Chandragupta Maurya’s Empire we get a glimpse into

thekind of administration that was prevalent.

• The Empire was divided into3 provinces, each under a Viceroy, usually under the

Royal family.

• Theprovincial capitals were at Taxilla, Ujjain and Tosali. He visited law courts and

Hall of Audience (Diwan- i- Aam. Diwan- i- Khaas).

• Hunting was his favorite sport and his army consisted of elephants, chariots and

cavalry.

According to Megasthenes’s observation

• ‘All land belonged to the state. There was no private ownership in the state,famines

were unknownand Irrigation received special interest. There was overall prosperity.

• The ruler wasassisted in his duties by hisministers who took charge of various

portfolios.

• There was significant importance given to trade.

http://i0.wp.com/www.nextgenias.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/113.jpg



• Thesecond board took care of the

Foreign office and consulate, medical

facilities, stamped with their

passports, etc.

• The third board took care of

registrations of Births and Deaths in

the state and maintained the census

for taxation purposes.

• There were boards in charge of

commerce, regulated sales, stamped

weights and measures, collectionof tax, etc.

• Civil and criminalcourts existed

separately.

• Cases were heard by three judges.

• The main articles in which the

merchants dealt were muslins, finer

clothes, cutlery, armor, brocades,

embroideries and drugs. Ivory, gold

and jewellery too were some of the other articles.

Thesociety and economic

activity reveals that there was

centralized bureaucracy or the control

of the state over economy was

predominant.

Early pastoral economy had changed to a village

economy based on agriculture.



According to the account of Megasthenes

theIndian Society was divided into 7

cl asses of philosophers, farmers, soldiers,

h erdsmen, artisans, magistrates and

Councilors.

• Arthashastra describes the buildings within

the city that sheds more lights on social

status of various professions.• Wages were determined according to the

quality of the work and the quantity

produced.

• For example consider the wages of a weaver

for instance, it was dependent on whether

the threads were spun fine, coarse or of middle

quality and in proportion of the quantity.• In a place like Taxila, the Indian craftsmen would

also be in contact with the Iranian craftsman who

already was familiar with the medium of stone.

• The Trade and sale of the merchandise was strictly

supervised by the state.

• As far as Taxes are concerned there is no mention

of thecapital punishmentfor such a crime.

• The punishment was usually confiscation of the goods or the payment of fine.

• In the inscriptions, the ruler is calledDevaputra suggesting the divine origin

of the king.

• Dandanayaku andMahadandanayaka were given the Military, Judiciary and Police

functions.



• Gramika and Padrapala built thefeudal hierarchy.

• Mendicants, Herdsmen, Artisans, Military officials, Inspectors in the Police, etc. too

found employment with the administration.

• Emperor Ashoka fulfilledPlato’s ideal of the state in which ‘Kings are

Philosophers and Vice versa.’

• Megasthenes has listed3 classes in the society: Soldiers, Administrative officers andCouncilors.

Characteristic features of the Cultural Contributions:

Asokan Pillars are boldly designed,

exquisitely modeled and finely balanced

possessing a lustrous polish.

Elaborate vegetation motifs are seen.

They are essentially the

fertility symbols.

ThePurna- Kalasha shows a plant that is abundant and is flowing out

of the pot of plenty

The Yakshis are shown with emphasized breasts as Vrikshikaor

the lady plucking the branch of the tree. She has the capacity

to bring to life even a dead tree out of season. The dress andornaments acquaint us to the economic conditions in the

society.



The sculptures are depicted with naturalistic linear qualities.

Animated Royal Processions, domestic scenes, dancers and musicians, bullocks, animals,

monkeys and elephants are shown

in p rocessionor as anindividual medallion. There is

rhythm added to the sculptures by the artistic

hand.

Thesculptor had been successful in projecting movement in the composition which comes

with expertise and experience to the hand of the artist.

Evidence related to singing, drawing, music and other items of entertainment likedramatic performances and magical shows providing amusement to many.

Theinscriptions recording donations or dedications by pious people for their

respective religious order have been found. The broader aspect of life aimed at a

harmonious balancing of dharma, artha and kama spiritually economic pursuit and

marital happiness.

http://i0.wp.com/www.nextgenias.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/110.png



Thefamily life constituted of smaller unit in the social organization.

The joint family consisted of father, Mother, (grandfather) pitamaha, vadhu (daughter-

in- law), and even the senior members of the family.

Several types of attendants were known to cater to the comforts of the master and the

mistress of the house- hold.

Maid servantsattended on the ladies preparing cosmetics

(vilepana) arranging for the toilet and weaving sweet smelling garlands.

Lalitavistaraa text too prescribes the rules and conducts of the bride.

Marriage generally took place between the members of the same caste.

Dress and ornaments, Sculptures and Literature arerich sourcesof knowing the

status, taste and prosperity of the people.

In the Gandhara region the dress of the people consisted of a loin cloth (dhoti)tied with agirdle at the waist and reaching to the ankles. Scarf and turban too were very much the

part of the

dress.

The woman on the other hand wore a long tunic with an ornate girdle on her pelvis. The

ornamentation consisted of a necklace for both men and women.

Men wore a single bangle but for women the bangles were numerous.

http://i1.wp.com/www.nextgenias.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/17.png



From the sculptures available it seemssoft and transparent clothing was worn during

summers and perhaps plain cotton (tunda pati)was worn during the winter.

Thetoilet and the treatment of the hair is elaborately seen in the art works found.

Asvaghosha mentions abouttoilet scene where a woman is seen holding up a mirror to her

face.

Ointment, perfume, clothes and sweet smelling flowers have been mentioned.

Chandana paste too was used for the body.

According toMilindapanha shampooing (dhovana), followed by tying a ribbon

(bandhana),combing (kocca)and then the hair dressing (kappaha) and a mirror (adarsa

mandala)have been known.

Religious Conditions of the Kushan Empire:

• The Religious Conditions reveal that the Kushana rulers were verytolerant and

liberal rulers.

• Themonks were conscious of the unity of all religions.

• Differentschools of Buddhism were Sarvastivadinis, Dharamaguptikas

and Mahasanghikas.

• TheBrahmanical hierarchy was recognized and practiced.

•

The popular cult ofsnake worship is noticed in several records.

• Brahmanism was a living force with the performance of the sacrifices.

• The Jains were fairly active with their Ganas, Kulasand Sakhas.

• On a whole the religious conditions were one of understanding, toleration and broad-

mindedness.

Literature of Kushan Empire:

• Literature too was known to occupy an important place in the society.

• Texts like Mahavastu, the Lalitavistara, the Kavyas of Asvaghosa: The Buddha-

Carita and the Sundrananda were known.

• Asvaghosa had studied the psychology of women, their character and methods of

approach where Sundariis shown to tempt Anandaas a deterrent on the path to

Moksha.

• In the Saddharmapundarika there are references to neat and lovely gardens serving

as places of recreations.



• Children seem to be happy playing with the sand (sikta) and toys (kridanakam.)

• There is a reference to juvenile enjoying games and exercising. Playing on musical

instruments, dancing and singing are seen.

• The musical instruments included drums (bheri), conch(dhundhhubi), sweet

lute (vina),tabor (mridanga),drum (kin kina)and other minor instruments like cymbal,

tunava, vallaki and mukunda were also played.

• Magic display and festivals were uniformly enjoyed.

Yaksha from Parkham, Yakshi from Didarganj, Colossol columns, Columns at

Lauriya Nandangarh, Sanskasia Lion Capital, Rampurva Bull Capital, Vesantara Jataka,

etc. all are

replete examples of how far the value to art and architecture was provided a place in the

day-to- day life.

The work rendered under the Mauryas was not with entire patronage

from the state.

Rich merchants, land owners, travelers, high officials, common artisans

too were giving liberal donations for the excellence.

The Gandhara sculptures show cymbals, drums, harp, lute, mandolin,

pan- pipe sand tambourine shown in various sculptures.

TheMathura sculptures show tabor, flute, conch, drum and a big pipe.Besides items of entertainment, magic and magicians (sobhika) too were

very popular.

The Kaumusi- Maha utsavais also noticed in the Divyavadana.

It will be of interest to know that women from all walks of life were drawn to Buddhism.

The Narratives at Sanchi speak of the ivory workers from Vidisa.



TheSalabhanjikasdepicted here too speak of the fecundity cult.

The adoration of the woman as Mother and a fertility symbol

was lived through her conglomerate forms of the woman with the tree.

Monks and nuns were shown shunning away the worldly pleasures and living on the

generosity of the laity. Ashok too became renowned as the patron of the Buddhist

intellectual Asvaghosa.

Conclusion:

Both Art and Culture are inseparable and the Cultural background seems to beindispensable for a better understanding of the basic features of artistic, sculptural and

architectural forms.

By taking the above view of the Cultural understanding, an inter- relation of the society and

the influences on the mind of the artist is understood.

Documents

Cultural Contributions TheMauryan Kushan Empire Period