New Delhi Museum—Maurya, Shunga and Satavahana: photo 14
Photo 14 of 16 in Gallery: New Delhi Museum—Maurya, Shunga and Satavahana

Image title: Sculptures in Buff Sandstone
Description of the photo
Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, Maurya, 3rd Century B.C.E.—The Mauryan Sculptures are characterized by their distinct shiny polished surface, which according to some historians, is a Western influence. All of Asoka's pillars and their capitals exhibit this feature. However, there is no clear reason as to how they achieved it. While earlier historians were of the opinion that these sculptures were rubbed against with fine grained sand and then buffed with cloth or animal skin, some historians now are of the view that these sculptures were actually coated with a layer of pink sandstone mixed with haematite pellets and then chiselled and not polished. So while the lower surface was rough, its upper surface had a polished, lustrous appearance.
Transcription (not proofread):
पांड� रं� के बलुआ पत्थ� की प्रस्त� प्रतिमाएं�
सारनाथ, उत्त� प्रदेश, मौर्�, तीसरी शताब्दी �.पू.�
मौर्� का� की प्रस्त� प्रतिमाओ� को अपनी विशिष्� प्रकार की चम� के कारण अल� से पहचाना जा सकता है� कु� इतिहासका� इस� पश्चिमी प्रभाव मानत� हैं। सम्राट अशोक द्वारा बनवा� गए सभी स्तंभो� और उनके शीर्षो� पर यह विशिष्टत� दिखलाई देती है� किन्तु, यह स्पष्ट नही� है मूर्तिकारो� ने यह दक्षता कैसे प्राप्� की होगी� पहले के इतिहासकारो� का यह मत था कि इन प्रतिमाओ� को रे� से घिसा जाता था और फि� उन्हें कपड़� या पश� खा� से चमकाया जाता था� कु� इतिहासकारो� का मत है कि इन प्रतिमाओ� पर वस्तुत� हेमेटाइट से युक्� ला� बलुआ पत्थ� की पर� चढ़ा� गई थी और फि� इन्हें तराश� गय� था� इन्हें पॉलि� नही� किया गय� था� अत� इनकी निचली सत� तो खुरदरी है किन्तु ऊपरी सत� पर पॉलि� की गई है�
Transcription (not proofread):
pāṃḍu raṃga ke baluā patthara kī prastara pratimāeṃ�
sāranātha, uttara pradeśa, maurya, tīsarī śatābdī ī.pū.�
maurya kāla kī prastara pratimāo� ko apanī viśiṣṭa prakāra kī camaka ke kāraṇa alaga se pahacānā jā sakatā hai| kucha itihāsakāra ise paścimī prabhāva mānate haiṃ| samrāṭa aśoka dvārā banavāe gae sabhī staṃbho� aura unake śīrṣo� para yaha viśiṣṭatā dikhalāī detī hai| kintu, yaha spaṣṭa nahī� hai mūrtikāro� ne yaha dakṣatā kaise prāpta kī hogī| pahale ke itihāsakāro� kā yaha mata thā ki ina pratimāo� ko reta se ghisā jātā thā aura phira unhe� kapare yā paśu khāla se camakāyā jātā thā| kucha itihāsakāro� kā mata hai ki ina pratimāo� para vastuta� hemeṭāiṭa se yukta lāla baluā patthara kī parata caḍha़ाī gaī thī aura phira inhe� tarāśā gayā thā| inhe� paॉliśa nahī� kiyā gayā thā| ata� inakī nicalī sataha to khuradarī hai kintu ūparī sataha para paॉliśa kī gaī hai|
Transcription (not proofread):
pamdu ramga ke balua patthara ki prastara pratimaem�
saranatha, uttara pradesha, maurya, tisari shatabdi i.pu.�
maurya kala ki prastara pratimaom ko apani vishishta prakara ki camaka ke karana alaga se pahacana ja sakata hai| kucha itihasakara ise pashcimi prabhava manate haim| samrata ashoka dvara banavae gae sabhi stambhom aura unake shirshom para yaha vishishtata dikhalai deti hai| kintu, yaha spashta nahim hai murtikarom ne yaha dakshata kaise prapta ki hogi| pahale ke itihasakarom ka yaha mata tha ki ina pratimaom ko reta se ghisa jata tha aura phira unhem kapare ya pashu khala se camakaya jata tha| kucha itihasakarom ka mata hai ki ina pratimaom para vastutah hemetaita se yukta lala balua patthara ki parata cadha़ाi gai thi aura phira inhem tarasha gaya tha| inhem paॉlisha nahim kiya gaya tha| atah inaki nicali sataha to khuradari hai kintu upari sataha para paॉlisha ki gai hai|
Automated translation:
Stone sculptures of pale yellow ԻٴDzԱ�
Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, Maurya, 3rd century BCE�
The stone sculptures of the Mauryan period can be identified by their distinctive polishing. Some historians believe this to be a Western influence. All the pillars and capitals built by Emperor Ashoka have this polishing. However, it is not clear how the sculptors achieved this excellence. Earlier historians believed that the sculptures were rubbed with sand and then polished with cloth or animal hide. Some historians believe that the sculptures were actually coated with a layer of red sandstone containing hematite and then carved. They were not polished. Hence, the lower surface is rough but the upper surface is polished.
Gallery information:
These photographs are from the section “Maurya, Shunga and Satavahana Arts� within the National Museum of New Delhi (India). The Mauryan, Shunga, and Satavahana dynasties have distinct yet interconnected roles in the evolution of Indian art and culture. Throughout these periods, terracotta art evolved considerably, reflecting cultural and technical exchanges, and iconography transitioned from aniconic to anthropomorphic depictions in Buddhist contexts. These dynasties collectively influenced the stylistic and thematic growth of Indian art.
Photo details:
Date: 2024-04-04
Camera: SONY ILCE-6400
Exposure: 1/30
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO: 100
Focal length: 18mm
High resolution:
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Size: 791.79 KB
Resolution: 1293 x 1979
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