Word Count : 1035

---

The Shunga period, which followed the decline of the Mauryan Empire around the 2nd century BCE, represents a significant phase in the development of Indian art, particularly in the field of sculpture. The Shunga dynasty, founded by Pushyamitra Shunga, ruled over large parts of northern and central India, and their patronage of art and architecture contributed to the emergence of a distinctive sculptural style that marked a departure from the earlier Mauryan aesthetic. Shunga sculptures are primarily associated with Buddhist monuments such as stupas, railings, gateways, and pillars, reflecting the religious and cultural environment of the time. One of the most notable features of Shunga sculpture is its transition from the polished, refined, and somewhat idealized forms of Mauryan art to a more expressive, detailed, and narrative style. Unlike the Mauryan sculptures, which often emphasized smooth surfaces and monumental simplicity, Shunga artists focused on intricate carvings and elaborate decorative elements. The use of stone became more widespread during this period, particularly sandstone, which allowed for detailed relief work. The sculptures were often carved in low to medium relief, creating a rich visual texture. The most prominent examples of Shunga sculpture can be found at sites such as Bharhut, Sanchi, and Bodh Gaya. The Bharhut Stupa in Madhya Pradesh is one of the earliest and most important centers of Shunga art. The railings and gateways of the Bharhut Stupa are adorned with numerous sculptural panels depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha, as well as Jataka tales that illustrate the previous births of the Buddha. These panels are _________ ___ _________ ____ _____ ____ _____ ________ ______ __________ ________.
_______ _________ ____ ___ __________ _______ ______ ______.
_____ _______ ____ _____ ______ __________.
____ _____ _____ _________ ________ ______ ___ ______ _________ __________ ____ ___.
__________ _______ __________ ________ _____.
_______ _______ __________ _________ ______ _________ ____.
____ _____ __________ ____ ________.
_______ _________ _______ ________ _____ _______ ___.
______ _____ _______ _________ _________ _________ ______ ___ __________ _____ ______.
_________ _________ __________ _________ ____ _____ ____ _______ _____.
________ ________ _______ ____ ________ __________ _________ ___ ____ _______ ______.
____ _________ _____ ______ ________ __________ ______ ________ ________.
_______ _____ _______ ________ ______ __________.
_______ ____ ______ _____ ___ ___.
_______ __________ ____ _______ _______ ____ __________ _____ _______ __________ _______.
__________ __________ ____ ____ ______.
___ ______ _______ ______ ______ ____ _________ _________ ________.
__________ _____ _________ _________ _____ __________ _____.
______ ____ ____ _________ _____.
__________ _________ __________ ___ ________ _______ ____ _______.
____ ______ ________ ________ ________ ________ _________ ______ _______ ___ __________.
_________ _________ ___ _____ ___ ________ ____ _____ ______ _______.
___ ___ ____ ___ ___ _____.
______ ___ ________ __________ _____ _____ _______ ____ ________ _______ ________ ___.
_________ _______ ______ _________ ________ ______ ________ _______.
__________ __________ ______ ________ _________ __________ ________ _____ ________ _______.
____ ______ ________ __________ _______.
____ ______ ______ __________ _____ _________ _____ _________ ____ _________.
_____ __________ __________ ________ __________ ______ ___ _________ ___ __________ __________.
________ _________ ___ __________ ______ _____ ____ ______ _______.
_____ _____ ______ ___ _______ _________ _________ ________ ________ ___ ___.
_______ _______ ________ _______ _____ ______ ________ __________ _____ _____.
_____ __________ _________ ________ ________.
___ ____ ___ _____ _____ _________ _________.
________ _______ _____ ____ ________ ___ _______ ____ ___ __________ __________ _________.
_____ _________ __________ ____ _________ ________.
_____ ________ ________ ____ ________ ___ _____ __________.
______ _______ ______ ________ ______ ________ ______ ______ ______ ____ _____ ______.
________ _____ ____ _______ ______ ____ ________ __________ ___ ___ __________ _______.
_______ ___ ____ ______ _______.
______ ______ ____ _____ ________ _________ _____ _________ _____ _______ ________ ___.
________ ____ _________ ______ _____ _________ ________ ___ _____ _____ ___ _______.
__________ ______ _________ ________ __________ _____ ______ _________ __________ ____ _______.
_________ ________ __________ __________ ___ ___ ___ ___.
_______ ______ ___ ____ _____ ____ _________ ___ ______ ________ ________ ____.
_________ ______ _______ ___ _________ __________ _________.
______ _________ _________ _____ ____ _____ ___.
_________ _____ __________ _________ ___ ______.
__________ _________ __________ ________ _________ ____ _____.
____ ______ ______ _______ _____ ____.
___ _____ ___ _____ ______ ________ ____ ____.
________ ______ _______ _____ ____ ___ ___ _________.
__________ _____ _______ ______ __________.
___ ________ ______ __________ __________ _________.
____ ____ ______ ________ _____.
_______ ______ _______ ______ __________ __________ ___ _____ __________ ____.
______ ____ ____ __________ _________ _______ _________ ___.
__________ ___ ___ ________ _________ __________ _______ _______ __________ ________ __________ _______.
_____ __________ __________ ______ ___ ________ ________ _______ __________ ______.
_________ ___ ______ ___ ________ ____ ________.
_______ ________ ______ ____ ____ _______ ________ ________.
________ ________ ____ __________ ______ _______ __________ ____ __________ __________.
__________ ________ _______ ________ ___ ________ ____ __________ ________ ________ ______.
____ ________ ________ ________ ________ __________ ___ _____ _________ ___ _______ ______.
________ ______ __________ _________ _____ ______ _______ _____.
__________ ____ _________ _________ ___ _________ __________ ___ ________.
_____ ______ _______ _____ _______ ____ _________ ___ ________ _________.
________ _______ _______ _____ ________.
______ ______ ________ _____ ___ ____ _____.
___ _____ ________ __________ ____ ______.
_________ _________ ____ ____ _________ __________ _____ _______ ______.
____ ______ ________ _______ ___ ________ _______.
____ __________ __________ ________ ________ ___.
________ _______ ___ __________ ________ _____ _____ ___ ___ _________.
__________ _____ ____ __________ ___ ___ ________ ________ _______.
_____ ____ ___ ______ ___.
____ _________ ______ ___ __________ ______.
_________ ___ __________ _______ ____ _______ ____ _____ ____ _________ __________ ______.
______ ________ ___ ____ ___ ____ _________ _______ ___ ________ _________.
______ _______ ____ ________ __________ __________ ______ ____ ____ ____ ________.
_____ ____ ______ __________ __________ ____ ________.
______ _________ _____ ______ ___ ___ ____ ____ ____ ________.
______ ___ ________ _______ ________ ________ ___ _________ ____ __________ _______.
______ ___ ______ ____ ______ __________.
________ _______ ______ ________ __________ ______.
___ _________ ________ ________ __________ _____ ________.
_______ _______ _____ __________ ________ _____ _________.
___ _______ ___ ___ ________ ___ ___ ___ ________ _____ _____ ______.
_____ _____ _____ _____ _______ _____ ________ __________ _____ ________ _____ ___.
_____ _______ ____ ______ ___ _________ ____.
___ ________ __________ ________ ___.
______ _______ ____ _______ _____.
______ ______ ___ ________ ________.
Get Full Answer on WhatsApp