Medieval Indian Sculpture

Medieval Indian Sculpture

I. North India

Pala & Sen Sculpture (Eastern Style Sculpture)

• Under the Pala and Sen kings of Bengal & Bihar (8th–12th century), both Buddhists and Hindus made fine icons, many in black basalt.

• The special characteristic of Pala sculpture is its fine finish; its statues are much decorated and well-polished and often seem rather made of metal than of stone.

Odisha Sculpture

• The carving of the temples of Bhubaneshwar and Konark shows a deep sensuous appreciation of the human form.

• The finest Odishan sculptures are those in the courtyard of the Sun (Surya) temple at Konark, where the forceful horses and the mighty elephant crushing a male factor in his trunk show a strength of treatment.

Chandela (Khajuraho) Sculpture

• The Khajuraho temples are covered with figures of divinities and lovers of wonderful delicacy and grace.

Solanki (Gujarat-Rajasthan) Sculpture

• Under the Solanki rulers of Gujarat and Rajasthan (10th–12th century), Jains made fine icons, mostly in white marble.

• Specimens of Solanki sculpture are found in Mount Abu, Girnar, Palitana etc.

II. South India

Chalukya Sculpture

• The temples of Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal contain fine work of Chalukyan sculpture.

• It shows the influence of the Gupta style with a tendency to elongation, perhaps inherited from Amaravati style.

Pallava Sculpture

• Pallava rulers of Kanchi had keen interest in sculpture.

• The depiction of the body of gods and humans is more graceful in Pallava sculpture and the depiction of animals is superior to other sculpture styles.

• The most remarkable specimens are the sculptures of Mammalapuram (Mahabalipuram).

• The most striking is the relief of the descent of the Ganga.

• Mammalapuram contains other fine relief sculpture, including an idealized portrait of King Mahendravarman and his queens, and a number of free-standing animal figures.

Rashtrakuta Sculpture

• Rock-cut cave temples were built at Ellora and Elephanta during the time of Rashtrakuta rulers.

• Famous sculptures at Ellora: Ravan’s Ditch, Dasawatar, Kailashnath.

• Famous sculptures at Elephanta: Trimurti (Bhairava-fearful form, Shiva-calm form & Uma-feminine form) of Maheshwar, Shiv Tandav (Natraj), Shiv-Parvati marriage etc.

Gomateshwar (Bahubali) Statue of Shravanbelgola

• Located in Hassan district of Karnataka between Vindhygiri (Indragiri/Dohabetta) and Chandragiri (Chikkabetta) hills.

• A huge statue of Gomateshwar (Bahubali) in Kayotsarga mudra (standing position).

• Bahubali was a son of Rishabhdev/Adinath (first Jain Teerthankar).

• Built by Chamund/Chawand Rai, minister of Gang ruler Rajmall-II of Mysore.

• Height: 57 feet (17.4 metres).

• Carved from a single block of black stone.

• Mahamastakabhishek of Bahubali performed here every 12 years.

Chola Sculpture

1. Stone Statues

• Stone sculpture was mainly a subsidiary part of architecture, used to ornament temples.

• Brihadeshwar (Rajrajeshwar) Temple, Tanjore: Various forms of Shiva & Vishnu, folk statues, and 108 mudras of dance depicted through dancing girls.

• Gangaikondacholapuram Temple: Fewer statues but more artful and emotional.

• Famous statue: Chandesh Anugrah statue of Shiva.

• Airateshwar Temple, Darasuram: Numerous statues, beautifully depicting mudras (stances) of drama from Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra.

2. Metal Statues

• Metal sculpture was an independent art, more beautiful than stone statues.

• Specimens of Chola bronze statues are found in South Indian temples and museums worldwide.

Statue of Natraj (Shiva):

• Ultimate example of a bronze statue.

• Shiva depicted performing Tandav dance, right leg on dwarf Apasmara/Malayak (symbol of ignorance & evil), left leg raised in Bhujangtrasit mudra (terrified of snake).

Symbolism:

• Upper right hand holds Damru (creation).

• Upper left hand carries flame (destruction).

• Lower right hand – Abhay mudra (assurance).

• Lower left hand – Gajhast mudra (disappearance).

• Called “Cultural epitome of Chola period.”

Notable Finds:

• Huge bronze Nataraj from Tirubharangakulam, Trichanapally (Delhi museum).

• Ardhanarishwar Shiva from Tiruvalankudu, Trichanapally (Chennai museum).

Hoyasala Sculpture

• Statues seen in Chennakeshava temple (Belur) and Hoyasaleshwar temple (Halebid).

• Statues of Hoysala king Vishnuvardhan and queen Santala are notable.

Vijaynagar Sculpture

• Sculpture developed rapidly as temple decoration became more elaborate.

Bronze Statues:

• Life-size statues of Krishnadev Raya with queens Tirumalamba & Chinnadevi, Venkat-I, Achyut Raya at Venkateshwar temple (Tirupati).

Other Statues:

• Cholamdevi (Kalahasti), metal statue of Ramanujam (Sriperambdur).

Madurai/Nayak Sculpture

• Successor state of Vijaynagar.

• Nayak ruler Tirumal Nayak made statues of himself and his wife.

Mughal Sculpture

• Sculpture suffered setback with Turk conquest (13th century) due to Islamic prohibition on living images.

• Ornamentation shifted to geometric, floral, and calligraphic motifs.

Akbar:

• Ordered statues of Jaimal and Fatta (Chittor battle heroes, 1568), placed at Agra Fort gate (removed by Aurangzeb in 1669).

Jahangir:

• Commissioned statues of Rana Amar Singh and his son, Prince Karan of Udaipur.

• Decline continued under orthodox Shahjahan and fanatic Aurangzeb.

Modern Indian Sculpture

• With decline of Mughals, British became powerful (1757–1947).

• Statues during British period mostly of emperors or viceroys, established to show dominance.

Notable Indian Sculptors

• Deviprasad Raychowdhury (1899–1975): Disciple of Abanindranath Tagore. Works: Triumph of Labour (1954, Madras), Martyrs' Memorial (1956, Patna).

• Ram Kinkar Baij (1906–80): Works: Santhal Family (1938, Shanti Niketan), Yaksha-Yakshi (RBI).

• Ram Vanji (R.V.) Sutar (b. 1925): Works: Statue of Unity (2018, Narmada – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel), Statue of Prosperity (2022, Bengaluru).

• Other Sculptors: Sudhir Ranjan Khastgir, Sankho Choudhury etc.

Main Centres of Sculpture

• Jaipur, Chennai, Tanjore, Mumbai, Varanasi etc.

Final Thoughts

Medieval Indian sculpture reflects the country’s rich cultural and religious diversity. In North India, Pala and Sen kings created finely polished black basalt icons, Odisha temples show a deep appreciation for the human form, and Khajuraho and Solanki sculptures are known for their delicate figures.

In South India, Chalukya, Pallava, Chola, Hoysala, and Vijayanagar artists developed distinctive stone and bronze works, including the giant Gomateshwar statue at Shravanbelgola and the iconic Nataraj of Chola temples.

During the Mughal period, living figures declined, with focus shifting to floral and geometric motifs, while modern Indian sculpture saw artists like Deviprasad Raychowdhury and R.V. Sutar creating monumental works, continuing India’s artistic legacy.