Main features of Mathura art style | Salient Features of Mathura Art Style
Mathura art style has a special place in the form of sculpture. This art flourished in Mathura (in Uttar Pradesh), hence it is known as Mathura art style. This art style is associated with ancient Buddhist sculpture. Mathura was a major center for art and trade during the Kushan period. The site was famous for Buddhist viharas and sculptures. But at present no Buddhist Viharas are found there. The reason for this was that by taking advantage of the decline of Buddhism in the later period, Brahmanism strengthened itself and destroyed Buddhist monasteries and established Hinduism in its place. Gupta rulers ruled in Mathura. The Mathura art style flourished from the 2nd century BC to the 12th century AD. The Mathura art style also reflects the form of the Kushan kings.
At the same time another art became famous in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent, that is, parts of Afghanistan and Iran, which is known as the Gandhara art style. Around the 1st century AD, statues of Buddha in many forms and viharas and stupas were built in many parts of India. The Gandhara style of art is mainly composed of a mixture of Greek and Roman art and depicts the Buddha as a grand form of a Greek deity. In contrast, the Mathura art style is purely Indian and its style and material are completely Indian. The sculptures of Buddha evolved into the Yakshas (gods of nature) in the Mathura art style.
In the Mathura art style, Buddha sculptures were made in both standing and seated forms. The Mathura art style depicts an energetic form of Buddha who has broad shoulders, strong big chest, legs firmly set apart. The Buddha’s hands are shown in a posture known as assurance (abhaya-mudra). One of the prominent features of the Buddha statues made in Mathura Kala Sally is his smiling round face as well as his shaved head. But over time the hair came to be shown as a series of small flat spirals lying close to the head. And this type of hair later became famous throughout the Buddhist world.
In the Mathura art style, female figures have been carved in a very spectacular way on the pillars and entrances of monuments associated with Buddhism and Jainism. In these types of female figures, erotic postures of women and nude bathing or dancing or adorning are shown. Women are depicted in the form of trees (Yakshi / Prakriti Devi), considering them as important as goddesses in nature. This type of tradition is also seen in other Buddhist sites such as Bharhut and Sanchi (both in the state of Madhya Pradesh). The Yakshi was placed alongside the Buddha as a productivity and natural goddess and was established as an important goddess.
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Main features of Mathura art style | Salient Features of Mathura Art Style
- The Mathura style is made up of a mixture of Bharhut and Sanchi styles.
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Mathura art style is a religious style in which letters related to Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism are depicted. -
The sculptures of Kanishka, Buddha and Kubera in Mathura Art Museum are the epitome of this style. -
A giant statue of Buddha has also been received from Ramnagar (Mathura). -
An idol of Emperor Kanishka (in which the head of the idol is missing) has been found.
An idol of Kubera while drinking liquor has also been found.
Mathura art style is associated with folk life apart from religious.-
The manner in which the women and other idols are decorated in the Mathura art style shows the adornment. -
The creation of a particular person i.e. a prominent person in the form of an idol was first done in Mathura style only. -
Red sand-spotted stone has been used in the making of the idols.
Looking at the Mathura art style, it can be said that it is sentimental, idealistic and symbolic.
One of its main features is to show man the clown from the background of nature.
His body is depicted as heavy in most of the Buddha statues.
The Mathura art style depicts the Buddha in a hairless form.
Buddha statues are depicted with aura.
In the Mathura art style, Buddha is depicted as seated in such a way that the king is seated and the lion (lion) is shown near the feet.
In the Mathura style, Buddha is shown naked in lingerie. Salbats are clearly visible in clothes.