The Buddhist Art in India represents the various facets and periods of Buddhism, which are clearly visible in Buddhist paintings, sculptures, statues, rock-cut temples and other monuments. These innumerable Buddhist monuments give us a clear idea of the trend of Buddhist art in India through the ages. In fact, the Buddhist art in India reflects all the important aspects of Buddhism.
During the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, a new school of art flourished in the Gandhara region (northwest of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan). And for the first time the Buddha was represented in the human form and a large number of statues and images of Buddha and bodhisattva were created. In this period, Mathura (Utter Pradesh, India) also emerged as an important center of Buddhist art and culture in India.
The Gupta era (329-650 AD) considered ad the golden age of India was also the golden age for Buddhist art. As the already vast Gupta Empire included many new territories into it, hundreds of artists from these regions contributed greatly to the development of art and architecture of India. Mathura, Sarnath and Nalanda emerged as the prime centers for Buddhist art in India, during this period. The Buddhist images of Mathura and Sarnath are some of the best specimens of Indian art, never equaled by any art creations of later period. The Gupta style of Buddhist art, which was known for its excellent expression and superb finishing, was adopted by many other countries and greatly influenced Buddhist art all over Asia.
The Buddhist art in India continued to grow over the centuries to incorporate a pantheon of new Buddhist deities, including Maitreya or the future Buddha and numerous bodhisattvas. With the advent of Muslim rule in India and the decline of Buddhism in the country, the Buddhist art also started to decline. In spite of all this, the contribution of Buddhist art in the art and culture of India can't be underestimated. The fineness of the Buddhist art and culture in India can still be seen at hundreds of Buddhist sites in the country, showcasing the great mastery and skills of ancient artisans.
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