Discuss the development in sculpture and architecture associated with the rise of Vaishnavism and Shaivism.
1. In Hinduism, around 6th century B.C.E., there developed two traditions – Vaishnavism and Shaivism. In Vaishnavism, Vishnu was worshipped as the principal deity and in Shaivism, shiva was the chief god.
2. In these traditions there was a special bond between the devotee and the God – the bond of love and devotion i.e. Bhakti.
3. In Vaishnavism, over a period of time many cults developed in different parts of the country and as many as ten incarnations or “Avtars” of the deity were recognized.
4. These were the forms that the deity was believed to have assumed in order to save the world whenever it was threatened by disorder or destruction because of the dominance of evil forces.
5. Some of these were depicted in the sculptures too. For e.g.; the VARAHA OR BORA AVATAR of Vishnu rescuing the earth Goddess or Vishnu reclining on the serpent ‘SHESHNAG’.
6. Shiva was also depicted in human attributes of these deities are also depicted through symbols such as head – dresses ornaments and Ayudhas- weapons or auspicious objects the deities hold in their hands- how they are seated etc.
All this greatly enriched the sculpture of this period and created a unified religious tain the sacred relics of the Buddha.
a. Growth of Temple Architecture - Around this temple to house these images of Gods and Goddesses were also built.
b. The early temple was a small square room called the “Garbagriha”, with a single doorway for the worshipper to enter and offer worship to the image
c. Gradually a tall structure, known as the “Shikara” was built over the central shine
d. ‘temple wall’ were often decorated with sculpture
e. later on ‘assembly walls’ and ‘huge gateways’ were also added to the temples
f. Some of the temples were also cut into huge rocks as ‘ARTIFICIAL CAVES’. For e.g.:-the kaishnatha temple in Ellora.
Thus the growth of Vaishnavism and Shaivism led to the temple and cave architecture