‘‘Different ideas, sculptures and temples developed in the Puranic Hinduism from c. 600 BCE – 600 CE.’’ Substantiate the statement.

OR

‘‘Art historians had to acquire familiarity with hagiographies of the Buddha in order to understand Buddhist sculpture.’’ Explain the statement with the sculptural features.

In Puranic tradition the concept of saviour has been seen. It included the tradition of Vaishnavism where Vishnu was considered a principal deity and had 10 avatars that came to Earth when evil forces dominant the world. And the other tradition like Shaivism where Shiva was considered the primary chief deity. Shiva was mostly worshipped in the form of linga and sometimes in human forms.

The Puranic Hinduism was different than Vedic tradition as the primary deities of Vedic tradition like Indra and Soma became marginal figures and Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma were the chief deities. The worship of goddess were also present within Puranic traditions by showing their association with god as their wife like Lakshmi was the Vishnu. The texts of Puranic traditions were written in Sanskrit. The texts were orally transmitted by priests for everyone especially women and Shudras, who didn’t have access to Vedic learnings. To understand the sculptures, historians need to know the stories behind them which were written by Brahmans. The temples at first were made of a small room with picture of gods and goddess and after sometimes the temples became more elaborate with huge assembly halls, huge walls, elaborate structures of gods and getaways and arrangement for supply of water.

OR

Hagiographies were the biographies of religious leader or saint which often praised about the saint’s achievements which may not be accurately correct, these gave historians an idea of what the followers of a saint believed and their traditions. Buddha’s hagiographies were made after a century of Buddha. And they gave the historians a way to deconstruct, analyse and interpret the Buddha’s teaching. Art historians had to acquire familiarity with hagiographies of the Buddha in order to understand Buddhist sculpture. According to hagiographies Buddha attained enlightenment by meditating under a tree. And many sculptors didn’t showed Buddha in human form like the symbol of empty seat represents Buddha meditating under the tree, which is a prominent moment of Buddha’s life. Another symbol like the wheel represents the first sermons of Buddha, delivered at Sarnath. And to understand these sculptures, the historians need to became familiar with the traditions of those who produced these work of arts.