UPSC Mains 2016 GS Paper 1 Q1: model answer

Early stupas at Bharhut, Sanchi and Amaravati (2nd century BCE to 2nd century CE) carry rich sculpture on their railings (vedika) and gateways (torana).

Folk motifs

• Yakshas and yakshis, old fertility deities, such as the shalabhanjika bracket figures on Sanchi's gateways.
• Nature: lotus, trees, animals, village scenes.

Narratives

• Jataka tales of the Buddha's previous births, such as the Vessantara and Chhaddanta Jatakas, often in continuous narration.
• Events from the Buddha's life.

How they expound Buddhist ideals

• Aniconism: the Buddha shown through symbols (Bodhi tree, wheel, footprints, empty seat), expressing his transcendence.
• Jatakas teach compassion, generosity and self-sacrifice.
• Folk deities appear as devotees, drawing popular belief into the dhamma.
• Donor inscriptions of merchants, monks and women show a broad social base.

The art as an inclusive message

• At Bharhut, inscriptions label yakshis and Jatakas by name, which helped lay viewers, many of them unable to read, follow the stories.
• The Sanchi torana shows the siege of Kushinagara and the war of the relics, linking politics with devotion.
• Mathura and Amaravati later moved towards Buddha images, but the narrative tradition continued, and Amaravati's medallions carried it to new levels of crowded, lively composition.

Bottom line

Early stupa art turned familiar folk imagery into a visual sermon, making Buddhist ethics accessible to ordinary people.