Interpreting Iconographical Representation of the Feminine in Art Schools of Buddhism

Abstract

Art history has emerged as a significant area of social science research in recent times. Art objects often reflect different meanings to viewers. Art is also important in understanding or reconstructing our past. In this context, an attempt has been made to understand Buddhist Indian art as presented by different schools. Women have been depicted as a manifestation of the Divine or as mother goddesses in the Indian religious context. Buddhist art maintains this continuity. This article is an endeavor to analyze aspects of the feminine representation in different art schools of Buddhism such as Sachi, Bharhut Mathura, Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda, Sarnath, and Gandhara. The period under review is from 6th century B.C. to 6th century A.D., as this is a time that constitutes a distinct period in the evolution of Indian art. This paper also intends to focus on the depiction of women in sculpture through various themes, tackled by different schools.