The Buddhist Art of Kausambi (From 300 BC to AD 550)

Contents: Foreword/G.C. Pande. Preface/Aruna Tripathi. Introduction/S.P. Gupta. I. Backdrop: 1. Location and identification. 2. Kausambi as centre of trade and traffic. 3. Kausambi as a prominent centre of art activities. 4. Previous works. II. History of Kausambi: 1. Literary sources. 2. Accounts of foreign travellers. 3. Archaeological sources. III. Buddhism in Kausambi: 1. Traditions about Buddha’s visits to Kausambi. 2. Royal patronage. 3. Buddhist establishments in and near Kausambi. 4. Schism in the Sangha and Kausambi. IV. Early archaeological, explorations and excavations at Kausambi. V. Sculptures from Kausambi: documentation: 1. Objects pertaining to Mauryan period. 2. Objects pertaining to Sunga period. 3. Objects pertaining to late Sunga- early Kusana phase. 4. Objects pertaining to Kusana period. 5. Objects pertaining to late Kusana – early Gupta phase. 6. Objects pertaining to Gupta period. 7. Coloured visuals. VI. Sculptures from Kausambi: an appraisal: 1. Mauryan art. 2. Sunga art. 3. The late Sunga-early Kusana art: transitional phase. 4. Kusana art. 5. The late Kusana-early Gupta art: transitional phase. 6. Gupta art. 7. Images of female devotees. 8. Mother and child images. 9. Heads of devotees and Bodhisattvas. VII. Stone and stone-carving: a study of types and techniques: 1. Stone. 2. Quarrying. 3. Carving technique. VIII. Summary and conclusions: 1. The Kausambi region: Vatsabhumi. 2. Archaeological sites and excavations. 3. Art tradition at Kausambi: historical and economic background. 4. Buddhism in Kausambi: archaeological remains. 5. Buddhist sculptures of Kausambi: a resume. 6. Was there a Kausambi school of art? 7. Art tradition at Kausambi: its significance and place in Indian art. Bibliography. Index.

"One of the major centres of Buddhist art in ancient times, Kausambi provides evidence of an uninterrupted art tradition spanning centuries. Pointing to the scant attention Kausambi has received from scholars in the past, this work attempts to highlight its art treasures through a study of its stone sculptures. Based on scrutiny of stone sculptures found at various sites in Kausambi and its vicinity and housed in different museums, it presents perhaps the first extensive documentation of the Buddhist art of the region from the Mauryan to post-Gupta period.

It examines in detail over 300 stone sculptures, paying special attention to their iconographic features, types of stone, techniques of carving, grinding and polishing and their aesthetic appeal. All this comes with a background throwing light on the history of Kausambi and its association with Buddhism, the early archaeological explorations in the region, and the individuality and uniqueness of Kausambi art as compared to Mathura and Sarnath schools.

The book presents over 225 black-and-white and over 50 coloured photos of Buddhist sculptures which are neatly classified and systematically analysed. It would prove invaluable to scholars and students of Buddhist art." (jacket)