Indian open air museums. Abstract National Museum of India
The cultural center of India is designed to show the greatness of Indian civilization, to acquaint you with the oldest culture and crafts of this amazing country. The center has created an atmosphere in which every Indian will feel at home, and a foreigner - in the land of boundless wisdom, India. Take a fascinating journey across all 29 states of India by visiting one of the most beautiful museums in ETNOMIR!
The Cultural Center of India is based on the concept of the artist Ujwala Nilamani, built in accordance with the laws of vastu-shastra - the ancient science of creating a happy society and harmonizing relations in it. The interior composition of the five-story building represents the Indian perception of the world, where the divine principle is dominant. The facade, made in the Mughal style, is decorated with massive gilded gates, repeating the architectural motifs of the residence of Emperor Akbar - the city of Fatihpur Sikri. Nearby, on a pedestal, stands a sculpture of the Indian philosopher and prominent public figure Swami Vivekananda.
According to the concept, the basement space is the territory of traditional crafts. It houses pottery, weaving, art, sculpture and other workshops. At the same time, the interior of each room reflects the customs of different regions, famous for the masters of various applied arts.
The pottery workshop, stylized as a round clay hut with a cone-shaped roof, introduces the traditions of the peoples and tribes of Rajasthan and Gujarat. In the house of a weaver from the state of Himachal Pradesh, you will find dozens of wonderful fabrics with embroidery, beads and even pieces of mirrors, which is typical for the Indian shisha embroidery technique. Further, the path lies in the north-east of India - to the hut, decorated with stone carvings of Northern Tripura. The interior of the sculpture workshop reminds of the traditions of the southern states - Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Through the Gothic doors of the universal workshop, you will enter the states of Maharashtra and Goa. Step on the amazing mosaic floor and stop near a special place - a well, established here in tribute to the original Indian traditions.
In the space of the children's recreation area, in addition to Indian toys, traditional dwellings of the eastern states of West Bengal and Sikkim are presented. Here you can play with the kids using a wooden bicycle and cars, ride a small elephant, ride a Rajasthan horse and meet monkeys. Undoubtedly, traditional toys will delight the little ones and give parents a few minutes of quiet relaxation.
The ground floor symbolizes the space of the vaisyas - merchants. On the days of major festivals and holidays, you can taste Indian sweets, the famous masala tea and other dishes of the national cuisine.
The two lower floors - basement and basement - are united by a common atrium, in the center of which rises the sacred banyan tree - a majestic tree decorated with flickering bells. Banyan tree is one of the most unusual trees in the world. Its crown can reach several hundred meters in diameter. And, as Indian traders often gather under the shade of a banyan tree, in ETNOMIR, a spreading tree adjoins souvenir shops and artisan workshops. Walk around the sacred banyan tree in India and make a wish. According to Indian beliefs, it will definitely come true!
One of the notable places of the cultural center is the atrium, surrounded by four niches that symbolize the cardinal points. Behind the elegant facades, amazing beauty opens up. There are carved walls worthy of the palaces of Jaipur, and the famous boat houses of the states of Jamu and Kashmir, and the facades of Buddhist temples with colorful murals, and a special collective image of buildings in the southern state of Kerala - a wooden house under a tiled roof.
The walls are decorated with Shekhawati frescoes, paintings and traditional murals of Indian tribes. Not without the famous sacred cow. Her image is made in the technique of street art, next to a wall portrait of the famous Indian ideologist and public figure - Mahatma Gandhi, as well as images of Krishna and Ravana - colorful masks of the kathakali theater actors.
Symbolism in the Cultural Center of India, as well as in Indian culture itself, permeates every element. Every color matters. So, red is the color of warmth, love and positive emotions. Green is the color of harmony and balance, black means the destruction of ignorance, and pink is the color of hospitality. It is he who meets the guests at the central gate on the first floor of the building. This level symbolizes the world of nobles, famous kings of Bharata, celestial musicians and dancers. The space of the floor is reminiscent of the luxurious palaces of Rajasthan: the carved facade is made in the architectural style of Jaipur. The same theme is continued by the cozy 60-seat concert hall - a chamber space for the mysteries of art.
The second floor is an exhibition space. Climb to the spiritual level to experience the wisdom of India by meeting Indian sages! Here you will see portraits of Krishna, Rishi Vyasa, Guru Nanak, Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and many other philosophers and iconic symbols of Indian culture.
The dome symbolizes the vault of heaven, which crowns the worlds and serves as an altar to the three main Hindu gods - Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. Here, on the top floor, you can be in privacy, enjoying the silence and magnificent view from the terrace to the Sri Yantra fountain.
In the house of India, there are more than 3,000 exhibits brought from different states of India. You will see carved swings, spinning wheels and looms, wooden masks from theater actors, traditional kathputli puppets, Indian clothing - saris, dhoti, sarongs - and much more.
Like other ETNOMIR museums, the Cultural Center of India is fully interactive.
Every day the doors of the Cultural Center of India are open for you during excursions and master classes according to the program of the day, which can be found in our calendar of events! Interesting programs will allow you to make a fascinating journey through the states of India, learn about family traditions, the wealth of myths and miracles, get involved in crafts and take away a handmade souvenir. And every weekend, the cultural center hosts performances by artists from India who introduce guests to the rich traditions of their country through sensual dance and enchanting music.
We are waiting for you in an oriental fairy tale of amazing beauty called the Cultural Center of India in ETNOMIR!
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CONTENT
INTRODUCTION
1. DELHI
2. NATIONAL MUSEUM
2.4. THE ART OF THE GUPT AGE
2.6. GALLERY OF INDIAN BRONZE
2.7. GALLERY OF PAINTING AND MANUSCRIPTS
2.8. ANTIQUES FROM CENTRAL ASIA
2.9. OTHER SIGNIFICANT GALLERIES
INTRODUCTION
There are more than 460 different museums in India, the main among which are the Madras Museums - the Government Museum and the National Art Gallery. In New Delhi - the National Museum. In Varanasi - Sarnath Museum. In Calcutta - the Museum of India (collection of archeology and natural history artifacts); Birla Technology Museum. In Bombay there is a Museum of Western India. In addition, India has a huge number of historical and architectural monuments. There are several Hindu temples in New Delhi, the main ones being Balkesh and Lakshminarsi. In Kolkata - Victoria Memorial in the Maidan mark; Raj-Bhavan (government house); cathedral of st. Paul; Botanical Garden. In Agra - the world famous Taj Mahal mausoleum; Pearl Mosque, built in the 17th century; marble mausoleum of Jahangri Mahal. In Bombay - Victoria Gardens, which houses the zoo; Kanheri caves with rock reliefs of the II-IX centuries; several temples of the 7th century. In Varanasi (one of the main shrines of the Hindus) there are 1,500 temples, the most sacred of which is the Golden Temple (Bisheshwar). Patna (the sacred city of the Sikhs) has many Sikh temples; mosque in 1499. In Delhi - Red Fort (1648); Great Mosque; Hall of public receptions of the Great Mongols, the memorial walls of which are adorned with jewels; Rang Mahal Palace; Pearl Mosque; the 12th century Qutub-Minar tower; zoo. In Amritsar (the main shrine of the Sikhs) - the Golden Temple, surrounded by the sacred reservoir of immortality (the Sikhs bathe in the reservoir to receive spiritual cleansing).
1. DELHI
Delhi is a unique city. According to legends, modern New Delhi is already the eighth city in this place, and the earliest appeared long before the X millennium BC. NS. Located on the banks of the Yamuna River, the city consists of New Delhi (the capital) and Old Delhi. The city is divided into 9 districts: New Delhi, Old Delhi, Central Delhi, South Delhi, Southeast Delhi, North Delhi, East Delhi, West Delhi, Northwest Delhi. In addition, under the auspices of the city there are peripheral territories called the national territorial possessions of the capital; these include the cities of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad. Delhi has a population of about 15 million, making it the third most densely populated city in India after Calcutta and Mumbai. Delhi is a city of contrasts. Its architectural monuments belong to different eras from the 10th century, the Hindu Rajputana era to the 17th century of the Mughal Empire and the 20th century of British architecture. It's common to see cars, horse-drawn carts and rickshaws on the same road. While one of the greenest cities in India, Delhi is also one of the most polluted. New Delhi was built by the British and fully reflects their architectural style. Among the historical monuments of the capital, the famous Red Fort (Lal-Qila, 1639-1648) stands out with the vast palace complex of the Mughal era and the "colorful palace" Rang-Mahal, the ruins of the most ancient monument of Delhi - the Bhairon Temple, the tallest tower of the country (72.5 m.) - the Qutb-Minar ensemble (Vijay-Stambkh, presumably 1191-1370), the ruins of Lalkot, the "Old fortress" Purana Qila (Din-Panah, 1530-1545), the Raj Ghat palace , the oldest observatory in India Jantar-Mantar (1725), the ruins of Rai-Pitkhor, the Jahaz-Mahal complex ("palace-ship", 1229-1230), the "block tower" Chor-Minar, the memorial arch of the Indian gate , the building of the former British Secretariat, which now houses the University of Delhi, House of Parliament, Memorial of the 1857 Uprising, the official residence of the President of the country - Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential Palace (1931), Ashoka Column (250 BC, height over 12 m.) from a solid piece of sandstone, as well as one of the wonders of the world - stainless steel column (895 BC) BC) near the Kuvvat-ul-Islam mosque, etc.
The city is literally full of temples of all world religions, often so close to each other that a Buddhist stupa can be seen behind the minaret of the mosque, and the dome of a Christian church contrasts with Hindu structures. The most interesting are the Sikh temple of Sis-Ganj, the temple of Yogmaya (sister of Krishna), the Lakshmi-Narayan temple, the Jain temple of Digambar-Jain with a unique "bird hospital", the oldest Christian temple in the country - the Baptist church on Chandni Chowk, the Anglican church of St. James (1836), the main Tibetan temple of the capital is the Vihara Buddhist stupa, the Baha'i Lotus Temple (1986), the temple of the goddess Kali in Kalkaji (built in 1764 on the site of an older temple) and many others. The majestic mosques of Delhi are considered the best examples of Islamic art - Juma Masjid (Friday or Cathedral, 1650-1658), Kila Kukhna (1545), Kher-ul-Minazel (1561), Moth-ki-Masjid ( Mosque of one grain, XVI century), Sonehri (Golden), Fatehpuri (1650), Kalan Masjid (Kali Masjid, 1386), Jamat Khan (Khizri, XIV century), Moti Masjid (Pearl , 1662), the country's first mosque - Kuvvat-ul-Islam (1192-1198), Zinat-ul-Masjid, etc.
Delhi is often called the "Mausoleum of the East" - so many memorial structures of legendary rulers and statesmen of many eras are concentrated here. The category of religious buildings includes the mausoleum of Adham Khan, the darga (place of worship) of Qutbuddin-Bakhtiyar-Kaki, the tomb of Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmysh (1235), the darga of the Muslim saint Nizamuddin Chishti Auliyi (1325), the architectural ensemble of Sultan g.), the tomb of Firuzshah Tughlak, the tomb of Safdarjung, the tomb of the only woman-ruler of the East - Sultana Razia (1241), a masterpiece of Mughal architecture - the tomb of Humayun (Humayun-ka-Makbara, 1565), the mausoleums of Jahanar-Buhamma -Shah (1719-1748), the mausoleum of President Zakir Hussein (1973) near the Islamic University of Jamia Millia, as well as a whole complex of tombs in Sadakh-Lodi.
By the abundance of museums, the city can compete with any capital of the world, here are: the National Museum, the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Archaeological Museum of the Red Fort, the National Museum of Natural History, the Jawaharlar Nehru Memorial Museum "Tinmurti House" (1929-30), a memorial Indira Gandhi with the famous "crystal river" (1988), Museum of National Crafts, International Puppet Museum, National Children's Museum and Aquarium at the Children's Palace, Tibet House Museum on Lodi Road, Air Force Museum at the airport. Indira Gandhi, the Lalit-Kala-Akademi Academy of Fine Arts, the Museum of Applied Crafts, located in the large exhibition center Pragati-Maidan, the Academy of Music and Dance, where the original Museum of Musical Instruments is located, the unique Sulabh Toilet Museum and the Delhi Zoo (1959) - one of the largest and richest in the world.
2. NATIONAL MUSEUM
The National Museum is one of the best in India. It contains the largest, most complete and comprehensive collection of Indian art from prehistoric times to the late Middle Ages. The museum, with all its buildings and exhibition halls, is a prime example of the development of Indian artistic tradition, and also includes a small collection of art from Central Asia and pre-Columbian America. The history of the museum is rooted in the first days after the adoption of Independence, when it was founded and housed in Rashtrapati Bhavan. The core of the collection was made up of exhibits that were sent in 1947 to London for an exhibition at the Royal Academy. It was decided not to send them back after the end of the exhibition to the museums where they were originally stored, but to place them in the Museum of Delhi, for which the National Museum was created, and the foundation stone of its foundation was laid by the Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru on May 12, 1955 of the year. The museum moved to its current building in 1960. The building is surrounded by a small courtyard, it has 4 floors of galleries and houses a huge collection of more than 150,000 works of art. Every year the museum acquires more and more new works, which contributes to the growth of its wealth and splendor.
2.1. GALLERY OF INDIAN CIVILIZATION
Until the 1920s, when the remains of these ancient cities were discovered, the history of India was believed to date back to the 3rd century BC, during the reign of the Mauryan dynasty. The dramatic and sudden discovery of other more ancient cities put Indian civilization on a par with Egypt and Mesopotamia, both in antiquity and in artistic values. The oldest cities discovered are those now known as Mohenjo Daro (Grave Hill), Harappa (from which the term "Harappan culture" is derived) and Chanhu Daro. The excavations were carried out under the direction of R.D. The Banerjee, Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni, were then continued by the Archaeological Survey of India, led by Sir John Marshall. Incorrect scientific methodology and inaccurate use of carbon dating damaged the results of these early excavations, but even so, they helped to emerge from the ground thousands of valuable artifacts that tell us the history of this ancient culture.
With the division of the subcontinent into 2 parts - the states of India and Pakistan - in the era of Independence, the finds from the excavations were also divided between them. Thus, Pakistan got Mohenjo Daro and Harappa, which were extracted from the ground, and India became the owner of a huge amount of treasures, many of which are kept in the National Museum. Excavations continue to this day, and by this time India has discovered several more ancient cities and other archaeological sites related to the Indus Valley civilization.
This culture, which spread its influence throughout the Indus Valley and the surrounding areas, existed between 2500 and 1500 BC. The Indus Valley civilization appears to have flourished throughout this millennium, with over 400 well-planned cities built during that time. What really surprised historians is that in all likelihood it was a culture that followed a single model, with its standard, common plan for all cities, building design, and even the same size of bricks used in buildings. And this despite the fact that the cities were as far apart as Rupar in the Punjab and Lothal in the Kathiawar region in Gujarat are now located, and were located strictly along the Indus River in Pakistan.
The museum's gallery houses an exhibition dedicated to the exquisite pottery craft of this culture, testifying to the common tastes that prevailed in all major cities. Most of the examples of this art were created with the help of a potter's wheel, fired and decorated with black decorative painting on a red background.
Based on the shape of the object, one can judge its purpose: cooking, storing water or grain, small vessels for precious oils and incense. There are dishes, plates with a lid, graceful lamps and stands. Painted vessels are especially magnificent. The elements of the painting range from natural motifs such as water, rain or earth, depicted using wavy, dotted or dashed lines, to images of animals, birds and fish. There is a large brick-colored vessel depicting a scene from rural life, where a peasant plows the land with the help of two buffaloes. The figures of animals are very well reproduced, as well as the lonely and hard work of a plowman.
Another vessel, possibly serving as a burial urn, has an image in the form of a panel with rather cheerful-looking peacocks (from cemetery N). The artist placed a human figure inside one of the peacocks, possibly influenced by some myth or legend, ritual or belief. Here are a huge number of diverse clay products found in the Nal area, some of which have a design close to the modern one. They are vessels with geometric paintings of pale yellow color, with blue and green shades on a white background.
Very beautiful are the round, squat vessels, whose diameter exceeds their height; as well as square luminaires with fluted edges. From the clay mined on the banks of the Ganges, the artist of the Harappan culture made not only vessels, but also toys and figurines - some of the most charming and touching images that have come down to us from the civilization of the river valley. The statuettes of a bull, an anteater, a pig and a monkey are small masterpieces. There are also moving figures of a flying bird and a monkey climbing a pole with its tail pressed to its back. One of the toy bulls can move the head, which the master has attached to the body with a hinge and thread.
Among the human figures, most depict scenes from the daily life of the people who inhabited these ancient cities: a woman lying on a bed and breastfeeding a child, a woman kneading dough, a man with a bird in his hands, possibly with a domestic duck, which he holds under his arm.
They are small figurines, usually no more than 8 cm (3 in) tall, but they reflect the playful and observant gaze of their creator, whose touch, fun and light, is full of childish delight - for what these figurines were intended.
Using the example of metal and clay toy carts, we can judge the transport that possibly existed in these cities for transporting people from village to city and from city to city. A total of 6 different types of wagons of various shapes and sizes can be distinguished, with large, sturdy wheels. We can also have an idea, seeing these figurines of bulls, about the domestication of animals, one of the exhibits is nothing more than a toy bird cage.
Here you can see a variety of stone products, from jewelry to toys. Semiprecious stone necklaces have been recovered from round beads found during excavations. There are bone and shell buckles, carved pendants and bracelets, a group of adorable little squirrels gnawing nuts, and stone vessels.
The steatite seals of the Indus Valley civilization are a mystery to historians. The display's glass case displays many small seals - some 3-4 cm (inch or two), square or rectangular. Each seal bears a characteristic geometrical pattern in intaglio relief with curious Harappan inscriptions at the top or on the side. The relief is so perfect that, when imprinted on soft clay, it gives a clear reverse image. The skill of the creators of these seals deserves special attention.
One of the seals in this collection is particularly interesting; it depicts a seated man wearing a horned crown or mask; some scholars believe that this is one of the earliest anthropomorphic images of a guru or deity, possibly a prototype of the god Shiva. The figure is surrounded by animals such as a rhino, a bull, an elephant, a tiger, a deer, etc. What puzzled historians in this case is that today the area around Mohenjo Daro, where these seals were found, is a desert, where, as it was believed earlier, except for rhinos, no one has ever lived. Moreover, rhinos and elephants now inhabit only Northeast India, which is thousands of miles away. Perhaps, as Zimmer suggested in The Art of Indian Asia, "the presence of domesticated animals in Mohenjo Daro at that time indicates that the Indus Valley's climate was more humid, vegetation denser, and more abundant water supply than it is now." Other scientists think differently. Some speculate that the Harappa people cut down their dense forests to build cities and build fires to burn thousands of bricks for their buildings, thereby changing the natural environment and climate so dramatically that they eventually had to leave their homes and leave the cities. However, such a powerful impact on the natural environment is the exclusive prerogative of only the culture of the 20th century!
The period of civilization in the Indus Valley is also known as the "chalcolithic" period in the history of India, since at this time, in addition to stone and clay, metal began to be used. Copper and bronze statues and tools have been unearthed at many of the excavations. Silver and, much less often, gold, were used to make jewelry (in the museum's “jewelry gallery” you can see jewelry from the era of the Harappan civilization). The most famous is the bronze figurine of the so-called "Dancer". Her nude is 10.5 cm (just over 4 inches) tall, she wears a variety of bracelets on her arm and a simple necklace around her neck. Hair is gathered and curled behind her back. One hand rests on the hip and one leg is slightly bent at the knee; her head is proudly raised, as if she is looking with a slight grin at the vain world flashing before her gaze.
The skill of the Harappan metal sculptors can be appreciated by looking at two exhibits that have an almost modern appearance: "Elephant on Wheels" and "Cart" from Daimabad (Maharashtra). Stunningly elegant, these two figurines are prime examples of the art of the Harappa masters. Even in small figures such as the Mohenjo Daro Buffalo (2500 BC), the artist has perfected the image of an animal waving its tail and slightly raising its head as if it were about to grind.
2.2. ART OF THE PERIOD OF MAURY, SUNG AND SATAVAKHAN
The most dramatic period in the history of Indian culture, in terms of the fragments of sculptures found, was the 3rd century BC, following the era of the Indus Valley civilization. The museum houses several magnificent examples of Mauryan sculpture and Sunga art. Several sculptures from the Buddhist stupa at Amaravati were taken from the British Museum. These marble panels are designed in a soft, delicate manner. The most remarkable thing in these images is the transfer of the beauty of the female figure in all the variety of her poses and positions. However, the best collection of sculptures by Amaravati is still considered the one that is kept in the State Museum of the city of Chennai. In the collection of the National Museum there is only one panel of this stupa, "Awe of the Sanctuary", built by Buddhists to store holy relics. Although the original stupa at Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) was destroyed by vandals, this panel allows us to judge what this stupa might have looked like, with its semicircular structure surrounded by a high sculptural fence. Based on the proportions of the figures depicted on the front of the fence, it can be concluded that the stupa was quite high, which explains the size of the panels that made up part of the stupa fence and its decor.
2.3. THE ART OF GANDHARA AND MATHURA
In the north-west of the subcontinent, in the territories that now form part of modern Pakistan and Afghanistan, samples of magnificent sculpture have been found dating back to the era of Greco-Roman influence that followed the invasion of the great Alexander the Great in the 3rd century BC. Trade relations with Greece and Rome lasted for several centuries, and during this period Buddhism received a lot of support from the rulers. The result was a style known as "Gandhara" (from the name Gandhara worn by these lands). The famous Taxila University was also located here, attracting Buddhist scholars from all over Asia as a place of pilgrimage, study and research. The lustrous black and gray slate Buddha figures are made in the classic Gandhara style. His robes, like Roman togas, fall in deep, heavy folds, while his face remains calm and contemplative. His hair is arranged in waves and gathered in a knot at the back of his head.
There are also sculptural panels of Gandhara stupas depicting episodes from Buddhist literature. The sculptural busts and heads left over from the statues illustrate the attempts of the masters to follow the Greek and Roman figurative art. The expressive faces of "Little Child" and "Old Man" are executed with a touch of realism, following nature as it is. In general, realism rarely manifests itself in Indian art, more often the artist seeks to embody abstract concepts and ideas, using a figure as a symbol.
The sculpture of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh of the first centuries of our era is very easily recognizable, it was made from a delightful red sandstone with white splashes. Excavations at Mathura have uncovered many sculptural panels that formed part of the stupa enclosures. The Museum in Mathura contains the finest collection of masterpieces from Kushana and Mathura. These fence panels, or balustrades, are also easy to recognize as they are composed of vertical sculptural columns (balusters) that are connected by horizontal beams decorated with sculptural lotus motifs. Some of these vertical pillars are only 1 m (3 feet) high and are decorated with sculptural figures of believing women and three nymphs, or "salabhanjika".
There is also a panel depicting a woman carrying a tree branch (Ashokadhana), influenced by fertility myths, according to which the Ashoka tree (jonesia ashoka) is so sensitive that it becomes covered with flowers as soon as a woman touches it. Where Buddha was born, in Lumbini, now Nepal, there was a grove where "Ashoka trees" grew, because of this they acquired a special holiness for Buddhists. Its long, pointed green leaves can often be seen in Buddhist sculpture.
Another sculptural image presented here is a woman bathing near a waterfall (Shana Sundari, Mathura, 2nd century), a mother and child playing with a rattle, and a woman looking in the mirror. Another famous panel depicts a woman fainting, called "Vasantsena" (Kushana, 2nd century). A small male figure with a cup in his hands supports the falling woman, while the other tries to hold her with her hand. In all of these panels from Buddhist fences, women are depicted with bare breasts. Sewn blouses are a later fashion. Even today, in Hindu rituals, clothing without seams is considered clean and undefiled. Women wore wide belts, with the help of which the clothes were fastened, hiding the lower part of the torso and falling down in beautiful folds. Jewelry, varied and skillfully crafted, takes the form of long, heavy earrings, necklaces, belts, bracelets on the arms and legs. Often, bracelets were worn in large numbers, covering the entire length of the arm.
2.4. THE ART OF THE GUPT AGE
During the Gupta era (3-6 centuries), a huge part of India fell under centralized control, which could not but affect the art of later regional styles. It was during this period that the first Hindu temples of stone were built, replacing the clay, brick and wooden structures. The sculptural decoration of these temples gave food to experiments in the decoration of Hindu religious buildings. However, the Guptas extended their patronage to the Buddhist communities, which created sculptures influenced by the earlier styles of Mathura and Gandhara. The figure of Buddha (Sarnath, 5th century, Gupta period) is a classic example of the confidence acquired by Indian masters. The Buddha is depicted standing with his hand raised in a gesture of protection, abhaya. Through the clothes, one can clearly see how one knee is gracefully bent and relaxed. The clothes no longer fall off in many folds, as we saw in the sculpture of the Gandhara masters, they are simplified into an abstract body cover. The draperies are rendered so beautifully that beneath them you can clearly see the young body of the Buddha, full of warmth and vibrant pulsation. The face of the Buddha has an oval shape, with a wide forehead, with perfect facial features, their symmetry reflects the balance of the Buddha's consciousness at rest. His half-closed eyes symbolize contemplation.
In a similar way, the master achieved the expression of inner power in the "Statue of Vishnu" (Mathura, 5th century, the era of the Guptas). His torso is preserved, but his legs and arms are broken off. The body is beautifully rendered, especially the sensual rendering of the slightly convex belly above the belt. The ribcage is depicted wide, displaying precious jewelry in all its splendor. The necklace, composed of many pearl strands, hangs very elegantly. The variety of textures reproduced by the sculptor in this work is truly incredible: the heavy texture of metal jewelry, the weight of pearl threads, the pattern of the fabric and the softness of the sensual body. By that time, Indian artists had already completely subdued the material; what should have been emphasized, or removed, or partially ignored was a matter of aesthetics and iconography, leaving far behind the sphere of realism.
In this gallery, you can see other sculptures of the Gupta era that have a narrative character. In contrast to the early Buddhist panels with their stories, the Gupta masters centered the entire myth or legend in one main episode, while it was assumed that the viewer was already familiar with the content of the entire myth - he knows what preceded this episode and what followed it. A typical example of such a composition is the panel "Lakshmana Punishes Supranakha" (Deogarch, 5th century, Gupta era). This is an episode from the Ramayana, an epic poem in which Rama, his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana find themselves in the forest as a result of palace intrigues. Rama, as one of the incarnations of Vishnu, is presented in the poem as an ideal hero-king. In the forest, the sister of Ravana, the king of Lanka, whose name was Supranakha, falls madly in love with Rama, but he ignores her. Then she tries to seduce Lakshmana. In this panel, she is punished for her lustful desires by Lakshmana, who is ordered to cut off her nose and ears. Sita humbly observes this drama. The forest scene is indicated by just one tree at the top. This episode, according to the poem, is followed by the flight of Supranakhi to Lanka, to her brother, to whom she complains. Ravana, hearing about the beauty of Sita, kidnaps her, which is the cause of a struggle flared up between the followers of Ravana and Rama, as a result of which good prevails over evil.
In addition to stone sculpture, temples and structures of the Gupta period, still brick, were decorated with terracotta panels. The National Museum houses a fine collection of terracotta from the 5th century. The figures of the Ganges and Yamuna (Ahichchatra, 5th century, Gupta era) are an example of the personification of the goddesses of the sacred rivers of Hinduism. Holding a jug, Ganga sits on the back of a Makara, or crocodile, while Yamuna is depicted sitting on a turtle. Such figures depicting rivers later served as an ornament for the upper part of doorframes in temples or tombs, symbolizing the cleansing of evil and the forgiveness of sins upon entering the temple. Other terracotta panels represent people and animals, and one of them is dedicated to the great battle from Mahabharata, where warriors ride chariots holding a bow, ready for battle.
2.5. MEDIEVAL SCULPTURE GALLERY
These galleries, which house medieval sculpture from the 7th and 17th centuries, collected in various regions of India, are difficult to describe due to the huge variety of features and styles. In the course of our story, we can only mention that after the collapse of the Gupta empire, right up to the Mughal domination, the Indian subcontinent was politically fragmented and divided between many ruling dynasties. Each territory, where a dynasty ruled, flourished its own style in art, had its own approach to architecture, sculpture, painting and other forms of art. It cannot be said that these works lack traces of the former unity and common ideals. Most of the works of art were created according to the laws of Hinduism. After the 13th century, the art of Buddhism developed only in certain regions - in Bihar, Bengal, etc. The galleries of medieval sculpture showcase magnificent examples of the achievements in the field of art from various schools and regional forms. South of India is represented by stately granite sculptures of the Pallavian period, such as "Shiva Bikshatan Murti" (7th century, Pallavian era, Kanchipuram). The Pallavian sculpture, like all temple sculpture, must be viewed in the context of the structure on which it was placed.
Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram, located near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, have several excellently preserved temples from that time. The temples, like the sculptures presented here, are distinguished by a powerful, dense appearance, full of dignity, have a small amount of ornamentation and features that overwhelm the viewer. Statues of various gods and goddesses are distinguished by their elegance, height and slender figure.
In Karnataka, there are several temples and rock-cut tombs from the Chalukyan era. There was an influential art school in this region - in Badam, Aihole and Pattadakal. The sculpture of this school, presented in the museum, is characterized by a special drama, to the same extent as the entire innovative and creative style of the Chalukyev. "Flying Gandharvas" (7th century, Chalukya, Aihole, Karnataka) is an image of two heavenly nymphs soaring with ease and grace in the sky, their beautiful robes heaving and fluttering in the wind.
Tripurnataka (8th century, Chalukya, Aihole, Karnataka) is an excellent example of drama and movement in sculpture. Shiva stands on an air chariot carried by the gods, directing his crushing arrow to 3 fortresses and kingdoms of powerful asuras. Asuras received permission from Brahma to build 3 fortresses, one copper on earth, one silver in the sky, and one gold in the underworld. When they imagined themselves invincible, Shiva destroyed all 3 of their fortresses with one single arrow.
Artists from all over the world have been solving the problem of conveying movement and statics in visual arts such as sculpture. In the art of the Chalukyan era, especially in the sculpture of Badami in Aihole, the sculptor achieved perfection in depicting the great drama in stone, full of breathtaking frozen action.
Several exhibits represent the western part of India, such as "Chamunda" (12th century, Parmara, Madhya Pradesh) and the marble figure of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge (12th century, Chauhan, Bikaner, Rajasthan), which are equally beautiful, but made in a slightly different style. and, of course, from different types of stone. Some of these masterpieces adorn the entrance to the museum's lobby.
From the east of India came the famous sculptures of Konarak, Orissa, they are easy to recognize by the brilliant, almost black chlorite from which they are made. Powerful
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Museums of India. The most famous and famous museums in Indian cities - photos and videos, addresses, locations, sites, schedules, opening hours.
In Mumbai, tourists are attracted by the Taraporevala Aquarium and the Marine Museum, where you will see unique underwater plants, rare fish and pearl products. The splendid building of the Prince of Wales Museum transports visitors back to the days when India was a British colony. The founding father of the museum, built in 1905, is the English king George the Fifth.
The museum in the city of Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh state) contains archaeological relics of the ancient history of India. The most famous exhibit of the museum is the Ashoka Column, named after the Indian ruler. Ashok converted to Buddhism by visiting the holy city of Sarnath.
The stone lion from the top of the capital of Ashoka migrated to the coat of arms of India and became the symbol of the country.
The main exhibits of the Chennai Museum in Madras are artifacts from the Stone and Iron Age found in a Buddhist temple and an exposition of bronze products. In addition, in the museum you will find an extensive collection of armor and weapons, sculptures and coins from different centuries, botanical, geological and zoological exhibits.
The Namgyal Tibetan Museum in Gangtok, Sikkim state displays the largest collection of Tibetan art: tanks, statues, masks and altars. The museum contains the chronicles of more than 60 monasteries in Sikkim, unique photo archives. The cornerstone that laid the foundation for the construction of the museum was laid by the Dalai Lama in 1957.
In the north of Tritvandrum is the Napier Museum, founded in 1855 and named after the then Governor of Madras. In addition to works of art made of bronze and ivory, ancient jewelry and archaeological finds, costumes of ritual dancers and a collection of miniatures, the museum exhibits paintings by Nicholas Roerich.
The Assam State Museum will present a collection of archaeological finds made of metal, terracotta, stone and wood. The state science museum and planetarium are of constant interest to tourists.
Kolkata boasts the largest collection of exhibits dedicated to the archeology and history of India. All of them are on display at the Indian Museum. The Queen Victoria Memorial, opened in 1921, has collected sculptures and portraits of prominent Indian citizens.
India is rich in sights, which will be interesting for every tourist to see. Due to its difficult historical development, this country has become a center for many religions and cultures, which are closely intertwined here. Speaking of India, one immediately recalls its numerous temples belonging to different religious movements, Ayurveda is a special direction in Indian medicine, and museums, of which there are more than 500.
The most famous museums in India
Museum and aquarium, where you can see rare species of fish and underwater plants, as well as products made from real pearls.
Another institution that attracts the attention of tourists is the Prince of Wales Museum, where you can learn a lot of historical facts about life in India during the British colonization. This museum opened in 1905. Its founder is considered to be George V - the king of Great Britain.
The Indian Museum was opened in Calcutta, which contains the largest collection of exhibits that tell us about the history of India and its archeology. There is also another museum - the Queen Victoria Memorial of Great Britain, which contains a collection of portraits and sculptures depicting famous people of India. This Memorial was opened in 1921.
In Sarnath, a city located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, you can visit the museum, which contains archaeological exhibits, which can provide a lot of interesting information about the most ancient periods in the history of India. In this museum, you must see the column of Ashoka - one of the rulers of India. According to historical records, Ashok visited Sarnath during his reign and adopted Buddhism here. Subsequently, this column was created in his honor. It is noteworthy that the lion, which is depicted on it, was eventually depicted on the Indian coat of arms and became the national symbol of the country.
If you come to Chennai, be sure to go see the exhibition at the Chennai Museum. Here you can see exhibits from the Stone and Iron Ages, which were discovered in one of the Buddhist temples, as well as bronze items. Here you can also see ancient sculptures and coins, national weapons and armor, as well as zoological and geological exhibits.
Also, speaking about Indian national museums, one cannot fail to mention the Museum of Tibetan Culture, which is located in Gangtok. Here you will see objects of Tibetan art - statues, sculptures, masks, etc. It is here that the chronicles of the Sikkim monasteries and their unique photographs are kept. This museum is famous for being founded by the Dalai Lama himself in 1957.
Of course, this is only a small part of those museums that are worth visiting for every traveler, but even these places can tell you many interesting facts about the history and culture of India.