Book on Early Buddhist Art in India and Sri Lanka

[Nagarjuna]

Buddhist Art in India and Sri Lanka (3rd Century BC to 6th Century
AD): A Critical Study by Virender Kumar Dabral. Delhi, D.K.
Printworld., 2000, 211 p., plates, map, ISBN 81-246-0162-3.

Contents: Foreword by Prof. R.C. Sharma. Preface.1. Introduction:

i). Impact of India on Sri Lanka

ii). Arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka

iii). Sinhalese chronicles.

iv). Christianity and Sri Lanka.

v). Buddhist art.

2. Architecture: i). Stupa. ii). Moonstone. iii). Bodhi tree. iv).
Viharas. 3. Painting: i). Sigiriya--A picture gallery. ii). Ajanta
paintings. iii). Bagh. 4. Sculpture: i). Images of Buddha. ii).
Anuradhapura. iii). Isurumuniya. 5. Symbolism: i). Lotus. ii). Sri
Lanka Devil Masks. iii). Religious symbols. iv). Decorative motif. 6.
Conclusion. Plates. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.

The book is a comprehensive study of the evolution and development of
Buddhist visual art in India and Sri Lanka, taking into consideration
their diverse forms and the impact of regional trends on them.
Consulting a number of original sources including scholarly works in
the Sinhala language, Dr. Dabral highlights the salient features of
ancient Buddhist art in the two countries with special attention to
Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, use of symbols like the lotus and
Sri Lanka devil masks.

"Dr. Dabral emphasises how Sri Lankan Buddhist art though originally
derived from Indian art, developed its own art forms on the basis of
local conditions. The critical study evaluates Buddhist art under
various rulers/empires such as the Mauryan empire, the Kusanas, the
Nagas and the Guptas. With numerous plates and an extensive
bibliography, it gives insights into important aspects like the
architectural excellence of Stupas and viharas, the Sigiriya frescoes,
Ajanta and Bagh paintings, Mathura, Gandhara and Sarnath schools of
art, and the Jatakas as reflected in carvings at Sanchi, Amaravati and
other places." (jacket) No. 18167

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