Sanchi Sculptures

This book is a valuable contribution to the list of limited analytical treatises available on the famous Buddhist monuments of Sanchi. These well preserved monuments are highly purposeful and comprehensive in nature as these display each and every phase of the human life and activity and thereby giving us the glimpses o rich bygone culture. The author, being aware of these complexities, has approached the subject with great cautions and care. It is written with a roving aesthetic eye which estimates, evaluates and appreciates various aspects of the glory, splendour and art of the monuments and the sculptures. At the same time the cultural and socio-economic aspects have been kept well within the sight with proper coverages on history, religion, art, architecture, inconography, epigraphy, social customs and traditions and the economic climate. Both the aesthetic and cultural aspects have been surveyed painstakingly and thereafter, woven into a well knit and integrated study. Each chapter appears to be complementing the other though, analysed from the same source. It will be evident to the reader that this book, unlike the others, is not a mere narration of the architectural and sculptural details of the Sanchi monuments, but a comprehensive treatise presenting a vivid picture of the Indian society and its aesthetics depicted in an unrivalled form at one of the earliest centres of ancient Indian art. This work has been profusely illustrated and has an exhaustive bibliography alongwith three appendices. The work is the first measure study of Sanchi after that of Marshall, Foucher and Majumdara.