The Indian Peninsula is cut off from the rest of Asia by the Himalayas except for the passes of the Northwest frontier. From 4,000 to 3,000 BC cylinder seals and archaic figures of Summerian origin have been found. About 2,000 BC on, an Aryan race of Mediterranean and Summerian stock invaded from the northwest and conquered the great cities of MohenjoDaro and Harapa.
This warrior race imposed a cast system - Brahmanism - on the existing religion of Vedaism, which later became Hinduism. They brought with them knowledge of animal breeding and an alphabet called Sanscrit on which most modern languages are based. Their religion - Brahmanism was based on transmigration of souls in which the soul is reincarnated through levels of being or intelligence, until united with the supreme soul of life energy, Nirvana. Brahmanism was very spiritual and, like the Persians they made few images. In 600 BC Prince Siddhartha was born who became known as the "Enlightened One" or Buddha. He did not found a religion so much as a moral teaching - that salvation from the anxieties of life lay through suppressing and controlling worldly needs the soul can break clear of the earthly life.
His teaching of compassion and understanding for humans and animals is very similar to Christian principles. During the 1st to 5th centuries, Greek Hellenism influenced Buddhist art of the Indus-Ganges valleys then disappeared. In the 4th to 6th centuries ("Gupta" period) Indian Buddhist art reached its peak then declined.
From the 7th century came a revival of Brahmanism called Hinduism which was based on the ancient Brahman and Vedaic text. Buddhism died out in India at this time but spread to China, Japan, Cambodia, Laos and were still in use. The Hindus personified the abstract Brahmin thoughts into recognizable figures and image worship among simple people is very strong. This resulted in a wealth of artistic activity which has continued down to the present day. After the 7th century, came a series of Mohammedan invasions which has led to a religious conflict in art styles for the Mohammedans prohibit the making of images.
Architecture
The stupa, originally a Brahmin burial mound, became the characteristic Buddhist monument. It consisted of a stone dome or mound topped with the stone parasol (umbrella) symbol of dignity. Surrounding the stupa was a stone wall with four decorated gateways. The Stupa was built on important sites - e.g.: where the Buddha had taught. Memorial columns or Stambahs were erected which had sacred texts carved on them. Excavated Buddhist rock temples (c/f early Christian) were cut which bear a remarkable internal appearance to the Christian Basilica - a nave, aisles, roof supported by pillars and an aspe housing a small stupa.
Hindu religious architecture built of stone also survives. The Hindu temple strongly resembles the Egyptian temple of thousands of years before. It has a square sanctuary for the idol entered by a vestibule surrounded by colonnade halls for the worshippers.
Like Egyptians, Indian architecture did not use the arch or the vault until the arrival of the Moslem invaders. Their buildings arise like stepped pyramids being then covered entirely with sculpture. Each temple is surrounded by courtyards and a wall - sometimes up to four concrete walls - all with gate ways (Gopurams) in the middle of each wall.
Sculpture
Indian sculptors had a remarkable gift for naturalism and although proportions are not always accurate in their representation of the human figure, has a fresh vitality and fullness of form together with complete freedom of pose or action, nowhere is the stiff archaic phase evident (like in early Egyptian or Greek).
The freestanding figure is not common, as sculpture was always an integral part of the building it decorated. Some temples are masses of sculpture and carvings. The sculpture of the Hindus' showed more energy and activity than the earlier Buddhist sculpture which was more calm and serene.
Painting
Indian mural painting of the Gupta period had even more grace, suppleness and relaxation than the sculpture. Scenes flowed from room to room of temple complexes in an endless narrative in keeping with the Indian philosophy of endless life and reincarnation. Indian religion and art spread through Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and was tempered by Oriental abstraction thought by Japan and to and to a lesser extent, China.
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