Gandhara Buddha in a Greeco-Indic Mixed Expression: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

From the ancient times to till now human emotions always demands for the best mode of expression, and its came in the form of art. In another way we can argue that the material expression of human emotions came in to existence only through the art. There are various categories of art ether it may be in the form of music, dance, painting, or sculpture. And the community production of art indirectly claim for the, its (community) social, economical, or political development in that particular historical time period.

Interaction between the traditions remains a major cause in the alteration or modification of art and its form, either this interaction is made by invasion, trade, or migration. In context to the Greeco-Indic art interaction during the beginning of first millennium A.D. in the North-West region of Indian sub-continent, it was the budding of one of the most famous and celebrated Indian school of art (sculpture) the "Gandhaar School”. The main objective of this paper is to observe and analyse the 1) Post Alexander influences over the "Indian art” and tradition. 2) Buddha as an "ideal” subject for the Gandhaar School of art.

There is no doubt among the historians that the invasion of Alexander in India during 326 B.C. was a major historical event, and it was not because that it was the first foreign invasion but it was the opening of  Indian gateways  towards the western knowledge, culture, science and art.