Image title: Aniconism (in the early days of Buddhism)

Aniconism—In the early days of Buddhism, the Buddha was worshipped through aniconism which meant that certain objects were worshipped that didn't show him in the human form. These emblems were the Footprints, the Bodhi Tree, the Dhamma Chakra, an Empty Throne, a stupa, the pillar of radiance and many more. However, it is disputed among scholars whether these emblems stood for specific events from the life of the Shakyamuni Buddha or important Buddhist pilgrimage sites. Nevertheless, this phase of Aniconic worship culminated into the iconic or the anthropomorphic worship.

Transcription (not proofread):

प्रतीक उपासना
बौद्ध धर्म के आरंभिक वर्षों में बुद्ध की प्रतीक रूप में उपासना की जाती थी। ये प्रतीक थे बुद्धपाद, बोधि वृक्ष, धर्मचक्र, रिक्त सिंहासन, स्तूप, आदि।

Transcription (not proofread):

pratīka upāsanā
bauddha dharma ke āraṃbhika varṣoṃ meṃ buddha kī pratīka rūpa meṃ upāsanā kī jātī thī| ye pratīka the buddhapāda, bodhi vṛkṣa, dharmacakra, rikta siṃhāsana, stūpa, ādi|

Transcription (not proofread):

Gallery information:

These photographs are from the section “Maurya, Shunga and Satavahana Arts” within the National Museum of New Delhi (India). The Mauryan, Shunga, and Satavahana dynasties have distinct yet interconnected roles in the evolution of Indian art and culture. Throughout these periods, terracotta art evolved considerably, reflecting cultural and technical exchanges, and iconography transitioned from aniconic to anthropomorphic depictions in Buddhist contexts. These dynasties collectively influenced the stylistic and thematic growth of Indian art.