The Mauryan period is an important abacus of the Indian history because not only that for great Ashoka but also in this period foundation of Indian art and architecture were laid down, which has further mature and reach to their zenith during the golden age of the Guptas. The mauryan wisdome has grown and flourished during the rule of great Mauryan king Ashoka.
Some of the master pieces of Mauryan art are the famous Ashokan pillars that he erected across the India. These pillars were the product of art, architecture and engineering of the Mauryan period. These pillars are generally made out of a single block of sand stone which was cut, shaped and polished by the expert craftsman. Adorning the pillar was a four lion sculpture which rested on a highly polished and chiseled capital depicting animals and flowers in between.
The special sculpture skills were required to make all this possible was indeed substantial, massive blocks of stone had to be hauled in from stone mines that were often hundreds of miles away to the destination.
In many cases they even had to haul the stone to the tops of hills. The fine chiseling works and and the lustrous polish are the marvelous examples of well developed and groomed skills in this department.
The skill of the artists of that period has also reflected in the fine work on the pillar. Fine sculptures which realistically depicted movements were made over there.The Sarnath Pillar is the living example of their skills, which has four lions back to back at the top of the pillar. The remarkable perfection and beauty associated with such sculptures is a finest example of the artist of that period.
Mauryan architecture is also reputed to have been fabulous. The capital of Patlipatura which is known as Patna now a day had been described by many travelers as one of the most amazing cities of the ancient world. Unfortunately since the building material was predominantly made of wood, has not survived but some remains are seen in Kumharar.
Excavations have resurfaced few structures like a hundred pillar hall in Patna. The Mauryans were expert at cutting caves out of hillsides which is visible in Barabas near Gaya, and were able to polish the inside walls so efficiently that they shone as if they were glass. Ashoka also constructed several stupas across the India, with the most famous being the sanchi stupa
Source>:www.goindocal.com
