Gupta Period

Early 4th Mid 8th Century A.D.

Faade of Ajanta caves

Great Bodhisattva, Ajanta

Standing Buddha

Buddha preaching the first sermon

History
 

 

Gupta Period was founded at the beginning of the 4th century A.D. It lasted more than 2 centuries and stretched over major part of North India and to Balkh in the East. This period was also known as the Golden Age or the Classical Period. A remarkable degree of balance and harmony in all the arts was achieved and an efficient administrative system was established. Sanskrit became the official language Kalidasa wrote Shakuntala and Malavika Agnimitra.

Social Life
     

Vegetarianism was practiced. Hinduism was widespread. Neither Harsha nor the Guptas were able to conquer the South. Previously there was a lot of influence from the western world. Now under the Gupta Empire; India was more isolated. In previous evidence of costume was derived mainly through sculpture but in this period the wall paintings of Ajanta provide evidence of costume that most vividly mirror contemporary life and dress.

Costume
 

  

Stitched garments were given preference in the North. Gupta kings realized the value of adopting a form of dress that had become traditionally identified with royalty. Formal attire included the coat, trouser with boots, although they continued to wear indigenous antariya, uttariya and kayabandh for informal occasions. Kanchuka inspired the brocade tunic worn by higher officials at court. White calf-length tunic was worn by the chamberlain with calfa chaddar adding dignity to his attire. The ushnisa was slowly becoming obsolete. It was now associated with certain dignitaries, ministers and court officials. The Sakas in this period wore light white tunic-like coat tunicwith skull cap worn with striped or gathered stockings or narrow trousers which was common for the Gupta court.

Costume
  

Kings costume was striped blue, closely woven silk with a floating uttariya. Both fabrics would have woven borders. Instead of kayabandh a plain cord or belt became more popular. Kings also wore a very elaborate mukut or crown to set them apart.

Costume
 

 

 

 

Antariya was worn in several different ways. Lehnga style was wrapped around the hip very tightly to accentuate the curve most seductively and was normally calf-length. calfCalanki was similar except it was worn in kachcha style and then wrapped around the hips. Kachcha style became less popular and more feminine style like lehnga and lungi became popular. Bhairnivasani precursor to the drawstring skirt Ghagri heavily gathered skirt tied with a nada or string was used by dancers so that the swirling effect is enhanced while twirling. Ardhoruka langoti style drawers. Indian women frequently began to clothe the top half of their bodies.

Costume


 

 

Cholaka, chola, choli, cholika, Cholaka, chola, choli, cholika, kancholika indigenous garment addition. Primitive choli was cut from a square piece of cloth with a slit for the neck. A further development of the choli is the fold-back at the bottom edge and foldthe introduction of strings attached to make it backless. The apron-like attachment at the apronfront of the choli would have evolved from the need of protection against cold or modesty. Angarakha style kurta with cross-over crossflap and side opening. Uttariya remained but was worn very sheer more as a flattering accessory.

Headgear and Hairstyle

 

     

Hairstyles became so elaborate that maid servants who were expert hair dressers were sought after. Foreign influence brought short hair, frizzy at the front with ringlets framing the face or just hanging loose. The bun was worn high or low on the heck or knotted at the side or top of the head. It was kept simply wound, coiled sometimes in the shape of a figure 8, largely and loosely wound but always surrounded by flowers or a large lotus tucked into it. Ratna jali jeweled hair net. Mukta jala hair net decorated with pearls Tiaras were used often. Pearl strings were used to define hair parting. Turbans were worn by women occasionally. Use of flowers as part of head gear became abundant.

Headgear and Hairstyle



 

The turban was replaced with a tiara or crown with a band inset with pearls and sometimes festooned with garlands. Men wore their hair shoulder length, curled and loose in gurnakuntala style sometimes with a head-band to headhold it in place. Short hair was also very common except a clear parting is seldom visible. The king on formal occasions wore skull cap or helmet as headgear. The royal entourage wore turbans and it denoted a distinctive symbol of their rank.

Jewelry


   

Royalty was the main customer of precious gems and prided itself in the art of ratnapariksha or appreciation of gems. Kundala general term for ear-ring eartwo types large ring-type and button ringtype called karna phula. phula. Bali small gold wire circlet with pearls and jewels strung. KancalaKancala-kundala tremulous ear-ring earMen sometimes wore button-type in buttonone ear and a ring-type in the other. ringElongated ears were fashionable and were achieved by inserting plugs of graded size into the lobes of the ear.

Jewelry
      

Sutra was a chain for the neck. Hema sutra when chain of gold had precious stones in the centre. Muktavali pearl necklace Haravasti single strand of pearls Tarahari one of big pearls Sudha ekavali one with a gem in the center of the pearl Vijayantika necklace made from a successive series of pearls, rubies, emeralds, blue stones and diamonds that was most sought after. Niska gold chain was popular too.

Jewelry
 

    

Angada upper arm ornament shaped like a coiled snake keyura upper arm ornament like a cylinder made of filigree work or inset with pearls Valaya bracelets of pearls. Bangles of conch shells were worn in graded sizes Anguliya rings were worn Ratnanguliya rings with studded ornaments Kirita and mukut- tiaras and crowns mukutwere worn by men and women. Often with pearls suspended from them to delicately surround the face of the wearer.

Jewelry
    

Jeweled girdles and anklets were still in use. Vaishaka style of wearing pearls was also evident. Kinkini anklet with tiny bells Maninupura anklet with jeweled beads Flowers were worn in the form of necklaces or mala were worn on the head. Usually made of kadama flowers. Sometimes garlands of clove mingled with nutmeg, camphor and other spices were used on ceremonial occasions.

Military Costume
 

In the early Gupta period, soldiers wore antariya with the chest bare and inadequately covered by the 6 jewel-strapped channavira. jewelThis evolved into the more efficient kanchuka with trousers or short drawers known as jhangia and high boots with a helmet or cap.

Military Costume
   

Indigenous army had no fixed costume. The king adopted the Kushan royal costume for formal occassions as status symbol. The king had his own entourage with his sword bearer and body guard. The tunics worn by soldiers was sometimes spotted with black wood paste which could be a type of tie-dye or bandhini known today. It may have tiebeen their version of camouflage. Instead of kanchuka, a short tight fitting blouse or cholaka was worn with kanchuka, short antariya. antariya.

Religious Apparel
 

Hindu sanyasi wore red ochre robes very similar to those of the Buddhist monks. The Brahmin acharya normally wore a short antariya and uttariya. They covered their head with a kantop (cap) over the top knot on their heads. They even wore sandals. The Buddhist monk or nun now wore linen or silk. The poorer ones dyed their rags yellow or red.

Style
 

Highly civilized empire. Sculptures and paintings show bodies with an easy flowing movement, jeweled head-dresses, headand stripped muslin lehngas adding to the sensuous fullness of the body. The mood is relaxed, somnolent and languorous, a kind dream-like delicacy with sheer floating dreamscarves and shinning eyes. Pearl strands decorate the archways and are looped on diadems and around necks.