VEGETAL MOTIFS IN ANCIENT INDIAN IMAGERY - WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE FROM HARAPPA TOSANCHI

Nature always attracted all of us. Artists and poets being especially sensitized and absorbed by it have created beautiful forms of designs inspired by nature since the antiquity.In this research, I have tried to find out the origin of vegetal motifs. What had been the situations which triggered early artists to ‘recreate’ natural forms in various mediums, forms, and techniques? Since this is anabundantarea to be taken for research, I tried to focus upon art practices within the Indian subcontinent only;right from Harappan culture which is the oldest urban civilization of the world to the age of Vedas; from the rise of Buddhism and Jainism to the mighty Mauryans, Satvahanas to the great Stupa of Sanchi. This research proves that vegetal motifs developed from simple organic forms to stylized motifs in the early phase of Indian art. May be this analytical research prepares a prolific ground for further researches that can be undertaken consecutively.