Sculptural Art of Mansar

About the Book The book "Sculptural Art of Mansar" a well authored treatise on the sculptural remains from excavations at Mansar, documents the sculptures both from Satvahana period and Vakataka Period. It is for the first time that such a large collection of superb sculptures have been recovered from the ancient capital of Eastern Vakatakas, which was named Pravarapur. It fact there sculptures acted as models for paintings at Ajanta. Though they have the effect of Gupta Art, they carry their own style and could be termed as "Pravarapur Art" Predo minantly made on rose coloured sandstone they are examples of fine deliveation and adoved the main siva people at Pravarapur. Satvahanas of Vidarbha used different medium for their sculptural art.

The book gives a glimpse of sculptural art flourishing in Vidarbha from 2nd century B.C. to 5th century A.D.

About the Authors Krishna Deva (1914-2001) after retirement as Director, Archaeological Survey of India was instrumental in bringing out several inventory volumes about sites and monument of India. He was the most eminent scholar of Indian art, architecture and archaeology. He conducted iconographical and sculptural survey of the image in Nepal. He was Archaeological Advisor to his Majesty's Govt. in Nepal, Director Birla Academy of Art and Culture, and for 12 years, as consultant to American Institute of Indian Studies, Varanasi for their project on Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Archi tecture. He was Editor of Journal of Indian Society of Oriental Art. His pioneering contribution in the book Temples of India. He also wrote books on Images in Nepal, report on Vaishali Excavations and Temples of Khajuraho.

A.K. Sharma born in a remote village in Chhattisgarh, is internationally known for his original contributions in archaeology and anthropology. During his 33 years of active career in Archaeological Survey of India, he explored and excavated in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal, N.E. India, Lakshadweep. Chhattisgarh and other remote areas.

After retirement from Govt. service, he has so far published the following books: 1. Emergence of Early Culture in N.E. India, 2. Manipur, the glorious past, 3. Early Man in Eastern Himalayas, 4.Prehistoric Delhi and its neighbourhood, 5. Early man in Jammu, Kashmir and Laddakh, 6. Pre historic burials of Kashmir, 7. The depated Harappans of Kalibangan, 8. Archaeo anthropology of Chhattisgarh, 9. Indian Megaliths, 10. Heritage of Tansa Valley. His latest book. 11. Excavating Painted Rock Shelters. He has edited, Puraratna-Shri Jagat Pati Joshi felicitation volume, and Purapra kasa Dr. Z.A. Desai commemoration volume. He has started a new research magazine, Puramanthan. Presently he is directing excavations and Mansar (Maharashtra), and Sirpur (Chhatisgarh). He has established an archaeological museum at Mansar and Maa Anandmayee Smriti Museum at Kankhal (Haridwar). He has been appointed Archaeological Advisor, Govt. of Chhattisgarh.

Preface The site at Mansar is being excavated by me since 1997-98 under the aegis of Bodhisattva Nagarjun Smarak Sanstha Va Anusandhan Kendra, Nagpur under licence from Archaeological Survey of India. Late Shri Jagat Pati Joshi was my senior colleague. Such a large scale excavation and simultaneous conservation could be possible due to very active interest and support by Arya Nagarjun Surai Sasai, President Shri Pawan Sillare, treasurer of the organization and Director General Archaeological Survey of India.

The excavation has yielded not only a well planned urban centre which survived for nearly one thousand years from 2nd cent. B.C. to 8th cent. A.D. but has also given a treasure of beautifully executed sculptures particularly of Vakataka period which constitute a distinctive school of art almost at part with the contemporary Classical Gupta Art.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages