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Art and Architecture
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Some paintings of this period seem to have been preserved in rock shelters discovered at Mahadeo Hills round Pachmarhi, Singhanpur and Kabra Pahar, Bhim Baithaka, near Bhopal, Mori in District Mandsor, Likhunia, Kohbar, Mehraria, Bhaldaria and Bijaigarh in Mirzapur area, and Manikpur in Banda District. The paintings both of prehistoric and historic periods have been found. During the historic period, the cultural scene changed from that of primitive hunters to that of well-armed warriors and mounted horsemen in the battle field where archers and swordmen are engaged in fierce action, Armed cattle raiders are also seen. Besides, the home life of the people is also depicted, c.g. a man playing on a harp; a woman pounding roots and grinding grain; huts with women inside; men and women dancing in groups and pairs; men playing drums and a double pipe, entertained by a performing monkey and a dancing bear. Cattle and birds of various kinds, including geese and peacocks and also pigs and dogs, are represented--virtually a cross-section of the life of the people. In Mahadeo Hills, ncar Pachmarhi, we find bun hairdressing, loin-cloth ending in a tail between the legs, bows and quivers, straight swords, leaf-shaped daggers and round shields. There are a few mythological figures as wella lieroic personage in a vimāna or sky-chariot and a giant leading a tiger with a rope as if he were a pet dog. Another subject shows a male person resisting a lion or tiger on one side and a wild bull on the other while the cattlc thus protected are moving below. Cave paintings at Manikpur show mounted archers and a person seatcd in a whcelless bullock cart. The Mori rock paintings depici animals, dancing human figures, and pastoral scenes.
SCULPTURES
Even before the time of Lord Mahavira, there were traces of image-worship. The Indus-valley civilization rcucalcd innumcrablc sculptures in tcrra-coita, stone, and bronze. Image-worship must have existed in the Vedic pcried anong the lower stratum of sociсty, cven if not among the followers of the Vedas. The custom of image-wors!rip s dciinitely in
