A powerful new show titled “Ancient India: Living Traditions” has opened at the British Museum in London, tracing the evolution of spiritual art in India from 200 BC to AD 600. With 189 remarkable objects on display—ranging from sculptures and paintings to manuscripts and sacred panels—the exhibition captures the transformative journey of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions over two millennia.
The exhibit presents a sweeping narrative of how divine figures in these three religions transitioned from symbolic representations—such as trees or footprints—to anthropomorphic deities. The central theme revolves around how India’s ancient nature spirits like yakshas and serpents were gradually integrated into divine imagery and reshaped religious iconography across time.
Humanizing the Divine
Curator Sushma Jansari emphasizes the dramatic shift in artistic tradition: “Today we can’t imagine Hindu, Jain, or Buddhist worship without the human form. That’s what makes this transition so compelling.”
Among the highlights is a two-sided sandstone panel from Amaravati, depicting Buddha’s evolution—from a symbolic tree and throne (50-1 BC) to a fully humanized image (AD 250). Other standouts include an early bronze yakshi figure showing proto-Hindu iconography and a 1st-century gold casket with Buddha flanked by Indra and Brahma—possibly the earliest human depiction of the Buddha.
A Shared Canvas of Devotion
Despite theological differences, many artworks emerged from the same workshops in Mathura, reflecting stylistic continuity across faiths. For instance, Jain sculptures of tirthankaras from 2,000 years ago resemble early Buddhist and Hindu works in form and motif, including shared use of halos and sacred geometry.
The exhibition is divided into five sections: nature spirits, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and global spread, including pieces from Cambodia and China. Notably, a 7th-century Chinese silk painting reflects how Indian Buddhist art traveled and evolved abroad.
More Than Just Artifacts
Unlike many previous exhibitions, this one highlights context and provenance. Labels explain the journey of each object, revealing donors, acquisition methods, and even women’s roles as patrons of religious art—especially in Buddhist traditions.
Designed as a multi-sensory experience, the show immerses visitors with temple-like drapes, scents, natural sounds, and bold lighting—one section glows with vibrant pink, simulating a living shrine. It also features video installations of modern worshippers in the UK, reinforcing that these are not just ancient artifacts, but living traditions still practiced today.
Global Collaboration and Cultural Responsibility
With 40 items on loan from 37 institutions including the Ashmolean Museum and global private lenders, the exhibit underscores international collaboration. It also responsibly addresses the colonial history of acquisitions, providing transparency about each piece’s origins.
“Ancient India: Living Traditions” runs from 22 May to 19 October and is considered the first major exhibition to unite all three religious traditions—Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism—under one cohesive narrative in a global setting.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvaY7lGicJ8
