Sacred Art in Ancient India

The British Museum presents an exhibition dedicated to the evolution of sacred art in ancient India, connecting the origins of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism with devotional practices that are still alive today. For the first time, religious imagery from different eras and traditions is brought together to show the transition from abstract symbols to recognisable iconic forms, tracing a path that spans millennia of history and spirituality. The exhibition opens with nature deities, spirits revered for their ability to protect or cause harm, and follows their influence on the depiction of divine figures and enlightened teachers. A statue of Ganesha, dated to around one thousand years ago, still bears traces of pink pigment - a tangible sign of continuous worship. The cobra rising behind his shoulder evokes the ancient nature spirits that shaped much of religious iconography. Between 200 BC and AD 600, religious art in India undergoes a decisive transformation. Divine figures and spiritual teachers shift from aniconic symbols to human representations with clearly identifiable attributes. Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain sculptures are produced in the same artistic centres, such as the city of Mathura, giving rise to a shared visual language. Temples and shrines become major destinations for pilgrims from across Asia and the Mediterranean, helping to spread these religions and their images. More than 180 works - ranging from 2000-year-old sculptures to paintings, drawings, and manuscripts - document the continuity and evolution of India’s sacred art. The exhibition highlights the provenance of each object, telling the story of its journey from creation to its arrival in museum collections. Alongside its historical dimension, the exhibition also underlines the active role of diaspora communities in the UK, who keep these religious and artistic traditions alive through contemporary rituals and celebrations.