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Assertion (A) : The Gandhara School of art bears the mark of Hellenistic influence. Reason (R) : Hinayana form was influenced by that art.
Explanation
Assertion (A) is correct: the Gandhara school resulted from a fusion of Indian and Greco-Roman/Hellenistic styles, adopting techniques and iconography from the Mediterranean world during the Kushana period [1]. Gandharan workshops produced lifelike, anthropomorphic images of the Buddha that reflect Hellenistic naturalism and drapery conventions, marking a major stylistic shift in Buddhist visual culture. However, the Reason (R) is not correct as stated: the cited sources link Greco-Buddhist art to the emergence of iconic Buddha imagery more generally and associate northern artistic developments with Mahayana-related dissemination along the Silk Road, rather than claiming a specific influence on the Hinayana (Theravada) form alone [2].
Sources
- [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Age of Reorganisation > LET'S EXPLORE > p. 137
- [2] https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Buddhist_Art