Author: Krishna Kumari, Myneni
Publisher: Bharatiya Kala Prakashan
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 204
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8186050892
Description
This book speaks of the contribution of Andhras to the development of its culture covering different aspects of medieval Andhra history. The three sections in this book embodies the subjects on Women and Society; Economy and Trade; Art and Culture. The 20 essays included in this book provide glimpses of the contribution of Andhras to the development of religious ideas, customs, beliefs and practices which are subjected to critical analysis with the tools of new methodologies like psycho-historical approach and socio-biological approach besides re-examining the historical data with a new and fresh outlook.
This book addresses the questions of how the mind works in relation to the establishment of certain beliefs and religious practices, gender issues like how women were portrayed in the Jain literature and women’s attitudes and beliefs. The book gives vivid description about the rare and unique images of Ganesa, Siva and Vishnu and the religious ideology that lies behind the carving of such icons and the spread of the ideas and art traditions to South-east Asian countries. Unlike many previous works, it considers the socio-economic background of Pre-colonial Andhra as mainly responsible for the emergence of Andhradesa as a distinct, regional and cultural entity with efflorescence in art and letters.
The book based on original sources such as inscriptions, art forms and contemporary literature is codified to suit the research scholars and students with an admixture of research articles and essays relating to the medieval Andhra society, economy and culture which reflects the regional specificity in the development of the art and culture that forms the backbone of Indian culture today.
Contents
PREFACE
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
1. New Approaches and Trends in Medieval South Indian Historiography
2. New Approaches and Trends in Medieval Andhra Historiography
Section I: Women and Society
1. Women as seen through Jain Literature
2. Psychological Insights into Sati: A Ritual Tradition of Hindu Windows in Medieval Andhradesa 17th and 18th Centuries
3. Attitudes and Belilefs of Women towards Astrology and Divination in Andhradesa
4. Sanskritisation and De-sanskritisation in Relation to Religion in Andhra under Vijayanagar-Reconstruction through Epigraphs
5. Personal Grooming and Life Style of Men in Medieval Andhra as Reflected in Literature
6. Social Transition from Medievalism to Modernism as Reflected in the References to Kali Age
7. Kingship: Succession through the Female Line and Female Kings in Medieval Andhradesa
8. Fresh Light on the Horses in Medieval Andhra Society-Gleanings through Literature
Section II: Economy and Trade
1. Early Urban Decay and Agrarian Expansion in Andhra
2. Taxation on Sea-Borne Trade with special Reference to Motupalli
3. Commodity Composition of Trade at Nizampatnam, 17th-18th Centuries A.D.
4. Deeds of Agreement and Assurance to Trade between the Native Rulers and Dutch East Indian Company
Section III: Art, Culture and Thought
1. A Rare Type of Ganesa image in the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden
2. Fresh Light on the Iconography of Nrtta Ganesa in Relation to Srisailam Temple
3. Fresh Light on a New Type of Androgynous form of Visnu from Krishnapatnam
4. Images of Narasimhi and Sakti Cult
5. Psychohistorical Approach to Omens (sakunams) and Beliefs in Medieval Andhra
6. People’s Consciousness about Dietics and Health in Medieval Andhra
7. Fresh Light on the Rituals and Services followed in the Simhachalam Temple: Reconstruction through Epigraphs
8. Attacks on Hindu Temple-Some Historical Insights
9. Socio-Biological Approach to the Iconography of Ritual Copulation: Ganesa and Siva
10. Relations of Andhradesa with Holland- Reconstruction through the Andhra Paintings
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX