Author: S P Gupta / Shashi Prabha Asthana
Publisher: D K Printworld
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 146
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8124602131
Description
Referring to major classical Indian literary works shedding light on art and architecture, it undertakes a survey of Indian art and temple architecture from the 3rd century BC through the medieval period, highlighting the directional changes that marked the history of art, specifically sculpture and painting. It elaborately views the various terms and concepts associated with the field of art and iconography like mudras, asanas, pithas, explaining the nature of Buddhist and Jain deities as well as those of Hindu sects like Saivism, Vaisnavism and Saktism. Pointing out the importance of studying Hindu temple architecture in order to fully appreciate Hindu art which was meant for propagation of dharma, it analyses the basic features of the temple architecture and its regional variants.
Tracing the differences in conception and delineation of a Hindu temple, a Muslim mosque and a Christian church, the research focuses particularly on the principles of visualization of symbols and signs in Hinduism and Christianity. It also reveals how the West has viewed Indian literature and art, exposing the inner contradictions of some European thinkers who while praising literary works of Kalidasa and others condemned the Hindu images.
The work contains more than 300 illustrations, half-tone and line drawings, that make the discussion easy to comprehend for a range of readers-scholars, students as well as laymen.
Contents
Preface
Map of India showing important Art Sites
Transliteration Chart
Map of Indian showing Sites of Principal Temples
Fundamentals of Indian Art
Indian Art in Historical Perspective
Iconography: The Making of Cult Images
Principles of Iconometry
Select Bibliography
Index