Hinduism and the Religious ArtsThe roots between the Hindu religion and the wider culture are deep and uniquely complex. No study of either ancient or contemporary Indian culture can be undertaken without a clear understanding of Hindu visual arts and their sources in religious belief and practice. Defining what is meant by religion - no such term exists in Sanskrit - and what is understood by Hindu ideals of beauty, Heather Elgood provides the best synthesis and critical study of recent scholarship on the topic. In addition, this book offers critical background information for anyone interested in the social and anthropological roots of artistic creativity, as well as the rites, practices and beliefs of the hundreds of millions of Hindus in the world today. |
Contents
1 | |
13 | |
CHAPTER 3 Hindu Deities | 44 |
CHAPTER 4 Hindu Sacred Architecture | 93 |
CHAPTER 5 Royal Patronage of the Religious Arts and Its Historical Development and Objectives | 135 |
CHAPTER 6 Village and Tribal Patrons and Their Religious Arts | 187 |
CHAPTER 7 Conclusion | 227 |
Glossary | 232 |
237 | |
241 | |
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Common terms and phrases
According Aiyanar ananku ancient animal architecture associated auspicious became believed Brahmans Buddhist buffalo building carved cave century BC ceremony Chandella Chola clay colour construction cult dance decoration deity demon depicted Desai devotee divine Durga dynasty earliest early earth elephants evidence example expressed female fertility festival Figure figurines goddess gods Gupta Hindu temple Hinduism icon iconography Ikshvakus images Indus valley inscription Jain Kali Khajuraho king known Kramrisch Krishna Kusana Lakshmi linga linked lotus maithuna Mamallapuram mantras Meister monuments Murukan naga North offerings Orissa orthodox painting Pallava Parvati patron patronage period placed popular portrait practice Pratihara priests protection Purana refers religious represent revealed Rg Veda rites ritual river Robert Elgood royal ruler sacred sacrifice sanctum Sanskrit Satavahana sculpture seen sexual shrines Siva Siva's snake South India spirit stone stupa suggests symbolic Tamil Nadu tantric terracotta texts tradition tree tribal Veda Vedic village Vishnu walls women worship yaksha