Essay name: Arts in the Puranas (study)
Author:
Meena Devadatta Jeste
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute Pune
This essay studies the Arts in the Puranas by reconstructing the theory of six major fine arts鈥擬usic, Dance, Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, and Literature鈥攆rom the Major and Minor Puranas. This thesis shows how ancient sages studied these arts within the context of cultural traditions of ancient India.
Chapter 4 - Sculpture in the Puranas
19 (of 64)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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- 196 - 21 four-armed, potbellied figure, having a beard and also matted
hair. Images of Brahma were also worshipped in the Gupta period
and several good specimens have been preserved. In the
medieval period his images with Sarasvati became popular and
have been found at meny centres. But during the Muslim period
the worship of Brahma gradually went out of vogue.
The first images of Brahma were formed in the Kusina
period with several characteristics such as four faces, RsI
(ascetic) with the knowledge of the Vedas, kumbhodara
(pot-belley), Yajna with its laddles (Sruk & Sruva), Lotus,
Hanse, Kamandalu, with Sarasvati and Savitri. He was given the
form of a. Brahmanic ascetic from which were derived his matted
g
locks, antelope skin and cross-leged seat (padmasana).
Brahma is shown in the Buddhist reliefs of Gandh膩ra
as having profuse hair, beard and moustache, dressed in the
garments of a Brahmana and one of his two hands holding a water
Vessel.
VISNU.
22 Visnu is one of the most important Brahmanical cult
deities. He is one of the gods of the Hindu Trinity, and is
considered to be responsible for the universal protection.
Brahma
and Siva, the two other gods of the Irinity are held
responsible for the creation and destruction of the universe.
Visnu is mentioned in the Vedas many times, but not as a
supreme deity. The Vedic Visnu is identified with the sun.
He
