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
40 (of 64)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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- bow, a mirror, a waterpot and a skin. A Sadasiva murti in the Rajshahi Museum depicts a ten-armed and five-faced figure, seated in Padmasana. The five faces primarily represent 44 the five aspects of Siva; which are, according to the
Visnudharmottera known as Sadyoj膩ta, Vamadeva, Aghora,
Tatpurusa and Isana. Chapter 55 of the Visnudharmottara
describes the Gauri'svara form of siva.
GANAPATI
Ganapati is the principal object of worship of the
Hindus. It is the principal cult deity but not of early origin.
Scholars have opined that this elephant-headed and pot bellied
god came to be regularly worshipped after the Gupta age.
Ganapati means the 'leader of the Ganas (of Siva)'. He is the
son of Lord Siva and Devi Parvati. He is the Vighanahart膩
(destroyer of obstacles) and Siddhid膩t膩 (bestower of success).
According to Agni Purana, Chapter 50, Vinayaka should
be made as having the body of a man and the head of an elephant,
and possessing a huge trunk and belly. He should be represented
as having made an axe from one of his own tusks and holding
the same in his right hand, while a sweet ball and a lotus
flower should be placed in his two left hands. The Matsya
Purana (Ch. 260) also describes the image of Ganesa with the
trunk of an elephant. The Vianudharmottara, Chapter 71, depicts
him as having the face of an elephant and four arms, a trident
and a rosary in his right hands and in the left an axe and a
vessel full of sweets (Modakas). He has a dropping belly and
