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
7 (of 64)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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in seven Chapters (Ch. 252, 258-263). The images of different
gods are that of Visnu, the varieties of Siva images, the
Sun-god, and other various deities. Chapters 262 and 263 are
devoted to the Pithika laksana and the Linga laksana.
Iconometry ('Pramana nathanam') is the special feature of this
Purana.
The Visnudharmottara contains fullest details among
the Puranic literature on iconography and iconometry, introduces
them by way of questions and answers between the sage
Markandeya and the King Vajra.
SCULPTURE AND OTHER FINE ARTS.
According to the Vismudharmottara (III. 2. 1 - 9) the
knowledge of iconography depends on the correct understanding
of the rules of Citra (Sculpture in the round, relievo and
pictorial representation), a true mastery again is unattainable
without a knowledge of the art of dancing, which again is
dependent on the full acquaintance with the science of music.
Thus all these are interdependent arts. As in Natya and Nrtya,
so also in painting and sculpture the representation of Bhavas,
and that of Abhinaya, revealed by the various Angas and Upangas,
present a supreme picture. Both indian sculpture and Indian
dancing use similar language of Abhinaya and Bh膩va, poses such
as different types of Sthana, Asana and Sayana, the angas, the
Upangas, and the hastas. The multifarious poses are given by
the Vismudharmottara in which pictures of gods and men are to
be shown on canvas and wall and were actually used by the
image makers of ancient and medieval India.
