Elements of Hindu Iconography, Volume 1, Part 2This treatise is an early attempt for a diligent search into the origin, descriptions, symbols, mythological background, meaning and moral aims of Hindu images. The book is in two volumes, each volume again in two parts. Vol. I, Part I contains a long Introduction discussing among other things the origin of Hindu image worship in India, explanatory description of the terms employed in the work, Ganapati, Visnu and his major and minor avataras and manifestations, Garuda and Ayudha-Purushas or personified images of the weapons and emblems held by gods. Vol. I, Part II deals with Aditya and Nava Grahas (nine planets) and their symbolic features and images worshipped, Devi (Goddesses), Parivara-devatas, and measurement of proportions in images. Vol. II, Part I begins with an Introduction discussing the cult of Siva which is followed by such important topics as Siva, Lingas, Lingodbhavamurti, Chandrasekharamurti, Pasupatamurti and Raudrapasupatamurti, other Ugra forms of Siva, Dakshinamurti, Kankalamurti and Bhikshatanamurti, and other important aspects of Siva. Vol. II, Part II contains descriptions of Subrahmanya, Nandikesvara and Adhikaranandi, Chandesvara, Bhaktas, Arya or Hariharaputra, Kshetrapalas, Brahma, the Dikpalakas, and demi-gods. In addition the book contains 5 Appendices including Sanskrit texts of Parivaradevatah, Uttamadasatalavidhih and Pratimalaksanani. The treatment has been made interesting by profuse illustrations, the two volumes containing as many as 282 photographs of sacred images. |
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Common terms and phrases
abhaya pose Adiśēsha adorned āgamas angulas añjali pose ankuśa artist asuras avatāras avatāras of Vishnu Ayudha-purushas Bādāmi Balarāma Bali belong Bhrigu Bhūmidēvi boar body Brahmā Bronze Buddha carry the sankha central shrine century A.D. chakra colour deity Dēvi dhanus divine Ellora face figure of Vishnu flower four arms four hands front left hand front right hand Gadā Ganapati Gaņēśa Garuda goddess gods hanging Hanuman Hayagriva head held Hindu Hiranyakaśipu hold image of Vishnu incarnation Indra kataka pose khadga Krishna Lakshmi left leg lotus madhyama class Madras Museum Mahābalipuram Manmatha Narasimha Nārāyana Nuggehalli ornaments Padma padmāsana Pallava paraśu Paraśurāma pāśa piece of sculpture placed Pradyumna Rakshasas Rāma reclining represented rest right leg Śakti śālagrāmas Sanskrit sculpture seated seen serpent shown side simhāsana Sītā Śiva standing Stone Sūrya Tantras tion Trivandram Trivikrama tusk Vaikhānasāgama Vaishnava varada pose Varāha Vāsudēva Vighnēśvara weapons worship yōga