Elements of Hindu IconographyThis 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. |
What people are saying - Write a review
User Review - Flag as inappropriate
Element of Hindu iconography by TAGopinathrao is best book on iconography I have searched reference on Yogesvara image of vishnu easily
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abhaya pose Adisesha adorned Agamas ahgulas ahkusa anjali pose artist Asuras avataras avataras of Vishnu Ayudha-purushas Badami Balarama Bali belong Bhrigu Bhumidevi boar body Brahma Buddha central shrine chakra Chakra Padma colour Dattatreya deity Devi dhanus divine Ellora face figure of Vishnu flower four arms four hands front right hand Gada Gada Chakra Ganapati Ganesa Garuda goddess gods Halebidu hanging Hanuman Hayagriva head held Hindu Hiranyakasipu Hiranyaksha hold image of Vishnu incarnation Indra kataka pose khadga kirlta Krishna Lakshmi left leg lotus madhyama class Madras Museum Mahabalipuram Markandeya Narasimha Narayana Nuggehalli ornaments Padma Sankha padmasana Parasurama Parvati pasa piece of sculpture Pradyumna purana Rakshasa Rama reclining represented rest right leg sahkha Sakti salagrama Sankha Gada Sanskrit sculpture seated seen serpent shown side Siva standing Stone Surya Tantras tion Trivandram Trivikrama tusk Vaikhanasagama Vaishnava Vamana varada pose Varaha Vasudeva Vedas Vighnesvara weapons worship yoga
Bibliographic information
| Title | Elements of Hindu Iconography |
| Author | T. A. Gopinatha Rao |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | Motilal Banarsidass Publishe, 1985 |
| ISBN | 8120808789, 9788120808782 |
| Length | 1701 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |