Elements of Hindu Iconography, Volume 1, Part 1This 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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abhaya pose adorned Agamas Agni Aihole akshamālā añjali pose Arjuna aspect of Śiva asura back left hand back right hand belongs Bhairava bhūtas body Brahma Brāhmaṇas Bronze carved central shrine ceremonies chakra chest colour Conjeevaram consort Daksha Dakshiṇāmurti damaru dance of Śiva deity Devi eight arms elephant Ellora face figure of Śiva flower four arms front left hand front right hand ganas garment given gods Halebidu hands held head hold illustration image of Śiva Jalandhara jaṭāmakuta jaṭās Kailasa Kāma kapāla khadga known Kumāra left leg left of Śiva linga Madras Madras Museum Mahādēva mode of dance mriga Mukhalinga murti Nataraja ornaments Parvati pāśa Pasupata photograph piece of sculpture pitha pūjā resting right leg rishis round Rudra Saiva seated sects seen side Siva Śiva temple Śiva's Skanda skin skull snake standing tanka three eyes trisula Umā varada pose Vēdas Virabhadra Vishnu worship Yama yōga