Hindu Art Sculpture and Architecture

Images of Deities Hindu art Sculptures of many Gods Pluralism Kama- sensual imagery Sculptures are made as part of a temple, also placed inside a temple. Temples are elaborate structures with towers or “ mountain peaks” Exterior of temples contain figurative relief sculptures.

Figure 6-17 Dancing Shiva, rock-cut relief in cave temple, Badami, India, late sixth century. Shiva-the destroyer Multiple arms show superhuman qualities. Shiva’s son Ganesha ( right ) Nandi- Shiva’s bull ( ride )

Figure 6-25 Shiva as Nataraja, ca Bronze. Naltunai Ishvaram Temple, Punjai. Shiva is often shown trampling a dwarf that represents ignorance. Nimbus shows the confines of the cosmos.

Figure 6-18 Shiva as Mahadeva, cave 1, Elephanta, India, ca. 550–575. Basalt, Shiva 17’ 10” high. Image of Shiva has 3 faces Left side is Bhairava- the male. Represents the destructive. Right side is Uma-the female Represents the creative. Central image expresses the balance.

Parvati-wife of Shiva

Vishnu-Preserver of the Universe Figure 6-16 Boar avatar of Vishnu rescuing the earth, cave 5, Udayagiri, India, early fifth century. Relief 13’ X 22’; Vishnu 12’ 8” high.

Vishnu-assumes a variety of forms including Krishna. Figure 6-20 Vishnu asleep on the serpent Ananta, relief panel on the south facade of the Vishnu Temple, Deogarh, India, early sixth century.

Figure 26-7 Krishna and Radha in a Pavilion, ca Opaque watercolor on papter, 11 1/8” X 7 ¾”. National Museum, New Delhi.

Shiva’s son Ganesha

Hindu Temples Figure 6-22 Rajarajeshvara Temple, Thanjavur, India, ca Mandapa- tower like roofs Southern temples have flat roofs and mandapas.

Figure 6-23 Vishvanatha Temple (view looking north, left, and plan, above), Khajuraho, India, ca Northern style temples contain only mandapas

Floor plan Khajuraho, India, ca Temples contain a womb chamber ( Garbha griha )-a narrow space that contains images or symbols of the deity. Only the priests can enter this area to make offerings.

Figure 17-5 Plan of Saint-Sernin, Toulouse, France, ca (after Kenneth John Conant).

Figure 6-24 Mithuna reliefs, detail of the north side of the Vishvanatha Temple, Khajuraho, India, ca Mithuna-Amorous couples representing kama.