Elements of Hindu Iconography

by T.A. Gopinatha Rao

This 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.

Genres: Art, India, Hinduism

1657 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1985

Reviews

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This massive tome, presently distributed among four volumes published by the good people at MLBD, is a work that would remain unsurpassable. Archaeology has taken huge strides in the hundred plus years since its publication. But in terms of sheer volume and rogour shown to list the varous names and shapes of icons as described in various texts, it remains the ultimate corpus.
There have been several works since then. We have had Jitendra N. Bannerjee's monumental yet sceptical work. We have had works in other languages which have described iconography 'as-it-is' instead of following the 'as-it-should-be' approach of this book. Nevertheless, if you wish to understand the icons as sought to be depicted, then this is your book.
Let me encapsulate the contents as briefly as possible, just to give you some idea about the scope of this book.
Volume I Part I:
- Technical Terms
- Ganapati
- Vishnu
- Garuda and Ayudha-Purushas
Volume I Part II:
- Adityas and Navagrahas
- Devi
- Parivaradevatas
- Uttama Dasa-tala measure (ratios and proporotions of various body-parts)
Volume II Part I:
- Siva
- Lingas
- Various other forms of Siva
Volume II Part II:
- Misc. aspects of Siva
- Bhaktas, Kshetrapalas and Brahma
- Dikpalas, Asvinidevatas and Demo-Gods
Not only descriptions and names, but this book also contains numerous stories as well as local variants that must have been incredibly difficult to come by in thos epre-internet ancient age. Going through these volumes one can only bow as low as possible for the genius and labour of the author.
If you are a student of history and/or have a modicum of interest in iconography, this book is a must-read.
Highly recommended.

[Ajay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. So many photography with details.