mokshamargasya netaram bhettaram karmabhubhrtam
jñataram vishvatattvanam vande tadgunalabdhaye

Jaya Jinendra

ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF INDIAN ICONOGRAPHY in 3 vols. (English)
Hinduism - Buddhism - Jainism
By Prof. S.K. Ramachandra Rao
2003 285 x 220 mm 1744 pp in 3 vols. + 2000 line drawings
81 7030 765 1 Hardcover Rs. 5000

Indian religions, in stark contrast to the monotheistic Judeo-Christian
systems, are polytheistic and the devout Hindu, Jain or Buddhist is
historically responsible for commissioning collectively, over some
thousands of years, one of the world's oldest, richest and most
varied traditions of iconography in the world.

Indian masses are largely idol-worshippers and the warm climate,
the rich natural resources and presence of highly skilled artisans has
given rise to a plethora of extraordinarily rich iconographic and
architectural traditions.

Idols are notional representatives of the supreme power, supreme
yoga and supreme detachment of the Gods. Hence, they are
elaborately consecrated giving rise to the overall ritualistic hierarchy
of the religious traditions of India. Rituals are seen as manifestations
of bhakti or devotion, and hence their immaculate performance is
equated with piety.

Icons fall into the following categories:
Citraja : painted on canvas, paper or walls
Lepaja : moulded in clay, rice-flour or sandalwood paste
Pakaja, Lohaja, Dhatuttha : cast in metal
Shailaja : carved in stone
Daravi : carved in wood
Ratnaja : carved in precious stones

This work presents with great care and scholarship details
concerning images and image worship. The book relies on traditional
texts of Agama and Shilpashastra like the Sadhanamala,
Brhat Samhita, Manasara, Kashyapa Shilpa, Ishanashivagurudeva -
Paddhati, Shilparatna, Padmasamhita, Hayasirshasamhita,
Vaikhanasagama and Rupamandana.

The entries include gods and goddesses of the three ancient religions
of India - Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. The Jain entries include
both Digambara and Shvetambara information. Buddhist entries
focus on the Mahayana. Deities popular in Nepal and Tibet are also
included.

Most entries are accompanied by line-drawings of images in temples,
basadis, monasteries and museums. Related topics such as
Vastushastra, temple-construction, image-making, worship rituals
and the Agama divisions are also covered thoroughly.

Entries are arranged as per the order of the Devanagari syllabary.
Wherever possible, all the best known synonyms of deity's names
have been given. Also cross-references have been provided. In
addition, background stories for deities, mythical entities, etc. have
also been provided making this an Encyclopaedia of all-round
excellence and tremendous academic value and usefulness.

The author Prof. S.K. Ramachandra Rao is a versatile genius and
scholar of Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali and several modern Indian
languages. He is a leading expert in the fields of Indology, Vedanta,
Indian Culture, Art and Literature. He is a musicologist, sculptor,
painter and Professor of Clinical Psychology and headed the Dept.
of Clinical Psychology at the National Institute of Mental Health &
Neuroscience in Bangalore. He was also Chair, Dept. of Indian
Culture at Collision College, University of the Pacific.

|| sarvatra shubhamastu ||
Manish

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