Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c5.12

c5.12

The next step is to select a meaning or theme (Artha) as the vehicle of the particular Rasa intended to be expressed. The extent of meaning of Indian art comprises the vast pantheon of gods and goddesses, each one of whom is the symbol of celestial and earthly powers that are in the Universe, and really stand for the manifestations of one Divinity. The great Purāṇic legends or myths are cast in the pattern of a conflict between the powers of light and of darkness. Indian art and poetry illustrate these themes. Great Beings (*Mahāpurusha*) like the Buddha, Mahāvīra and other heroic kings of heavenly charater stand for the principle of light contending against the forces of evil described as Māra, Vṛitra, Tripura, Mahisha, etc. Without its meaning Art is blind. It is eloquent with its sense and purpose when properly understood as those who created it and for whom it was created both understood it. Meaning has great value to appreciate fully the cultural purpose of Indian art. The quest of meaning leads us to the study of art symbolism, e. g. in the case of *Chakra*, *Pūrṇa-Ghaṭa*, *Svastika*, *Garuḍa*, *Nāga*, *Yaksha*, etc.