Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c5.23

c5.23

ŚIVA—Similarly Śiva was depicted from the Indus Valley to historical times either as an emblem (*Liṅga-vigraha*) or in human form (*Puruṣa-vigraha*) and both are deeply rooted in the metaphysical thought of the religious tradition of India. The folk-elements have been freely accepted but transformed. Sublimation of forms as a vehicle of ideas gives delight both to the Indian seer and artist. For example, Śiva is shown as Paśupati, Ardhanārīśvara, Naṭarāja, Kāmāntaka, Gaṅgādhara, Chandraśekhara, Yogeśvara, Yamāntaka, Harihara, Dakṣiṇāmūrti, Jyotirliṅga, Nandīśvara, Umāmaheśvara, Daśamukhānugraha, Pañchabrahma, Aṣṭamūrti, Mṛituñjaya etc. These are verily the alphabet of a religious language at its best. Its key is preserved in Indian tradition and the secret of art as that of religion may be found to be the same, when rightly unveiled.