South Indian Bronzes: A Historical Survey of South Indian Sculpture with Iconographical Notes Based on Original Sources c8.17

c8.17

The rules which are embodied in the South Indian manuscripts fall into three divisions :—(a) The *dhyāna* or the contemplative verse which gave the iconography of each deity. They are sometimes a little different from the *dhyānas* or *stottras* (hymns) in actual use in the worship of the deity in the temple. They set forth in concise language the characteristics of the deity giving the number of hands and the weapons carried by it and a general description of the pattern of the image. The *dhyānas* used in the cult-worship of the image in the temple dealt specially with the spiritual character and the personality of the deity rather than its physical characteristics. The difference between the two kinds of *dhyānas* will be found in the two verses quoted in the description of Natarāja (Plates III & IV). (b) The *lakhanas* or the precipé which suggested a sort of a pattern image in the form of which the particular deity described in the *dhyāna* is to be translated. The *lakhanas* are given generally only in respect of the more important deities. They give the pose and other details and particulars for the image which are not found in the *dhyānas*. (c) The measurements of the different parts of the body and their relation to each other. These measurements are given with reference to particular classes of images. The types, suggested by the system of measurements given in the *Silpa Sāstras*, do not relate to the construction of human figures although they are deduced from the average human model. They suggest a standard for a super-human being, situate on a plane higher than the ethnical level.