The Hindu Temple v2.c11.s6.15

v2.c11.s6.15

The form of the Celestial Beauties is, of embodied intellect; by art this intellectual (paramārthika) body is made concrete.¹³² It is different from the physical body of flesh and bones and which is of the earth. The qualities of the celestial body are those of the atmosphere, pervaded as it is by the light of the sun and where blows the wind and the gale of the Spirit. It is the region of movement; the celestial bodies are built up by movement only. In the “air-world” (bhuvas; antarikṣa) the gods dwell; man moves in it and breathes. In its movement, his living body is of the air-world and one in nature with that of the gods. Indian sculpture, whose subject is the gods, knows only of this celestial body. It consists of movement and is resilient with the breath that courses in its smooth channels.