Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c7.82

v1.c7.82

The second and the most potent cause that has injuriously affected Indian iconoplastic art is the hard and fast rules laid down in the *Āgamas* and the *Tantras* for the making of images. There is no doubt that the authors of the *Āgamas* devoted a large amount of attention to the beauty of the human figure studied in general; and as a consequence of this they naturally laid down the proportions and measurements of the various limbs and organs of the human body. The belief that these measurements ought not to be disregarded under any circumstance came into vogue later on in recognition of the authority of the *Āgamas* and the *Tantras*. The artist thus became handicapped, and his imagination had no freedom of action. Not much scope could be given to the display of the genius of the artist, under any circumstances, although there is an *Āgama* rule to the effect that "the artist should fashion the image as best as he could."