Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c72.20

v2.c72.20

Being conscious of my limitations, attempting any far reaching advancement from the historical and archaeological point of view, I have chosen to treat this subject from the cultural and the literary (the Śāstric) points of view. This is the main contribution of this work. A detailed treatment on the Foundation of Indian Iconography, in as many as ten chapters (vide Pratimā-Vijñāna—Pūrvapīṭhikā) is the first systematic attempt to present all the allied topics connected with the background of Hindu Iconography—The Institution of Worship. Some of the topics like the bearing of image-worship on art and iconography in India as well as many-sided development of Indian icons in relation to the manifold religious sects and sub-sects together with the rise of Tīrthas both natural like Dhāms, Kṣetras, Khaṇḍs, Araṇyas and the man-made temples under the royal patronage in both the main parts of India—the South and the Noth, are some of the notable introductions to this foundation of Indian Iconography. The treatment of the rise and development of religious movements like Śaivism, Vaiṣṇavism, Śaktism, Saurism, Gāṇapatyism, neo-Buddhism (Vajrayāna etc.) and Jainism and an outline of the mode of worship, the Arcāpaddhati, etc. are also a new presentation in this study of mine. Thus Arcā, Arcya, Arcaka, Arcā-paddhati, Arcāgṛha etc. etc. - all these topics of the Pūrva-pīṭhikā of Pratimā-vijñāna have an intimate relationship towards the exposition and the foundation of Hindu Iconography.