Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c74.s2.1

v2.c74.s2.1

With these observations on the literary sources (the Śastrīya) of Hindu Iconography, let us very briefly introduce the sculptural ones (the Sthāpatya) the second line of investigation. I have purposely used the second word, the Sthāpatya, to hint at its wider field of enquiry. It may include not only the stone-images, wooden ones or the clay icons, but also the images on the coins and the seals and so many other terracotta figures and figurinens as found in the remotest past. To put it in one word all that goes by the name of Archaeological data can be easily included in the broad scope of sculptural traditions of this country where the services of not only the stone-mason, wood-carver and the potter but also those of the metal-caster were employed by the numerous religious-minded people of India. Among metallic images (those of gold, silver, bronze etc.) the images on ancient coins and seals presuppose the flourishing metal-casting art of India. Hence all these data provide a facinating field of enquiry to reconstruct not only the sources of Hindu Iconography but also its rise and development.