Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c74.s2.201

v2.c74.s2.201

The sculptural art in other ancient countries like Greece and Rome never cared with this symbolism. An image, if carved out beautiful, perfect in proportions and complete in artistic details as well as material craftsmanship, that was all that could be aimed at. ‘The bodily culture and the improvement of its form engaged the sole attention of the Greek artists’. But here in India, this was not all. Art and Iconography are correlated subjects. Iconography, in fact, forms not only a part of cultural art but cultural life itself. Indian Iconography, as pointed out previously, has developed out of the womb of Iconology. This iconology is one of many manifestations which represent in all the consummation, the spiritual life of Indians. This iconology again was an outcome of man’s reflections on nature and its manifold processes. Naturally therefore all these reflections had to pass through a mental process of personification, abstraction or generalization as well as recollection and representation. Therefore it is with this fundamental background of human mind that we have to view the Indian art which was rooted in the spiritual advancement and religious craving and its satisfaction of Indian people.