Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c74.s5.16

v2.c74.s5.16

Before closing the Chapter two more ‘mudrās’ may be only hinted at here. The first is the mode in which certain figures were depicted in the iconographic art of ancient and medieval India. It is the flying one and as it is intimately associated with Gandharvas and Vidyādharas, it woned be taken ahead—Pratimā-lakṣaṇa Pt. II—‘the Gandharvas’. As regards the second it is conventional representation of the clouds in the early and medieval art. It is also associated with these celetial figures—the gandharvas and vidyādharas, who make their aerial sojourn through the firmament and therefore its indication or representation has formed an important topic of the iconographer’s art. The V. D. has prescribed the canon (vide its discourse on the Painting—Book III) and it will be taken up in its proper place vide Pt. III—the Pictorial Art.