Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c74.s8.63

v2.c74.s8.63

This is the concluding chapter of this second part—‘Canons of Iconography’. Practically all the principal canons of Hindu Iconography relating to the classification of Indian images, their code of manufacturing—planning, measures, substances—etc.—together with their symbolic manifestation as are conveyed through manifold mudrās both bodily poses and external symbols like weapons, seats, implements as well as the drapery and decorations, have already been taken into consideration. Now remain the two very important topics of this canonical exposition. These are aestheticism in Indian iconographical art and the installation of an image in its abode, the garbhagṛha, of a Vimāna or Prāsāda, the Hindu Temple. Both these are taken up for the first time in an iconographical dessertation in contemporary writings.