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Posted: March 6th, 2024
Indian Art and the Impact of Hinduism
Hinduism is a complex and diverse religion that has influenced the artistic production of India for millennia. Hindu art reflects the pluralism, the cosmology, the mythology, and the ritual practices of this ancient faith. In this paper, I will explore some of the main features and themes of Hindu art, such as the representation of deities, the symbolism of sacred architecture, and the role of aesthetics and emotion in religious devotion.
One of the most distinctive aspects of Hindu art is the depiction of gods and goddesses, who are often portrayed with multiple arms, heads, or attributes to express their power, functions, and aspects. Hinduism recognizes a supreme reality called Brahman, which is manifested in various forms and names. Some of the most popular deities are Vishnu, the preserver; Shiva, the destroyer; and Shakti, the divine energy. These deities have many incarnations and manifestations, such as Rama, Krishna, Ganesha, Durga, Lakshmi, and Parvati. Each deity has a specific iconography that identifies them and tells their stories. For example, Shiva is often shown as Nataraja, the lord of dance, who performs a cosmic dance of creation and destruction within a ring of fire . Vishnu is often shown as Vaikuntha Vishnu, who holds a conch shell, a discus, a mace, and a lotus in his four hands . Shakti is often shown as Durga, who slays the buffalo demon Mahishasura with her multiple weapons .
Hindu art also reflects the religious organization of sacred architecture, which is designed to create a connection between the human and the divine realms. Hindu temples are built on auspicious sites near water sources and are oriented according to cardinal directions. They are conceived as cosmic pillars or mountains that link heaven and earth. They are also seen as symbolic representations of the body of the deity or the universe. The temple consists of a sanctum (garbhagriha), where the image of the deity is enshrined; a hall (mandapa), where devotees gather; and a tower (shikhara), which rises above the sanctum. The temple walls are decorated with sculptures and paintings that depict deities, myths, rituals, and secular themes. The temple is not only a place of worship but also a place of transformation, where the devotee can experience the presence of the deity and attain spiritual liberation (moksha) .
Hindu art also expresses the role of aesthetics and emotion in religious devotion. Hinduism values beauty (saundarya) as a means of experiencing the divine. Hindu art employs various aesthetic principles, such as proportion, symmetry, harmony, rhythm, and ornamentation to create pleasing forms that evoke wonder (camatkara) and joy (ananda) in the viewer. Hindu art also appeals to emotion (bhava) as a way of cultivating devotion (bhakti) to the deity. Hindu art depicts various moods (rasa) that correspond to different aspects of human experience, such as love (shringara), heroism (vira), compassion (karuna), humor (hasya), and terror (bhayanaka). Hindu art also portrays various expressions (abhinaya) that convey the inner feelings of the characters through gestures (mudra), postures (asana), facial features (mukhajnana), and eyes (drishti). Hindu art aims to create an emotional bond between the viewer and the deity, who is seen as a personal friend (sakha), lover (priya), or parent (pitamata) .
In conclusion, Hindu art is a rich and diverse expression of Hinduism that reflects its multifaceted nature. Hindu art reveals the beliefs, values, practices, and experiences of Hindus throughout history and across regions. Hindu art is not only a visual representation but also a vehicle of communication and communion with the sacred.
References:
: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1987.80/
: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/39328
: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/38197
: https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Art/Art_History_(Boundless)/22%3A_South_and_Southeast_Asia_After_1200_CE/22.03%3A_Hindu_Art
: https://people.smu.edu/hist2390/2015/12/11/hinduism-and-art/
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