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HINDU ART AND ARCHITECTURE IN
INDIA Lecture 2C
HINDUISM: AN OVERVIEW
• Hinduism has no single founder, spokesman, prophet, or God. It is very complex and CONFUSING!
• Pluralism: The combination of many beliefs into one system. Four goals to life on earth:
– Dharma: Righteous living
– Artha: Wealth
– Kama: Emotional and physical acts of love
– Moksha: Spiritual salvation thru bhakti
Krishna and Radha in a Pavilion, ca. 1760
THE RIG VEDA STATES…
• “The truth is one, but the learned refer to it by many names”.
• In other words, in this worldview there are many paths to the divine and the ultimate goal.
TEMPLES: GRAND MANDALAS FOR REACHING THE GODS
Mandala: Diagram of the Cosmos. Mt. Meru is at the center.
The Square represents the 4 cardinal directions, and the outer
Circle is the universe.
TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE: TERMS
• Porch: Entryway
• Mandapa: hallways/worship rooms that lead to the inner areas of temple.
• Garbhagriha: the “womb” of the temple, the inner shine and home to cult statue or symbol
• Vimana: (south temples) mountain shaped pyramid over the Garghagriha.
• Shikhara: (northern temples): mountain shaped pyramid over the Garghagriha
Video Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yiupwf
u_h0k
TEMPLE COMPLEX OF THE RAJARAJESHVARA TEMPLE (AKA THE BRIHADESVARA TEMPLE) TO SHIVA, THANJAVUR, INDIA, CA.
1000.
Plan shows several temples surrounded by a wall. The precinct is
entered through a Gateway called a Gopura.
Rajarajeshvara Temple . Figure 3.24
The Vimana (tower)
over the
Garbhagriha, the
“womb” of the temple.
Linga of Shiva at the
center of the temple.
KANDARYA MAHADEVA TEMPLE, KHAJURAHO, INDIA, CA. 1000.
Vishnu and Lakshmi,
Mithuna Scene.
Figure 3.29
31
MITHUNA RELIEFS, DETAIL OF THE
NORTH SIDE OF THE VISHVANATHA
TEMPLE, KHAJURAHO, INDIA, CA.1000.
(Very Few) HINDU DEITIES
Nataraja: Shiva as King of Dance, South India (Chola period, 11th century CE). Bronze.
SHIVA
• One of the main
Hindu gods.
• Associated with
change/death…but
as with new
opportunities.
• Nataraja: Lord of
the Dance.
Universe
Raised
foot =
salvation
Agni=fire,
destruction
Free flowing hair=clashing
of cosmic forces
Small
drum=creation
Mudra=protection
for righteous
Demon
Apasmara=Ignorance
24
DANCING SHIVA, ROCK-CUT
RELIEF IN CAVE TEMPLE,
BADAMI, INDIA, LATE SIXTH
CENTURY.
SHIVA
• Also associated with yogis, self-control, and the shedding of attachments.
• Shown here as Satyam: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.
• Symbols of Shiva include the Trident (3 gunas), Snake (represents he is beyond death), and Tiger Skin (representing the mind).
• What mudra is shown here?
Linga with one face, 9th century Afghanistan. Marble
SHIVA
• Shiva is also the symbol of the regenerative force of the universe.
• Linga: Phallus shape that represents Shiva as supreme consciousness.
• The linga is oftentimes merged with the yoni, the symbol for the female regenerative force.
Standing Parvati, ca. 10th century India,Copper alloy.
PARVATI
• Wife of Shiva. Other forms of Parvati include Shakti and Kali.
• Loving wife, and equal to her husband. Their statues often placed together to symbolize how partners complement each other to form ultimate oneness.
• Mother of the deity Kama and Ganesha.
Dancing Ganesha, 11th Century, North Bengal.
GANESHA
• Son of Shiva and Parvati.
• Remover of obstacles and Lord of beginnings.
• Easily recognized by human body with elephant head.
• Since he is a child, often shown with a chubby body, holding candies in one of his hands.
AFTER THIS LECTURE YOU SHOULD
BE ABLE TO:
• Define pluralism and explain how Hinduism is a pluralistic faith.
• Compare the features of a mandala to a Hindu Temple, noting the similarities.
• Identify the major components of Northern and Southern Indian temples, their functions, and symbolism.
• Recognize the sacred meaning to mithuna imagery.
• Identify the major Hindu deities and their iconography.