Digital Rare Book:
The Vishnudharmottara - A Treatise on Indian Painting and Image-Making
By Stella Kramrisch
Lecturer in Fine Arts (Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture), Calcutta University
Published by Calcutta University Press - 1928
A copper alloy figure of SHIVA BHIKSHATANA
South India, Tanjore, Nayak Dynasty, 17th century.
The present sculpture depicting Shiva’s manifestation as Bhikshatana, “the enchanting mendicant,” embodies the inspired modeling, sinuous elegance and spontaneous charm of late south Indian bronze casti...
Read More
Watercolour painting on paper of Rama and Sita seated on a throne. Hanuman is dressed in shorts, a shawl and a golden crown. Behind the throne stand Rāma’s three brothers; Lakṣmaṇa, Shatrughna and Bharata. Each of the brothers wear a golden crown, dhoti and a shawl draped over their shoulders. On...
Read More
"No definition is possible, for the very good reason that Hinduism is absolutely indefinite. It is really an anthropological process to which, by a strange irony of fate, the name of 'religion' has been given. Starting from the Vedas, embodying the customs and ideas of one...
Read More
Probably the earliest known representation of Shiva:
Gold dinar, c. 200-225 CE
Weight: 8.02 gm., Diam: 21 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, nimbate, holding trident and sacrificing at altar at left, second trident above fire altar, Bactrian legend around:
þAONAN...
Read More
Ravana receiving the Pashupata weapon from Shiva
India, Himachal Pradesh, Kangra (?), circa 1850-1900
Drawings; watercolors
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Umapati (Shiva, the Primeval Father God, and Uma, the Great Mother Goddess)
India, Uttar Pradesh, Deogarh region, circa 750-800
Sculpture
Gray sandstone
Ganesha is worshipped by most Jainas, for whom he appears to have taken over certain functions of Kubera. Jaina connections with the trading community support the idea that Jainism took up the worship of Ganesha as a result of commercial connections.