Elements of Indian Iconography (Theory)

Paper Code: 
VHA 421
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
14.00
Unit I: 

Introduction: Iconography to Iconology; A brief introduction to major Shilpa texts and their relevance to traditional Indian art; Aniconic and Iconic forms of Buddha, Bodhisattvas (Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara, Maitreya) and Buddhist goddesses (Tara, Prajnaparamita, Marichi)

10.00
Unit II: 

Jataka stories and the life of Buddha; Tirtankara Images (Rishabhanath, Neminatha, Parshavanatha, Mahavira, Bahubali); Vishnu Images and Incarnatory forms of Vishnu; Surya images

12.00
Unit III: 

Main Forms of Shiva (Nataraja, Uma-Maheshwara, Kalyana-sundaramurthy, Tripuranthaka, Yamantaka, Ravananugraha, Chandrashekara etc.); Sapta-matrika, Mahishamardini, Lakshmi, Saraswati; Harihara, Ardhanarishvara

12.00
Unit IV: 

Minor deities — yaksha, Kartikeya, Rebanta, Hariti-Panchika, etc.; Image to narration: Maya Devi’s Dream, Mahishamardini, Last Judgement

12.00
Unit V: 

Introduction to Christian Iconography: Changing concepts and representations of Mary and Christ, The Apostles and the Saints

References: 

Books: 1. R.S. Gupte, Iconography of the Hindus, Buddhists and Jains 2. J.N. Banerjee, Developments of Hindu Iconography 3. A.K.Coomaraswamy, The Origin of Buddha Image 4. A.K.Coomaraswamy, Elements of Buddhist Iconography 5. A.K.Coomaraswamy, Yaksas 6. Dipak C. Bhattacharya, Studies in Buddhist Iconography 7. Kalpana S. Desai, Iconography of Visnu 8. B. Srivastava, Iconography of Sakti 9. Shantilal Nagar, Mahishasurmardini in Indian Art 10. T.S. Maxwell, Viswarupa 11. R. Champakalaksmi, Vaisnava Iconography in Tamil country 12. S. K. Panikkar, Saptamatrika 13. Alice Getty, Ganesa 14. Bhagawat Sahai, Iconography of minor Hindu and Buddhist deities

Academic Year: 
2017-2018
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