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Hindu Art and Architecture. Sarah Modi, Sarah Mupo, Katie Murphy, Mary Petersen IB World Religions: Blue 4. Art. “The man who knows nothing of music, literature, or art is no better than a beast.”. Warning of ancient Hindu wisdom Hindus think highly of art
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Hindu Art and Architecture Sarah Modi, Sarah Mupo, Katie Murphy, Mary Petersen IB World Religions: Blue 4
“The man who knows nothing of music, literature, or art is no better than a beast.” • Warning of ancient Hindu wisdom • Hindus think highly of art • Art = the key to salvation of the ultimate release sought by all good Hindus • Art is a unity of many forms and artistic experiences very holistic
Yoga • Indian art in its purest form • A disciplined style of self-restraint and worship • India’s oldest indigenous “science” • spiritual exercise leading to the beatific vision • -also a psychological process of drawing oneself into the dynamics which control the universe • -and to ready oneself for all kinds of mental and physical activity
Yoga and Artists • give the craftsman his creative skill • inspire the artist, poet, and musician who sought spiritual enlightenment
The Art • Hindu/ Indian artists have celebrated/ immortalized the beauty of human bodies in bronze and stone for more than 5,000 yrs • Art is most often associated with Hindu religion and philosophy -difficult to appreciate fully unless one has knowledge of Hindu ideals -religious urge, a looking beyond -attempt to bring down the beauty of the things above
Art Con’t • Art is essentially idealistic, mystic, symbolic, and transcendental - Mere bodily strength and mundane perfections of form are never glorified in Indian art. • Artist is both priest and poet • Only by meditating on the Ultimate Perfection could the artist perceive the beauty of the Godhead
The Himalayas • Hindu poetry, art, and mythology, depict the sublime nature of the Himalayas -regarded as special revelation of divine beauty -seen as fitting shrine for all the gods
Philosophy of Art • Hindu philosophy recognizes the impossibility of human art capturing the form of God • Creates in Indian painting and sculpture a symbolical representation of milder, humanized (but still superhuman), divine appearances which mortal eyes can bear
Purpose of Art • To suggest divine attributes to Indian people is the purpose of Hindu art • True Indian art is stripped of the superfluities and vulgarities which delight the uneducated eye - believe that Hindu art requires a higher degree of artistic understanding
Bhakti • the moving spirit of all great religious art • keeps Indian art alive • Indians believe lack of it Bhakti is what makes modern Western art so lifeless
Prominent Figures in Hindu Art
Ganesha • the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles • worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth • one of the five prime Hindu deities
Shiva • The “Great God” of yogic practice • Visually represented as “King of Dance” • most remarkable single symbol of divine powers
The Lotus • Even in earliest art, lotus is fashioned as a seat or as a pedestal on which divine or sacred beings rest in a sitting or standing posture • Symbol of divinity of major Hindu gods • Brahma on the lotus flower which sprang from Vishnu’s naval
Snakes • important images in Hindu art • Sacred to Hindus • seen as protectors and often featured in Hindu art as wrapped around a god
Overview • Not meant for congregational worship • Concentrate on religious and spiritual • Made from rock • Conservative
Overview Cont’d • Vimana • Shikhara • Garba-griba • Sanctum sanctorum • Mandapa • Ardh-mandapa • Mandala
Temple Architecture • Religious • Astronomy • Sacred geometry • Representation of macrocosm and microcosm • Has an inner sanctum: garba girha • Sanctum crowned by a shikara • Distinguishes the Nagra and Dravida styles
North Indian Styles • Nagara style • From Himalayas to the Deccan • Shikhara – beehive shaped • Capotas and gavakas • amalaka • Shrine is square at center • Bell-shaped structure on main shrine
Jagannath Temple Lingaraja Temple Rajarani Temple
South Indian Style • Dravida Style • Shikhara – pyramid shaped • Have different: ground plan; position of stone deities; decorative elements • Walls around whole building • Different types: Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagar, Nayak
Chola - Brihdiswara Temple Pallava – Shore Temple Nayak – Rameswaram Temple Pandya - Chidambaram
Historical Development • The earliest worship centers • Abu Simpbel • Elephanta • Ellora • Horse shoe shaped window • Originally inspired by the Buddhist Stupa • The Great Stupa
Historical Development cont’d • The Stupa • Addition to the temple from Buddism • Shilpa Shastra • Point of reference for architects • Hindu temples • Large temples vs. mandirs:
Historical Development cont’d • Shwe Dagon temple • Temples Today • Fundamentally the same as the 6th century • Richly decorated
Works Cited "Art and Architecture" http://hinduism.iskcon.com/index.htm. The Heart of Hinduism Project. 2004. 1 section. 3 Nov 2006. ISKCON Educational Services <http://hinduism.iskcon.com/lifestyle/805.htm> "Architectural Mosaic" http://www.hinduonline.com/. The Hindu. 12 May 2002. 5 sections. 2002 1 Nov 2006 <http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2002/05/12/stories/2002051200450800.htm> Batchelor, Anthony. “Indian Temple Architecture.” TempleNet. 13 Nov. 2006. <http://www.indiantemples.com/temparc.html> “Ganesha: The Elephant God.” About. 13 November 2006. <http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa083000a.htm>. Havell, Ernest Binfield. The Art heritage of India. Dutton, 1911. Hindu Architecture. Indiasite.com. 10 November 2006. <http://www.indiasite.com/architecture/hindu.html>.
Works Cited Con’t "Hindu Architecture" 10 Aug 2004, 7 paragraphs. Project India. 11 Nov 2006 <http://www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/student_work/global_programme/indiaweb/PI2/hindu_architecture.html>. Hindu Art. 15 August 2006. Hindu Wisdom. 13 November 2006. <http://www.hinduwisdom.info/Hindu_Art.htm#h%20i%20n%20d%20u%20%20%20%20a%20r%20t>. Hindu Temple Architecture. Answers Corporation. 15 November 2006. <http://www.answers.com/topic/hindu-temple-architecture>. Kumar, Nitin. “The Hindu Temple: Where Man Becomes God.” May 2006. Exotic India. 12 Nov. 2006. <http://www.exoticindiaart.com/read/hindu_temple.htm>. Nangia, Ashish. “Poetry in Stone: Crystallization of the Hindu Temple.” 15 Nov. 2001. Boloji.com. 13 Nov. 2006. <http://www.boloji.com/architecture/00006.htm>. Temples. Indian Heritage. 10 Nov. 2006. <http://www.saigan.com/heritage/tindex.html>.