Elements of Hindu Iconography [2 Volumes in 4 divisions]

T A Gopinatha Rao, Elements of Hindu Iconography, Madras: Law Printing House, 1914-16, 2 Volumes in 4 divisions

Volume I: Part I - xxxiii + 296 pages
Volume I: Part II - 299-400 + 160 + 29 (index)
Volume II: Part I - xxxv + 358 pages, 1916
Volume II: Part II - 359-570 + 279 + 31 pages, 1916

Original blue cloth decorated in gilt with picture of Vishnu reclining on the upper board of Volume 1 and Nataraja on Volume 2, decorated spine with axe design in gilt
10 x 7.5 in (24.3 x 17.8 cm) (each)

This treatise is an early attempt for a diligent search into the origin, descriptions, symbols, mythological background, meaning and moral aims of Hindu images.

The book is in two volumes, each volume again in two parts. Hundreds of black and white plates with tissue guards.

Volume I, Part I contains a long Introduction discussing among other things the origin of Hindu image worship in India, explanatory description of the terms employed in the work, Ganapati, Visnu and his major and minor avataras and manifestations, Garuda and Ayudha-Purushas or personified images of the weapons and emblems held by gods.

Volume I, Part II deals with Aditya and Nava Grahas (nine planets) and their symbolic features and images worshipped, Devi (Goddesses), Parivara-devatas, and measurement of proportions in images.

Volume II, Part I begins with an Introduction discussing the cult of Siva, which is followed by such important topics as Siva, Lingas, Lingodbhavamurti, Chandrasekharamurti, Pasupatamurti and Raudrapasupatamurti, other Ugra forms of Siva, Dakshinamurti, Kankalamurti and Bhikshatanamurti, and other important aspects of Siva.

Volume II, Part II contains descriptions of Subrahmanya, Nandikesvara and Adhikaranandi, Chandesvara, Bhaktas, Arya or Hariharaputra, Kshetrapalas, Brahma, the Dikpalakas, and demi-gods. In addition, the book contains 5 Appendices including Sanskrit texts of Parivaradevatah, Uttamadasatalavidhih and Pratimalaksanani.

The treatment has been made interesting by profuse illustrations, the two volumes containing as many as 282 photographs of sacred images.

NON-EXPORTABLE

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