North Indian Temple Sculpture

Sculptural study provides a clear window to the socio-economic and religious study of the past. North India is full of numerous temples of early medieval period (9th to 13th centuries AD). Contemporary temples in the south have already been covered by several authors but no such exhaustive study of the North Indian temples has been done. An attempt has been made in the present work, to study of the sculptural wealth of the North Indian temples and to glean from it such light as they throw on the iconographic and cultural life of the people.

The ingenuity of the sculptors in carving icons of rare beauty and arrangement of ayudhas of geometrical designs and human figures in the small friezes complete to the minutest details is commendable and to be wondered at. More so when we think of the ancient instruments and simple methods of working at their disposal.

The Pancadevas of Hindu mythology, Vaisnavas, Saiva and Sakta images: Surya and Ganesa, Kartikeya, Dikpalas, Navagrahas and Ganas, Yaksas and Surasundaris all have been studied in great details. The minor gods and goddesses like Nagadevas and Pisacas, Sitala and Manasa also find place in the study. Likewise Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism are dealt in great detail including Jain ascetics like Bahubali and Adisvaraswami and famous Buddhist monk Nagarjuna.

Scenes relating to schooling of children, relations between husband and wife, economic life, war and political life, customs, habits and pastimes have also been studied.

About the Author:

Prof. Urmila Agarwal is an art historian. She was head of the History Department of Government Hamidia College, Bhopal and member of the Faculty of Arts, Academic Council and Chairperson, Board of Studies in Vikram and Bhopal universities. She was also post-doctoral fellow at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, where she also lectured extensively on Indian culture and history. She has also published khajuraho Sculpture and Their Significance and several articles in reputed journals.

List of Illustrations

Preface

1. INTRODUCTION
   Origin and Development of Temple Architecture
   Temples in the Eastern Zone
   Temples in the Central Zone
   Temples in the Western Zone
   Brief Historical Background of the Four Zones

2. MAIN RELIGIOUS FEATURES OF NORTH INDIA
   Forms of Worship
   Linga and its Various Forms
   Intersect Relations
   Religious Toleration

3. VISNU
   Twenty-four minor forms of Visnu
   Sesasayi Visnu
   Ten Incarnations

4. SIVA
5. SAKTI
   Durga and her Forms

6. SURYA, GANESA, DIKPALAS AND NAVAGRAHAS
   Surya
   Ganesa
   Astadikpalas
   The Navagrahas

7. OTHER HINDU GODS AND GODDESSES INCLUDING DEMIGODS
   Gods
   Goddesses
   Demigods
   Miscellaneous Gods
   Miscellaneous Goddesses

8. JAINISM
   Tirthankaras
   Jain Yaksa Couples and Yaksas
   Yaksinis
   Sruta-devis
   Ayagapata
   Miscellaneous Jain Deities
   The Dikpalas
   Doubtful Jain Yaksas and Yaksinis

9. BUDDHISM
   Buddha
   Bodhisattva
   Miscellaneous Deities
   Doubtful Gods
   Buddhist Goddesses
   Miscellaneous Goddesses
   Doubtful Goddesses

10. SOCIAL LIFE
    Brahmacaryasrama
    Grhasthasrama
    Vanaprasthasrama
    Samnyasasrama

11. DRESS, COSMETICS AND COIFFURE, ORNAMENTS, HOBBIES AND RECREATIONS
    Male Dress
    Female Dress
    Cosmetics and Coiffure
    Ornaments
    Hobbies and Recreations

12. ECONOMIC LIFE

13. POLITICAL LIFE AND WAR

14. ART AND ARCHITECTURE
    How the Temples were Constructed
    Styles of Temple Construction
    Component Parts of a Temple
    General Features of Temple Sculptures
    Zonal Differences

15. CONCLUSIONS
    Conspicuous Religious and Iconographic Features
    Social and Economic Life

Bibliography

Index

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