Mithuna In Buddhist Art (With Special Reference to Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda)

Mithuna signifies a couple-a male and female. It symbolizes the procreative duality. All the creation emantes from the union of this couple, be it any being. Mithuna figures distinctly appear in the Buddhist art from the 2nd C.B.C. onwards at a number of Buddhist sites. In Andhra, Mithunas predominantly appear in Amaravati, Goli and Nagarjuna konda site sculputed panels.

Though some effort was made to unravel the significance of Mithuna art by historians, proper analysis seems not made and hence the inadequacy. Hence this endeavour. Nagarjunakonda and Amaravati art has the richest depiction of the Mithuna art. Though the Andhra art was studied as a whole by several scholars but emphasis was not given for studying the Mithuna art. In this book, an attempt has been made to study the subject particularly in-terms of art, its philosophy, concept and the necessity to introduce them in narrative panels of the Buddhist art.

Mrs. Sudha Piratti, Born in November 1971, had her graduation from Nagarjuna University. She did her M.A. in History and Archaeo logy. She recieved her M. Phil. from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Andhra Pradesh in 1998. An ardent pursuer of research in Archaeology, she developed zeal and interest in instrumental music. She has acquired experience in teaching History and Archaeology to the College students. Guiding the foreign visitors and tourists at the Buddhist Sites and highlighting the Indian culture and heritage to the foreign tourists are her hobbies. Currently she is working on Mithuna Art in Andhra Pradesh and also on Buddhist Art and Architecture.

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