Vaishnavism- An Iconographic Study (Set of 2 Volumes)

About the Book Iconography as a key to trace the socio religious changes has been attempted successfully by some eminent scholars like Dr. R. Champaklakshmi, Dr. Haripriya Rangarajan etc. The present volume is in alignment with such efforts and yet stands distinctive as it tries to probe into the question of amalgamation of various incoming trends.

for shaping the sectarian scenario as revealed through iconographic developments. The study is confined to the Marathi speaking region and pertains to the time span up to early 14th c. C.E. The present work enfolds art historical development of all the major and minor forms of Vishnu, Vaishnava goddesses and other subsidiary divinities of the pantheon along with the syncretistic images. The cult of Vithoba as Vaishnava sect themgh ferms the major subject matter of some of the earlier works, has been analyzed here in relationship with the other forms of Vishnu. Identification and development of the cult of Kevala Narasimha is one of the focal points of the work. As a leading book providing a wholistic view of the cultic development, this work is indispensable to scholars and students alike.

About the Author Dr. Vaishali Welankar with her early and sound background in Sanskrit and in Ancient Indian Culture and Archaeology from Deccan College has obtained her degree of Ph.D from University of Mumbai.

During the past decade the author has served as a lecturer of Ancient Indian Culture at St. Xavier's College, Sathaye College, and Kishinchand Chellaram College at Mumbai She is at present working as an independent research scholar and a visiting faculty for certificate course in Archaeology for Extra Mural Studies, University of Mumbai and visiting faculty for Indian Aesthettes, department of Philosophy, University of Mumbai.

Another area of her interest and work is the archaeological investigations. Trained at Hampi and participated in various explorations like the monument survey at Har (Vijayanagara Research Project) and excavations at Balathal (Rajasthan), Budhihal (Karnataka) and Paithan (Maharashtra), she has carried out the excavation of the megalithic burials at Mahurjhari (Nagpur, Maharashtra) as a project assistant in Deccan College and also for the relocation and reconstruction of one of those burials at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalay, Bhopal, M.P.

Her post-doctoral works are the art historical study of "Wooden Chariots in the temples of South India with special reference to the specimens from Tanjavur region' and 'Metal Masks in Maharashtra and Karnataka' carried out for Indian Cultural Studies, Franco-Indian Research Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai.

The author has a number of research papers and articles to her credit. The terracotta images of the early historical phases, and bronzes from Maharashtra are her arenas of work and focus at present. Apart from her work and interest in cognitive archaeology, iconography and art history, other areas of her interest are Public Archaeology and use of modern technology for archaeological investigations.

Preface I owe a great deal to the works on regional religious history based on iconographic studies attempted by scholars like Dr. Haripriya Rangarajan (Gujarat), Dr. S. Padigar (Karnataka) and Dr. R. Champaklakshmi (TamilNadu). for helping me recognize the need for such a study for Maharashtra. It is also the contribution of list of scholars who have worked earlier on the religious history of Maharashtra tracing the importance and popularity of Shaivism in the region throughout the concerned time bracket that has inspired me to probe in the quest of nature of Vaishnavism during the period. Present research is an endeavor to trace the development of Vaishnavism in the region based on the study of the most tangible expression, iconography.

Since a large part of this work comprises the documentation, repetitions of terms and nature of description was unavoidable. Some of the technical, iconographic and architectural terms that were found difficult to transliterate have been retained in the text and specified in italics. The diacritical marks for such terms are avoided to simplify the reading but have been included in the glossary I hope, the book will fulfill the need for such documentation as well as the reconstruction of the development of religious history. This work is the revised version of my Ph.D. thesis submitted to the University of Mumbai in 2003. I take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude towards my guru.

Dr. A.P.Jamkhedkar for his unfailing guidance. I am highly indebted for his kind consideration in difficult times and also for the appreciation of my efforts. I thank the Indian Council of Historical Research for the financial support provided in the form of fellowship for this research work.

I am grateful for the co-operation by the Director and staff of Ananthacharya Indological Research Institute, Mumbai and by the Director Dr. K. Paddayya and the library staff, especially Ms. Trupti More and Ms. Urmila Jagtap, of Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune.

**Contents and Sample Pages**