1. Hindu Art and Architecture
Sarah Modi, Sarah Mupo, Katie Murphy, Mary Petersen
IB World Religions: Blue 4

2. Art

3. “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

4. 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

5. Yoga and Artists give the craftsman his creative skill
inspire the artist, poet, and musician who sought spiritual enlightenment

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Prominent Figures
in Hindu Art

13. 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

14. Shiva The “Great God” of yogic practice
Visually represented as “King of Dance”
most remarkable single symbol of divine powers

15. 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

16. Snakes important images in Hindu art Sacred to Hindus
seen as protectors and often featured in Hindu art as wrapped around a god

17. Architecture

18. Overview Not meant for congregational worship
Concentrate on religious and spiritual
Made from rock
Conservative

19. Overview Cont’d Vimana Shikhara Garba-griba Sanctum sanctorum Mandapa
Ardh-mandapa
Mandala

20. 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

21. North Indian Styles

22. 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

23. Jagannath Temple
Lingaraja Temple
Rajarani Temple

24. South Indian Styles

25. 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

26. Chola - Brihdiswara Temple
Pallava – Shore Temple
Nayak – Rameswaram Temple
Pandya - Chidambaram

27. Historical Development
The earliest worship centers
Abu Simpbel
Elephanta
Ellora
Horse shoe shaped window
Originally inspired by the Buddhist Stupa
The Great Stupa

28. 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:

29. Historical Development cont’d
Shwe Dagon temple
Temples Today
Fundamentally the same as the 6th century
Richly decorated

30. Works Cited
"Art and Architecture" The Heart of Hinduism Project section. 3 Nov ISKCON Educational Services <
"Architectural Mosaic" The Hindu. 12 May sections Nov 2006 <
Batchelor, Anthony. “Indian Temple Architecture.” TempleNet. 13 Nov <
“Ganesha: The Elephant God.” About. 13 November <
Havell, Ernest Binfield. The Art heritage of India. Dutton, 1911.
Hindu Architecture. Indiasite.com. 10 November <

31. Works Cited Con’t
"Hindu Architecture" 10 Aug 2004, 7 paragraphs. Project India. 11 Nov 2006 <
Hindu Art. 15 August Hindu Wisdom. 13 November <
Hindu Temple Architecture. Answers Corporation. 15 November <
Kumar, Nitin. “The Hindu Temple: Where Man Becomes God.” May Exotic India. 12 Nov <
Nangia, Ashish. “Poetry in Stone: Crystallization of the Hindu Temple.” 15 Nov Boloji.com. 13 Nov <
Temples. Indian Heritage. 10 Nov <