Iconography Of The Buddhist Sculpture Of Orissa

The Present Book On The Iconography Of The Buddhist Sculpture Of Orissa Utilizes The Author'S Expertise Of Orissan Brahmanical Art To Develop A Similar Consistent And Reliable Iconographic And Stylistic Evolution For The Buddhist Arts Of Orissa And Its Adherence To, Or Deviation From, Surviving Textual Icono-Graphic Peculiarities. There Is Little Doubt That Orissa Played A Major Role In The Creation, Development And Dissemination Of Buddhist Doctrines And Concepts Throughout India And The Buddhist World, Particularly In Respect To Vajrayana Buddhism And The Iconography Of Sculptural Mandalas. Particular Emphasis In This Book Is Placed On The Reciprocal Influence Between Brahmanical And Buddhist Art In Orissa, Both Religions Expanding At The Same Time In Regard To The Proliferation Of Deities And Their Variant Forms, And Each Apparently Competing With The Other For Patronage And Converts.

Utilizing knowledge of the Orissan Brahmanical Art, this text seeks to develop a similar consistent and reliable iconographic and stylistic evolution for the Buddhist Arts of Orissa and its adherence to, or deviation from, surviving textual iconographic peculiarities. The reciprocal influence between Brahmanical and Buddhist Art in Orissa is emphasized with both religions expanding at the same time in regard to proliferation of deities and variant forms, and each apparently competing with the other for patronage and converts.

Utilizing knowledge of the Orissan Brahmanical Art, this text seeks to develop a similar consistent and reliable iconographic and stylistic evolution for the Buddhist Arts of Orissa and its adherence to, or deviation from, surviving textual iconographic peculiarities. The reciprocal influence between Brahmanical and Buddhist Art in Orissa is emphasized with both religions expanding at the same time in regard to proliferation of deities and variant forms, and each apparently competing with the other for patronage and converts.

The Present Book On The Iconography Of The Buddhist Sculpture Of Orissa Utilizes The Author'S Expertise Of Orissan Brahmanical Art To Develop A Similar Consistent And Reliable Iconographic And Stylistic Evolution For The Buddhist Arts Of Orissa And Its Adherence To, Or Deviation From, Surviving Textual Icono-Graphic Peculiarities. There Is Little Doubt That Orissa Played A Major Role In The Creation, Development And Dissemination Of Buddhist Doctrines And Concepts Throughout India And The Buddhist World, Particularly In Respect To Vajrayana Buddhism And The Iconography Of Sculptural Mandalas. Particular Emphasis In This Book Is Placed On The Reciprocal Influence Between Brahmanical And Buddhist Art In Orissa, Both Religions Expanding At The Same Time In Regard To The Proliferation Of Deities And Their Variant Forms, And Each Apparently Competing With The Other For Patronage And Converts.

This Work Analyses The Vaisnava Iconography Of Orissa. Vaisnava Iconography Proper Including Hari-Hara And Other Composite Images And Those Of Visnu S Female Consorts; Images Of Visnu In His Avataras; Depiction Of Balarama, Krsna And Jagannatha; And Iconography Of The Secondary Figures Like Garuda And Hanumana.

On its broadest level, this book contributes to an ongoing expansion of both the history of religions and Buddhist studies by focusing on what is a far too frequently ignored aspect of religious experience: visual images. This is a study that is intended to speak to, and be relevant for, not only those interested specifically in Buddhism, but also scholars and students in the field of religion at large who are interested in the dialectical ways abstract, abstruse and even rarified textual discourses interact with devotional practices 'on the ground'. The specific focus of this book is on the Buddhist visual practices surrounding the visual representation of a single, central concept, prajna, or wisdom, in medieval north India. Prajna, however, was not only an intellectual state and spiritual goal to which to aspire. Rather, wisdom also becomes a quality to be visually represented and ritually responded to, and even an active presence to be venerated in much the same manner as the Buddha himself. This book explores the ways in which the production and use of artistic images involving prajna constituted a central, if not the central, component of Buddhist religious practice in Medieval India.