Elements of Hindu Iconography (2 Volumes in 4 Parts)

This treatise is one of the early attempts by an archaeologist of our country for a diligent search into the origin, descriptions, symbols, mythological background, meaning and moral aims of Hindu images. The book is in two volumes, each volume again in two parts. Vol. I, Part I contains a long Introduction discussing image worship I India, explanatory description of the terms employed in the work, Ganapati, Visnu and his major and minor avataras and manifestations, Garuda and Ayudha-Parushas or personified images of the weapons and emblems held by gods. Vol. I, Part II deals with Aditya and Nava Grahas (nine planets) and their symbolic features and images worshipped, Devi (Goddesses), Parivara-devatas, and measurement of proportions in images Vol. II, Part I begins with an Introduction discussing the cult of Siva which is followed by such important topics as Siva, Lingas, Lingodbhavamurti Chandrasekharamurti, Pasupatamurti and Raudrapasupatamurti, other Ugra forms of Siva, Dakshinamurti, Kankalamurti and Bhikshatanamurti, and other important aspects of Siva, Vol. II, Part II contains descriptions of Subrahmanya. Nandikesvara and Adhikaranandi, Chandesvara, Bhaktas, Arya or Hariharaputra, Kshetrapalas, Brahma, the Dikpulakas, and demi-gods. In addition the book contains 5 Appendices, three in Vol. I, Part II and two in Vol. II, Part II, including Sanskrti texts of Parivaradevatah Uttamadasatalavidhih and Pratimalaksanani. The treatment has been made interesting by profuse illustrations, the two volumes containing as many as 282 photographs of sacred images.