The images like Nataraja, Ardhanari, Harihara, and Durga arise from Vedic poems. The Body, as a city or temple where the divine image dwells, is a Vedic image. The temple sculptures, and iconographic program played a significant role in the Saiva Siddhanta symbolism. The four armed bronze image of Nataraja in Tamilnadu was the most successful creation of Indian art and with this Indian Art reached its aesthetic perfection. The image of Varaha Vishnu at Khajuraho is an exuberant creation in which the artist successfully attempted to bring out the quaint essence of pure creation. Aesthetics of religion is a newly emerging subject in the field of Religious studies. The hymn of Lalitha Tripurasundari represents the Goddess, both by figures of style and by figures of sound, as beauty personified. Dancing may be regarded as externalization of emotional energy, using bodily movement as medium and as an offering of rhythmic beauty. All the Artifacts produced by potters whether everyday utensils or ritual statues, are not meant to be permanent and that potters’ tradition is dying out. Indian Theory of Art is derived from the Vedanta". Eminent Scholars, from all parts of the world, explored these and other fascinating topics, in the Chidambaram Conference on Art and Religion in 2001, that constitute this collection.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR R Nagaswamy
Dr. R. Nagaswamy, is the author of many books in English and Tamil including Master pieces of South Indian Bronzes, Siva Bhakti etc. He has also edited several books including Foundations of Indian Art (Proceedings of the Chidambaram Seminar on Art and Religion). He has organized several District, State, National and International Conferences like the International conference on Mahabharata-Madras, 2003. Dr. R. Nagaswamyu has delivered lectures in almost all leading Universities of the world spread over France, Germany, Denmark, USSR, Sweden, UK, Canada and USA (including at Harvard, Pennsylvania, Cornell, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Austin, South Carolina and Other places). He has toured in Thailand and Combodia and made an extensive study of South East Asian Art, Monuments, Religion and Inscriptions. He directed Sound and Light programme at the 17th cent. Nayak Palace at Madurai and was the first to undertake Underwater Archaeological exploration off the coast of Pumpuhar in Tamilnadu. Appeared as an expert witness in the London High Court on behalf of Government of India, in the famous London Nataraja Case. He is the recipient of several public honours including the title Kalaimamani conferred by the Government of Tamil Nadu for his signal contribution to Tamil art and literature. He is the Founder Trustee of the Chidambaram Natyanjali Trust. Justice Ian Kennedy, Judge, London High Court, mentioned in his judgement (1988) that 'Dr. R. Nagaswamy, I am satisfied, is an unequalled expert in his subject'.
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