The Volume Sahrdaya, consists of 26 memorable and penetrative, essays on Indian and South East Asian Art and Religion, by eminent Scholors from Austira, Germany, Italy, France, USA, Canada, Korea, Thailand, Combodia and Indonesia besides India, and focuses on some fundamental Religious thoughts and their manifestations in Art. It begins with an admirable study of Sun as Martanda who is identified with supreme Siva in the Advaitic Kashmir Saivism, through the text Samba Pancasika and its commentary by Kshemaraja. The book shows that the Kashmir Saiva system integrated the physical senses into spiritual life. The tradition of identifying the ruling monarch and consecrating him as Bhairava (Buddhist) and the over 12 feet high stone portrait of Adityavarman of Java, is studied. A comprehensive survey of Saivism in Thailand based on Archaeological and Epigraphical material, including the latest finds, form the subject of succeeding essays. Next is a study of the impact of original Mahabharata by sage Vyasa on sculptural portryal of different phases of Cambodian Art, as at Benteay Srei and Ankhor Vat. The Korean poeple’s faith and adoration of Avalokitesvara (Buddhist) as the embodiment of compassion (Karuna) and his representation with 1000 arms are studied. The rare representation of birth of Siva Sadyojata as the child of Parvati, portrayed in Pala sculpture of Bangladesh draws our attention. The diffusion of Buddhism in trans Himalayan region is also dealt with.The role of different temple attendants in festivals during the Chola age in 10-13th cent, is afascinating fresh approach to the study of Relgion. With rare photographs, the life of Devadasis (dancing girls) in the 18th and 19th cent. as an aspect of Indian life is presented. The need to sutdy the living artist communities is stressed in another article. Deatiled studies in ancient Indian Janapadas, given in Mahabharata based on numismatic evidence; a crtical analysis of the theory of measuring images-Talamana; the evolution of temples of Central India; the diffusion of Bhikshatana iconography; a rare temple to vastu purusha are other important contributions on Art. Profusely illustrated, the volume is a collection of essays in honour of Dr. R.Nagaswamy, the well known Art Historian of India.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bettina Baumer
Dr. Bettina Baumer is an indologist from Austria, living and working in Varanasi since 1967. At present she is Director of Research, Alice Boner Foundation, Hon. Consultant, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, and Visiting Professor in Vienna University. Her main fields of research are Silpa.sastra of Orissa and Kashmir Saivism. She has edited 3 volumes of Kalatattvakosa, A Lexicon of Fundamental Concepts of the Indian Arts (Vol. I, 1988; Vol. II, 1992; Vol. Ill, 1996), Silparatnakosa (Delhi 1994), and is the author of several books in German, and a number of research articles.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Devendra Handa
Shri Devendra Handa holds Post-Graduate degrees in Sanskrit, History and Education-all in First class and with top positions in the University. He obtained his Post-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology from the School of Archaeology (ASI, New Delhi) in 1964 with Credit (Distinction). He is the recipient of Maulana Azad and Archaeological Centenary Commemoration Medals, Sir Mortimer Wheeler Prize and various other awards. He is known to the indologists through more than three hundred research papers and the following books and monographs: 1 Osian: History, Archaeology, Art & Architecture, Delhi, 1984; 2 Studies in Indian Coins and Seals, Delhi, 1985; 3 Indological Studies: Essays in Memory of Shri S.P. Singhal, Delhi, 1987 (Ed.); 4 Ajaya-Sri: Recent Studies in Indology (Prof. Ajay Mitra Shastri Felicitation Volume), 2 Vols., Delhi, 1989 (Ed.); 5 Praci-Prabha: Perspectives in Indololgy (Essays in honour of Prof. B.N. Mukherjee), New Delhi, 1989 (Ed. Jointly with Prof. D.C. Bhattacharyya); 6 Ratna-Chandrika: Panorama of Oriental Studies (Shri R.C. Agrawala Festschrift), New Delhi, 1989 (Ed. Jointly with Prof. Ashvini Agrawal); 7 Heritage of Haryana: Buddhist Remains, Chandigarh, 1989; 8 Vishvambhara: Probings in Orientology (Prof. V.S. Pathak Festschrift), 2 Vols. New Delhi, 1995 (Ed. Jointly with Prof. Ajay Mitra Shastri and C.S. Gupta); 9 Numismatic Studies, Vols. 1-3 (1991-93), New Delhi (Ed.); 10 Oriental Numismatic Studies, Vols. 1-2 (1994 & 1996), Delhi (Ed.). He has attended numerous national and international conferences and delivered lectures in various institutions. In 1992, he got the Lowick Memorial Grant of the Royal Numismatic Society, London for studying the tribal coins of India. In 1993, he visited Sri Lanka on the invitation of the Sri Lanka Numismatic Society. He was honoured for his contributions to the science of numismatics at Calcutta in 1994. After a teaching career of more than thirty years, he finally retired from the Panjab University, Chandigarh in 1999. After his retirement from the Panjab University, Chandigarh, he was a Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study at Shimla (2000-2003) and Senior Fellow of the Ministry of Culture, GOPI, New Delhi (2003-2005). He presided over the 88th Annual Conference of the Numismatic Society of India at Nagpur in 2004 and Seminar on Coinage of the North West India at Chandigarh in 2005.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR R.N. Mishra
Dr. R.N. Mishra is working as associate Prof. In the Deptt. Of Geog. University of Rajasthan Jaipur. Dr. Mishra had 22 years of teaching experience of Post Graduate and M.Phil level Geography, U.O.R. Jaipur. He has his graduation in science and Post Graduation as well as Ph.D. in geography from Rajasthan University Jaipur. He has deep interest of working in tribal areas and has written a number of papers on the subject. He has experience in Biogeography, Quantitative Geography and research Methodology. He has supervised research work of around two dozen Ph.D. students where around 20 students have been awarded the degree. He has also participated in various national and International level Seminars Workshops and conferences and has presented research papers. He was also completed study Project of I.C.S.S.R. in Tribal Area of Rajasthan. He has a number of Research papers on his credit.
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