Many Heads, Arms and Eyes : : Origin, Meaning and Form of Multiplicity in Indian Art.

• Superior document: Studies in Asian Art and Archaeology Series ; v.20
• Author: Srinivasan, Doris Meth.
• Place / Publishing House: Boston : : BRILL,, 1997.; ©1997.
• Year of Publication: 1997
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Studies in Asian Art and Archaeology Series
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (447 pages)

This is a multidisciplinary analysis to determine the meaning of multiple body parts in early Indian art. Investigation of Brahmanical texts and culture establish several meanings and indicate the interplay between religion and art, making possible an interpretation of Hindu icons.

Table of Contents

Intro -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- PART I: Meaning. Textual Studies -- Section A. Introduction -- Chapter One: Theory -- Section B. Basic Definitions in the Saṃhitās -- Chapter Two: The Rig Veda Defines the Multiplicity Convention -- Chapter Three: The Atharva Veda Sustains and Expands the Definitions -- Chapter Four: So Does the Yajur Veda -- Chapter Five: Theory Con't: Vedic Rudra-Śiva -- Section C. Transference of the Puruṣa Ideal into the Brāhmaṇas -- Chapter Six: From Puruṣa to Prajāpati -- Chapter Seven: Rudra and Viṣṇu are Linked to Puruṣa-Prajāpati -- Section D. Multiplicity in the Upaniṣads -- Chapter Eight: The Fullness of Brahman -- Chapter Nine: Body of God in the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad -- Chapter Ten: Mūrtis and the Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad -- Section E. Multiplicity in the Epics and Beyond -- Chapter Eleven: The Bridge from Words to Forms: Multiplicity in the Epics and Selected Devotional Texts -- Chapter Twelve: The Language of Numbers -- PART II: Form. Iconographic Studies -- Section F. The Prehistoric Period -- Chapter Thirteen: Does the Multiplicity Convention Begin in the Indus Civilization? -- Chapter Fourteen: Ritual as Icon -- Section G. The Pre-Kuṣāṇa Period -- Chapter Fifteen: Mahā Yakṣa: Image of an Apparition -- Chapter Sixteen: In Praise of Heroes (Vṛṣṇi Vīras) -- Chapter Seventeen: Religious Networks and Incipient Śaiva Forms -- Section H. The Kuṣāṇa Period -- Chapter Eighteen: Multiplicity and the Merger Towards Vaiṣṇavism -- Chapter Nineteen: Śaiva Multiplicity: The Germination of God -- Chapter Twenty: The Enigma of the Multi-Armed Warrior Goddess -- Chapter Twenty One: Why Mathurā? -- Section I. Epilogue -- Chapter Twenty Two: Exceptions that Prove the Rule, Exceptions that Don't -- Bibliography -- Index -- Plates.