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The art of India can only be understood in relation to the essential characteristics of the country that produced it. Indians have a taste for codifying rules and regulations, a characteristic to be found in the eternal system of castes, and permeating every sphere of activity.
The artist, in particular, must conform to a fairly strict system of aesthetic principles; his aim is to create not a work of art as such, but a religious work which, if it is to have value, must scrupulously respect the established rules.
To the Indian sculptor the purpose of a statue is to serve as an aid to meditation and its position, its expression, its gestures and even its costume have a very precise meaning. The principal gestures, which are also those of dancers and actors, are known as mudra in Buddhist and as hasta in Brahmanic works.
When Indian artists made religious sculptures, they frequently chose sturdy materials such as metal or stone, though sometimes wood-carving was also preferred. Often called “bronzes,” most Indian metal sculpture – everything from portable household images to large temple icons – were actually cast by the cire perdue (lost wax) process from a wide variety of copper alloys. Indian stone sculptors preferred soft, fine-grained stones that were well suited to intricate detailing and elaborate undercutting.
Indian artists use the wide range of materials at hand to create almost every conceivable type of sculpture, but certain varieties were especially favored. By far the most popular format in Indian was the iconic representation of a divinity, either isolated or accompanied by a symmetrically arranged retinue.
The sculptors of India’s many periods, regions, and localities developed their own distinctive artistic styles, many of which are presented here.
A glance at virtually any Indian sculpture reveals that Indian sculptors were really not infatuated with factually accurate anatomical descriptions of the male or female form. Instead, they wished to show the body idealized in such a way that it became a vessel filled with the vital breath of life. An ideal vehicle for conveying inherent divinity
In Indian sculpture the human form is composed of various compact, curved, and almost geometric shapes assembled according to an ideal canon of proportions.
In Indian statues, men have square shoulders, broad chests, slim waists, and slightly overhanging stomachs; women, being the sustainers of life, have full, rounded breasts and large hips. Certain features of the body are frequently exaggerated to make poetic references to the animal or vegetal world—that is, lotus-like eyes, leonine body, elephantine arms and shoulders, and so forth.
The idealized anatomy that blossomed throughout the Indian subcontinent is perfectly suited to depicting the superhuman forms of India’s gods. Lacking any impurities of material existence, these transcendental forms have many limbs, multiple heads, and unusual physiognomic features to suggest possibilities and states of existence beyond the mortal. The results are sculptures that reveal the gods of India for what they truly are— blissful divine beings.
FAQs
Q1. What Size Idols Can Be Kept At Home?
Though all idols of gods and goddesses have a positive divine presence, when looking for an idol to be kept at home, experts suggest choosing a small idol that can be easily placed in your home Puja Ghar. This makes it easy for you to offer adulations daily including snana (ritual bath), Aarti, and naivedyam. If you want an idol for home decor- interior and exterior, you can go with the large idols available online.
Q2. In Which Direction the God Idols Should Be Kept?
Vastu and Hindu dharma experts suggest that the idol of god should be placed in the east or northeast direction. The east or Purva is the direction of Surya and the abode of universal positive energy, similarily northeast, or Ishana Kona is believed to be the Disha (direction) in which all gods-goddesses and divine energies reside. Placing your deity’s idol in these directions maximizes the potent energies emanating from them.
Q3. Who is the No. 1 God in Hindu Mythology?
The followers of Hinduism follow the words of the Vedic scriptures. At many places in the scriptures, it has been mentioned that Lord Shri Krishna is the Absolute Truth. There is no one equal to or above Him. All the incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Shri Krishna is the original Personality of Godhead. Many great authorities have also confirmed this statement, e.g. Lord Brahma in the Brahma Samhita mentions “Krnas tu Bhagavan swayam”, meaning, Lord Krishna is the Supreme Primeval Lord.
Q4. Why are statues important in Hinduism?
Statues or deities play an important role in the spiritual advancement of practicing devotees. The statues of God are made according to the details and instructions found in the Vedic texts. These are then installed in the temple and a ceremony is organized wherein the original personality of Godhead is called to appear in the form of the deity.
After this ceremony, there remains no difference between the Lord and His deity. The devotees, therefore, offer their humble obeisance and sincere prayers before the deity, and the Lord reciprocates with them. As a result, a loving relationship is established between the Lord and His devotee.
Q5. What is the sculpture of the Hindu God made of?
The deities of God are made according to the details and instructions mentioned in the Vedic scriptural texts. God can easily accept any element that He chooses to appear in. It is mentioned that the bona fide materials for making the deities of the Lord are wood, metal, marble, and stone. He appears in these formless materials as a causeless mercy upon the conditioned souls of this material world to give them the chance to engage in His loving devotional service.
Q6. What is the best arrangement for placing deities?
Deities play an important role in building our relationship with the Supreme Lord. Developing an attitude of service toward the deities is the most important thing. Thus, the deities should be revered and properly taken care of. The deities should be placed or installed in a separate altar, and if possible, in a separate room. The surroundings should always be kept clean. Your preferred deity (Ishtadev) should be placed in the center or on an elevated platform. In case you follow a spiritual master, you can keep his image below or at some distance from the deities.
Q7. What is the best metal for a statue?
There are different types of metals that are used in making statues and sculptures. But artisans make Bronze as their first preference. It is a metal alloy that has a chemical composition that makes it stronger than copper or iron. It is corrosion-resistant and is thus also prevented to a great extent from any damage, fire, or decay. These properties make Bronze statues highly durable.
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