Art Architecture Antiquities

Residential Architecture in Bhoja’s Samaranganasutradhara: Introduction, Text, Translation and Notes

The Samaranganasutradhara, composed in the 11th century and commonly attributed to King Bhoja of Dhara, is one of the most remarkable silpasastras of northern India. Consisting of more than seven thousand slokas, it contains not only detailed descriptions of temples, but also a comprehensive exposition of residential architecture. This book is an annotated translation of the central passages on residential architecture accompanied by a study of the Samaranganasutradharaês sources, the problem of authorship, and related matters. It is rounded off by a comprehensive glossary of technical terms and illustrations.

Indian Rock Art and its Global Context

This is a unique volume in the history of rock art studies, meant at once

for the advanced scholar, serious student and the curious but conscientious

layman, co-authored by K.K. Chakravarty and R.G. Bednarik, who co-chaired

the indian Rock Art session of the World Archaeological Congress 3 at Delhi in

1994. It is a synoptic but comprehensive survey, illustrated by 221

photographs and sketches, including 172 photographs in colour. The two

scholars have not only described the latest state of research on rock art,

but also transported rock art studies into the realm of interdisciplinary,

inter-cultural analysis. Buttressed by an indicative map of the rock art

regions, a list of major up to date direct dating results on rock art, a

glossary of keywords related to spatial, temporal, technological,

managerial categories, and an index, this volume blends precise,

dispassionate descriptions with eloquent evocations. It blends conclusions

distilled from rigorous, hard headed field research with penetrating

criticism and assessment of the evidence. It combines a ruthless brevity

and density with extraordinary felicity and clarity of language. Above all,

it is an wonderful attempt at dealing with the problems of understanding,

which dog human attempts to comprehend the meaning and shape of human

creativity.

Silpa Prakasa by Ramacandra Mahapatra Kaula Bhattaraka: Medieval Orissan Sanskrit text on temple Architecture

“The Silpa Prakasais an important addition to the existing literature on Indian Silpa Texts.” the text goes into a great detail of the architecture, the iconography and the symbolism of all the parts of the temple. Its unique contribution lies in the description of Yantras or symbolic diagrams underlying the architecture as well as sculpture. This edition will be extremely valuable for understanding not only temple construction but the entire symbolism underlying the unique temples of Orissa.

Indian Art at Delhi-1903

The volume was first published as a Catalogue and Guide to the Indian Art Exhibition held at Delhi ‘to concide with the Durbar of 1902-03’. The volume is a unique work of documentation of ninteenth-century indian craftsmanship. The text is enriched with graphic representation of rare specimens of Indian artistry. Its usefulness as ‘a gazetteer and an ethnographical dictionary’ makes it invaluable for the students engaged in research of the history of craft and industry in India.

Foundations of Oriental Art and Symbolism: Introduction to Hindu, Buddhist and Taoist Art

It is an edited collection of the author’s most important articles on oriental art and symbolism, with illustrations from the traditional oriental civilizations. These illustrations provide an insightful descriptions and explanations, with a small taste of the beauty that permeated the traditional Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist worlds – a beauty that has in large part been overwhelmed and swallowed by our modern era.

Part I, ‘Oriental Art‘, begins with Burckhardt’s introduction to traditional oriental art. In the following three chapters the author explores the artistic foundations of each of the three great oriental religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism, focusing particularly on the Hindu temple, the Buddha image, and Chinese landscape painting.

Part II provides insights that enable us to compare the underlying spiritual values that are the foundation for traditional cultures, with the quantitative analyses that are the starting point for today’s technological societies. In the following five chapters Burckhardt then explores examples of selected recurring symbols in the oriental worlds, such as the mirror, the sacred mask, and the serpent and dragon.

Vastu Science For 21st Century: To Enjoy the Gift of Nature

Vastu Shastra is not merely an art but a definite science in itself. This book has made an excellent effort to establish this fact. The book attempts to highlight the principles of Vastu science and its application in designing of built enviroment to enhance the quality of life. This science

is still relevant and effective in the modern life changing styles of Architecture with universal application of its principles. The author has tried to justify that Vastu principles are much in need in the 21st century in view of rapid advancements man is making in other fields without compensating on ecology front, which forms the basis of Vastu. In the end an attempt has been made to give a compound solution to the problem of Vastu-based planning.