Hindu art and architecture

The art of Hinduism constitutes one of the world's great traditions, as alive today as when the first images of Hindu gods were fashioned out of stone more than two thousand years ago. George Michell's invaluable survey looks at the entire period, covering shrines consecrated to Hindu cults as well as works of art that portray Hindu divinities, semidivine personalities, and mythological narratives. Michell outlines the development of Hinduism and the principal iconic forms of its pantheon (the symbolic basis for Hindu religious architecture), and explains the system of royal patronage that led to the construction of so many temples and the commissioning of their attendant works of art. Then, in a broad chronological sweep, he demonstrates artistic continuities down to the present day in the different regions of the country, confirming the vibrancy of the visual world of Hinduism. The illustrations include Mamallapuram and other great temples, profound and beautiful works of sculpture such as Shiva dancing the eternal dance of creation and destruction, and exquisite paintings of the loves of Krishna. 185 illustrations, 100 in color.

• Preface p. 7
• Chapter 1 Introduction: Hinduism and its visual expression p. 11
• Religious developments p. 11
• Sacred images p. 17
• Narrative traditions p. 25
• Magical protection p. 29
• The architectural setting p. 32
• Royal patrons p. 34
• Chapter 2 Beginnings: second century BC to second century AD p. 37
• The Buddhist heritage p. 38
• The earliest Hindu images p. 40
• Chapter 3 Early Maturity: fifth to ninth centuries p. 44
• Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh under the Guptas, Mauryas and Pratiharas p. 45
• Gujarat under the Maitrakas; Rajasthan under the Pratiharas p. 54
• Orissa under the Shailodbhavas and Bhauma Karas p. 58
• Kashmir under the Karkotas and Utpalas; Himachal Pradesh p. 61
• Maharashtra under the Mauryas, Kalachuris and Rashtrakutas; Karnataka under the Early Chalukyas p. 64
• Tamil Nadu under the Pallavas and Pandyas p. 81
• Chapter 4 Culmination: tenth to thirteenth centuries p. 89
• Madhya Pradesh under the Chandellas and Paramaras p. 89
• Gujarat under the Solankis; Rajasthan under the later Pratiharas p. 98
• Orissa under the Somavamshis and Gajapatis p. 103
• Bihar and Bengal under the Palas p. 108
• Karnataka under the Late Chalukyas and Hoysalas; Andhra Pradesh under the Kakatiyas p. 108
• Tamil Nadu under the Cholas p. 120
• Chapter 5 Revival: fifteenth to eighteenth centuries p. 133
• The Delhi--Agra region p. 134
• Rajasthan under the Sisodias and other Rajputs p. 140
• Himachal Pradesh p. 146
• Nepal under the Mallas p. 155
• Bengal, Orissa and Assam p. 160
• The Marathas of Maharashtra p. 163
• Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh under the Sangamas and Tuluvas p. 167
• Tamil Nadu under the Aravidus and Nayakas p. 177
• Kerala p. 189
• Chapter 6 Lesser Traditions: from the nineteenth century to the present p. 196
• Northern India p. 200
• Southern India p. 203
• New currents p. 210
• Map of India p. 212
• Bibliography p. 213
• Acknowledgments for Illustrations p. 215
• Glossary-Index p. 217