The mounts (Vahana) of the Hindu gods are among the most striking elements of sacred statues in India. The swan of Brahma or Saraswati, the rat of Ganesh, the bull of Shiva, the eagle of Vishnu ...
The attributes that accompany the deities provide us with a lot of very precious information: they are there to help the disciple on his journey and serve as factors of constant reminder.
Attributes, whether they are associated with a particular god or have a general value, describe qualities, powers. Some attributes have several functions, such as the conch, which can be used both as a weapon and as a symbol.
Besides the postures and mudras and many other aspects that we find on statues, paintings ... the attributes will give us precious elements for understanding the message delivered by the Hindu deities.
In addition to the postures and mudras that give at first glance a deep meaning of Hindu or Buddhist sculpture, many other aspects will help us to understand its meaning.
Mudras or gestures involve the entire arm: elbow, hand and fingers. The general postures of the deities give at first glance a very powerful indication of the meaning of an Indian and Buddhist statue. The hand gestures will give us other precious indications and help to deepen the teaching given.
The general posture of the divinity will immediately give us valuable information about the message conveyed by the manifested form of the divine. The divinity can thus appear standing, on his two feet or balancing on one leg, or sitting, in lotus, half lotus... or even lying down. At first glance an impression is given: relaxed, combative, angry, soothing or meditative posture?
What is important in the representation of a deity in India is not the resemblance to reality but the message that is transmitted through this sacred image. Thus everything is codified, each form taken by a deity has a very precise meaning...
In India, but also among Buddhists, a statue or a sacred image (murti) before being venerated is consecrated: the consecration of a statue is intended to give it life: it is no longer just a form representing a divinity but it becomes its channel of expression, it is animated by its presence, its strength.
Images and statuesin all religions have been of paramount importance everywhere and at all times: they have been used since the appearance of a spiritual tradition in conjunction with the use of speech, songs, dances and ceremonies.
The Gupta dynasty, considered as an artistic apogee (in architecture, temples, statues...), is marked by a rather classical style close to ancient Greece and Rome: the characters (or animals) must be as realistic as possible...
Even today, the Dokras live close to or in the heart of the forests and live in harmony with nature, using its resources without overexploiting or destroying them.
All the steps in the making of an Indian wax statue from the workshop and preparation of the materials through multiple stages to the finishing touches. Portfolio all in pictures.
Once the wax work is finished, it is again covered with a clay mixture, based on river sand. Once the drying process is complete, a new layer is applied...
The first step in making brass statues among the Dokras in India begins with the collection of clay: it is one of the essential components of the manufacturing process.
The tribes, practicing the art of Dokra, originated from the Bastar region of South India (today located in the state of Chattisgarh), emigrated several centuries ago and settled all over India, from North to South.
The aim of this blog is to make you discover Indian statuary art, but I would also like to put this art in its context: today's India, the daily life of Indians. It is above all a sacred art but not only...
The representation of Buddha is human and static. In Hinduism, dynamism prevails: Shiva or Ganesh dancing, Kali dancing on Shiva's body, Durga slaying the buffalo demon ...
Mathura (located south of Delhi) was a major production site for many centuries as was Gandhara (located in the Peshawar region, present-day Afghanistan - use of black shale).
As in many ancient civilizations, art in India is closely linked to religion, artistic representations are used as supports for religious practice: temples, statues...