Hindu Iconography A Short Treatise

Hinduism is not idolatry even through it approves the worship of duly consecrated image as a part of devotional exercises and as an aid to inner contemplation. Not only that, these consecrated images are worshipped as God since God's presence is there even as electricity is in a bulb that is connected to the source of electrical energy. If bread (or wafers) and wine duly consecrated in a church-service are eaten by the devout Christians to feel a sense of participation in the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the good of the world, why not accord a similar privilege to the offering made before a duly consecrated image in a temple by a qualified priest with appropriate mantras?

This small booklet has been written not only to give the correct view of Hinduism on the worship of image but also an elementary idea of the science of sculpturing the images.

The success of this humble attempt is left to the judgement of the discerning readers.

Contents:

    To The Reader
    Key to Transliteration and Pronunciation
1.  Introduction
2.  Vedic Gods
      Vedic Literature on Image Worship
3.  Evolution of Icons
4.  Literature on Iconography
5.  Images for Worship-Public and Private
6.  Materials for Making the Images
7.  Dhruvabera Image
8.  Vahanas or Mounts
9.  Sculpturing of the Images- The Talamana System
10. Kiritas, Mudras and Ayudhas
11. Idolatry and Image-Worship
12. Other Related Rites
13. Four Styles of Hindu Iconography
14. Conclusion
    Select Bibliography
    Appendix

Of Related Interest:

The Development of Hindu Iconography

Elements Of Hindu Iconography

The Rgvedic Deities and Their Iconic Forms

Gallery of Hindu Sculptures