Elements of Indian Art

Elements of Indian Art: Including Temple Architecture, Iconography & Iconometry, by S. P. Gupta and Shashi Prabha Asthana, is a comprehensive introductory study of the major principles, forms, and historical developments of Indian art. Published in 2002 as part of the Perspectives in Indian Art & Archaeology series, the book was conceived as an accessible guide for students, museum visitors, and general readers seeking to understand the foundations of ancient Indian art and architecture. The volume is organized around four major areas: the fundamentals of Indian art, Indian art in historical perspective, the iconography and making of cult images, and the principles of iconometry. It surveys religious and artistic traditions associated with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism; the development of sacred architecture such as stupas and temples; symbols and mythology; and major schools and periods ranging from Mauryan, Śuṅga-Sātavāhana, and Kuṣāṇa art to Gupta, post-Gupta, Pāla, Cōḷa, Hoysala, Orissan, and later medieval traditions. A particularly valuable section is devoted to Indian iconography, explaining the classification and construction of sacred images, mudrās, attributes, weapons, ornaments, postures, mounts, headgear, and other visual conventions. The final section examines iconometry, including traditional systems of measurement such as tāla and aṅgula and the proportional rules governing the representation of sacred figures. The book also explores the religious concepts underlying Indian visual culture, including dharma, the relationship between religion and art, Hindu deities, Buddhist and Jain imagery, symbolism, Tantra, and temple architecture. Its numerous photographs, diagrams, plans, and architectural drawings make it especially useful as a reference work for students of Indian art history, archaeology, Buddhist studies, Hindu studies, iconography, and temple architecture.