Sachgebiete

Beschreibung:

XXVI, 105 S. plus 40 Tafeln. Originalleinen mit Schutzumschlag.

Bemerkung:

Umschlag berieben, sonst gutes Exemplar. - Studies in Punjab sculpture is the first scholarly attempt by the author which embodies the investigation into the origin of religious sculpture in the medieval Punjab which has not been done so far. Punjab has been known as the sword arm of India from the ancient times. Hence, it has witnessed many historical, cultural and religious visicitudes all through the ages. A most significant feature of this study is that it has succeeded in tracing the origin of art of sculpture belonging to Buddhist, Jain, Hindu, religious denominations which prevailed in those times. Although most of the temples have been destroyed and sculptures broken by the foreign invaders, hence, only surviving remanants which have been excavated at Sanghoelj Dhol-Baha, present to us picture of our glorious past. Only the temples and sculptures in neighbouring hills could not be razed by invaders as they could not reach there. It is clear that art objects on the trade route were the main target of their evil designs. This study has also brought to light that medieval foreign travellers, like Fa-hesian, Yuwan chawang, Hieun Tsang (6th and 7th century AD) and Al-Beruni (12th Century AD) found these temples and monasteries which were the places of worship in Dholbaha (near Hoshiarpur) and Sanghol (near Ludhiana) and Pinjore (on Chandigarh-Shimla road). This study also reflects the confluence of various styles of sculpture then prevalent in Kushan, Mathura, Gupta and Gurjarpratihara etc. Dynastic art style dominated everywhere, Main concern of the artist was as it is evident from the excellent execution of the perfect form of the diety concrned. Main stress has been on two types of figurative models, viz., images of various deities reflecting grace and sumptuous contours of women folk. The sculptor appears to be concerned with creation of form of the body parts. Ornamentation and to the beauty of the whole human body. Secondly, the main salient feature of the period was the development of Indian temple architectural style which is unparallel in the entire era of art history. All types of deities, it may be noted was executed according to the canons of Shilpshastra. This study further confirms prevalence of Saivism, Vaishnavaism, Buddhism and Jainism flourished side by side from seventh to thirteenth century A.D. This also depicts and sheds valuable light on the art, architecture and religious trends in the region.