This section of the art guide will introduce to
you resources related to religion, mythology, and
iconography. Iconography is a set of traditional
symbols associated with a subject or theme in art; in
the case of traditional Eastern art, there are often
religious themes influencing the work.
Library of Congress
Subject Headings
Art and religion -- India
Buddhism -- South Asia
Gods, Hindu, in art
Hinduism -- India
Hindu symbolism
India -- Religion
Islam -- Asia, Southeastern
Mythology, Asian
Browsing
Areas
BL 1200
BL 2000
Main
Resources
Buhnemann, Gudrun. The Iconography of Hindu
Tantric Deities. Groningen: E. Forsten,
2000.
Art Reference BL2015 .G63 B84 2000
This book makes "deity descriptions from primary
sources accessible through solid textual study." This
volume focuses on the iconography of 108 deities in
their Tantric forms as they are described in the 16th
century work Mantramahodadhi.
Dehejia, Vidya. Devi : The Great
Goddess: Female Divinity in South Asian Art.
Washington, D.C.: Published by the Arthur M. Sackler
Gallery, Smithsonian Institution in association with
Mapin Publishing, Ahmedabad and Prestel Verlag,
Munich, 1999.
Art N8195 .A3 W384 1999
Complementing an exhibit at the Freer Gallery of
Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, this book is the
result of an international effort to design the first
exhibit of its kind. Scholars have contributed essays
to accompany over 100 color images of art from India,
Nepal, Tibet, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and China. These
essays examine topics such as ritual worship, origins
of the deities, local assimilations and variations,
and clothing and decoration.
Leeming, David Adams. A Dictionary of Asian
Mythology. Oxford: Oxford University Press,
2001.
Davis Reference BL1005 .L46 2001
This is an excellent source covering the
mythology of India, China, Tibet, Central Asia,
Southeast Asia, and Japan. Entries reference other
themes and religions, and often accounts for
variations in cultures.
Lokesh, Chandra. Dictionary of Buddhist
Iconography. New Delhi: International Academy of
Indian Culture: Aditya Prakashan, 1999.
Art Reference N8193 .A4 L644 1999
This comprehensive work uses Tibetan, Japanese,
Chinese, and Indian sources to fully explain Buddhist
iconography. It explains the character attributes,
chronology, and symbolism of over 12,000 main and
minor deities, encompassing the "cultural, literary,
aesthetic, and spiritual achievements of several
nations of Asia over two millenia".
Ramachandra Rao, S.K. Encyclopaedia of Indian Iconography.
Delhi : Sri Satguru Publications, 2003.
Art Reference N7301 .R346 2003
Sources in Iconography in the
Blackader-Lauterman Library of Architecture and Art,
McGill University : An Annotated Bibliography.
Ed. Irena Zantovska Murray. Montreal: McGill
University Libraries, 1997.
Art Reference N7560 .B54 1997
While this work mainly concentrates on Christian
iconography, Chapter 5, Section E addresses the
sacred iconography in Buddhist, Chinese, and Hindu
Art. Indian and Southeast Asian art is also addressed
in the chapters examining animal depictions and
garden imagery. Check the index for information on
Islamic Art, temple decoration, and sculpture.
Stutley, Margaret. The Illustrated
Dictionary of Hindu Iconography. Boston:
Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1985.
Art Reference N8195 .A4 S78 1985
This dictionary defines Hindu and Sanskrit terms
with English definitions. Little background
information is provided in the introduction, but it
is a well-balanced and well-respected work.
Zimmer, Heinrich Robert. Myths and Symbols in
Indian Art and Civilization. Princeton: Princeton
University Press, 1972.
Davis BL2003 .Z5 1992
This notable source is well written and easy to
understand. It mainly covers Hinduism, but Buddhism
is also included. Topics include eternity, rebirth,
maya, the serpent, the lotus, as well as the gods
Vishnu and Shiva.
Primary
Texts
These are several mythological and religious texts
that may influence art. Remember that other
translations and versions than those listed here can
be found by searching the online catalog or browsing
the shelves.
Bhagavad Gita. Trans. B. Srinivasa
Murthy. Long Beach, CA: Long Beach Publishing,
1985.
Davis BL1138.62 .E5
Bhagavad
Gita from Bartleby.com.
This poem "synthesizes both rational analysis
and religious inspiration in answering the
fundamental questions of the meaning of life and
death." It is an excellent translation for those
unfamiliar with the text. Murthy provides an
explanation of the religious context of the poem and
summaries of key concepts such as the self, karma,
human nature, the system of yoga, and the paths of
action, knowledge, and devotion. Containing notes, a
glossary, and a bibliography, this is an useful
resource.
Buck, William. Mahabharata. Berkeley:
University of California Press, 1973.
Davis PS3552 .U335 M3
An abridged version of the
Mahabharata.
This is the epic poem of the struggle between
the Pandavas and the Kauravas. It contains teachings
on honor, duty, respect, and faith. This prose
version of the story contains no alterations to the
text, but is rendered more readable by simplification
of the language. It has more popular appeal than
other texts, and will be appealing to those
unfamiliar with the story or those interested in the
highlights.
The Koran. Trans. N.J. Dawood. New York:
Penguin Books, 1990.
Davis BP109 .K45 1990
Selected chapters from the Koran.
This is an English translation of the Islamic
holy book. You can search the online catalog to find
other editions which include the Arabic text as
well.
Ryder, Arthur W., ed. The Panchatantra.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1925.
Davis PK3741 .P3 E5 1925a
This book is a series of fables assembled under
five separate framing stories. They embrace the noble
ideal of "harmonious development of the powers of
man, a life in which prosperity, resolute action,
friendship, and good learning are so combined to
produce joy" (10).
Rajagopalachari, C. Ramayana. Bombay:
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1965.
Davis PK3653 .R3 1965
An abridged version of the
Ramayana.
This story chronicles the life of Rama, an
avatar of the god Vishnu. Rama is born into mankind
to vanquish the demon Ravana, who is destroying the
Earth and heavens. This is an excellent prose version
of the story, one that will appeal to scholars and
general readers. It provides a glossary of commonly
used Sanskrit terms at the end of the text.
