-
Indian Art Treasures...
Indian Art Treasures
Suresh Neotia Collection by: Ramesh Chandra Sharma , Kamal Giri , Anjan ChakravertyThe book describes the priceless art objects collected and displayed at the Kalamandapa (the Museum) at Jnana-Pravaha, Varanasi. These objects include Indian miniature paintings, Tangkhas from Tibet and Nepal, stone sculptures and terracottas. Some of these objects have been presented for view in major national and international expositions.
₹3,150.00
ISBN: 9788190277631
Year Of Publication: 2006
Edition: 1st
Pages : 263
Language : English
Binding : Hardcover
Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Size: 34 cm.
Weight: 2350
Jnana-Pravaha, the Centre for Cultural Studies & Research at Varanasi represents the vision of its founders, Bimla Poddar and Suresh Neotia. It aims to serve and promote the cause of culture by rediscovering and highlighting its universal elements those that transcend all barriers. Jnana-Pravaha presents varied and scintillating forms of the visual and performing arts, and endeavours to create an awareness about the countrys cultural ethos and ethnic conventions. It is devoted to reviving and preserving old and obscure scripts which, while of immense significance for the reconstruction of the cultural history of the subcontinent, have been neglected to the point of being extinct. Through its educational and research programmes and publications, Jnana-Pravaha is engaged in the dissemination of our tangible and intangible heritage. All this is being accomplished with quiet zeal in a serene yet pleasing ambience. Situated on the left bank of the holy stream of Uttaravahini Ganga, Jnana-Pravaha faces the historical fort of Ramnagar on the other side of the river. While a well-equipped reference library on Indian culture, art, history, philosophy, literature and allied subjects caters to the needs of students and researchers, iterature and allied subjects caters to the needs of students and researchers, Kalamandapa (the Museum) presents a treasure trove of art dating from the pre-Mauryan age to the 20th century. The survey and documentation of local sites and antiquarian remains is emerging as an added attraction to art historians. Seminars, symposia and workshops on different themes form regular features of the Centres activities. In-depth studies of specific subjects are a hallmark of Jnana-Pravaha. Similarly, conducting special courses in early scripts like Brahmi and Kharoshti affirms the conviction of the Centre of the need to revitalise archaeological source material. An independent research project for deciphering and studying epigraphs and records has been launched with the appointment of Senior and Associate Fellows. Staging of Sanskrit plays is another Jnana-Pravaha annual event. The Vedas are the fountain of knowledge and are accepted as the earliest books of the world. To preserve their oriental style of learning and recitation, Jnana-Pravaha has established a city unit known as the Samskara & Anushthana Kendra. The emphasis is on the conventional and correct pronunciation of Vedic hymns. Young students undergo rigorous training in the Gurukula style under the close supervision of the Acaryas.
Foreword
Preface
The Contributors
My Opening to the Realm of Art
Catalogue
Sculpture
Terracotta
Painting
Copperplate, Coins, Metalware
Textiles
-
Sale!Buddhist Art of Kausambi ₹2,250.00
The Upanishads capture the quintessence of Indian spiritual wisdom unfolding deepest, highly perceptive reflections on human existence and how it is related to the mysterious cosmos. Authored by enlightened seers over the period of 1500-200 bc., the Upanishadic message is a magnificent vision that raises human consciousness to sublime heights. One of the major centres of Buddhist art in ancient times, Kausambi provides evidence of an uninterrupted art tradition spanning centuries. Pointing to the scant attention Kausambi has received from scholars in the past, this work attempts to highlight its art treasures through a study of its stone sculptures. Based on scrutiny of stone sculptures found at various sites in Kausambi and its vicinity and housed in different museums, it presents perhaps the first extensive documentation of the Buddhist art of the region from the Mauryan to post-Gupta period. It examines in detail over 300 stone sculptures, paying special attention to their iconographic features, types of stone, techniques of carving, grinding and polishing and their aesthetic appeal. All this comes with a background throwing light on the history of Kausambi and its association with Buddhism, the early archaeological explorations in the region, and the individuality and uniqueness of Kausambi art as compared to Mathura and Sarnath schools. The book presents over 225 black-and-white and over 50 coloured photographs of Buddhist sculptures which are neatly classified and systematically analysed. It would prove invaluable to scholars and students of Buddhist art.
-
Sale!Amulets and Pendants in Ancient Maharashtra (3rd c. bc to 3rd c. ce) ₹198.00
The book documents Indias rich tradition of ornamentation as reflected in its numerous and varied collection of amulets and pendants recovered from archaeological excavations in Maharashtra. It studies the significance of these ornaments as a visible expression of the artistic excellence and cultural wealth of the ancient Indian civilisation particularly at the time of the great Mauryan and Satvahana dynasties. Discussing the evolution of these portable charms against their socio-economic and religious background, the authoress examines the different types of amulets and pendants excavated, the techniques used in making them, their parallels in literary and sculptural representations, and Buddhist influence on them. Giving insights into the sources of raw materials used in these charms, she takes up in detail the trade relations of a specific site with other contemporary sites. With a number of figures and maps, the work promises to be useful to both scholars and students of Indology focussing on facets of Indian culture.
-
Sale!Explorations in Indian Philosophy ₹495.00
Any discourse on Indian philosophy has to be taken out of the box in which it was confined for ages using obsolete methods for evaluating thinking patterns. In the traditional way of analysing Indian philosophy there was an inimical approach to each other between the philosophers and the philologists, and between the Sanskrit tradition-oriented philosophers and modern English/vernacular-based philosophers. This friction is evident in the hesitation of the traditionalists in giving philosophers like Daya Krishna and K.C. Bhattacharyya their due share.
The twelve essays in this volume address many a question about the characteristics of Indian philosophical traditions and Indian-ness. Indian philosophy is essentially not Sanskrit based alone, there is a significant contribution to it from the South Asian languages and English, and the cultures of the subcontinent. It attempts to provide provocative insights in sharing the author’s penetrative acumen both in his traditional and modern approaches to South Asian intellectual systems. It therefore addresses the prejudice between the East and the West, and traditional and modern, and the concerns of South Asian diaspora in the Western countries.
As far as this anthology is concerned, the icing on the cake is the Foreword by Dr Mrinal Kaul, who critically analyses the major developments taken place in the realm of Indian philosophy in the last few decades, critically appreciating the contents. -
Sale!Art & Archaeology of India ₹630.00
The book begins with an introduction on the prehistoric and proto-historic cultures of India. Well-known historians discuss human evolution as gathered from hominid fossil remains, pre-human hominid remains of the Siwaliks and fossil remains of the Narmada basin. The systematic study, mentioning the areas of finds and their geography and other characteristics, examines the nature of cultural relics belonging to each period and dynastic rule; agriculture, trade, settlement and migration patterns related to making, use and spread of art materials; how the finds reflect upon rise of craft and industrial centers at the time; and social and religious aspects of society that are revealed by the art and architecture of the periods. Importantly, it reveals the interchange of cultural thoughts and lifestyles and of art and architectural influences; and the synthesis of artistic style and materials as evident in especially the periods of Muslim rule in India. The book also features fossil finds, art and architectural materials pertaining to painting, pottery, sculpture and iconography, and literary materials like Persian documents housed in the Indraprastha Museum of Art and Archaeology, New Delhi. The materials date from the stone ages, Indus-Saraswati Civilization and Chalcolithic period to what are commonly identified as the ancient medieval and modern periods of Indian history. The volume will be useful to scholars and students of various disciplines history, archeology, art and culture, and sociology.
-
Sale!Artisans and Craftsmen of Northern India ₹990.00
The basic aim of the book is to expose the major contributions of artisans and craftsmen in portraying the society in different perspectives. These artisans and craftsmen, were drawn mostly from the shudras, lower caste of the community, suppressed and have-nots section of the society, but were highly talented. The work is also designed to create interest among the reader and scholars alike, to understand the society of the period under reference through the immortal art of these creative people. The artisans such as potters, weavers, carpenters, architects, sculptors, brick-makers, metallurgy and metal workers, leather workers, painters, and the workers engaged in the profession of ivory, glass and mirror, perfume and cosmetic, musical instrument, oil, salt and liquor makers, etc. were the heroes of that time, who not only met the day-to-day requirement of the then society, but also portrayed different aspects of their life, in its true color, through their workmanship. It was the architect who designed and constructed houses to live in, as well as water tank, well and channel, royal building, stupa, temple and fort, bridge, pillar and rock-edict etc., which met the need of the society.
Today, we feel proud of the rich heritage of old Indian art and architecture, credit for which solely goes to the then artisan who crafted immortal creations. However, the invaluable contribution made by the historians in immortalizing their creations, by putting them in black and white, is no less important. It is the historian, whose mighty pen has immortalized not only Ashoka the great, as a king but also the creators of the stupas of his times on equal footings. It is with this aim in view that the present book has been presented to the posterity, in order to pay rich tributes to the creators of our rich cultural heritage.
Unluckly there was no proper institutionalized provision for the education of artisans and craftsmen, so generally the former adopted the occupation of their parents and hereditary skill was enhances as it was transferred from father to son, and generation to generation. Contemporary sources reveal that the social stautus of artisan class was based on the nature and economic conditions of a particular profession.
