From
the Publisher
This work is a well-researched attempt to analyse the
Vaisnava iconography of Orissa, which is unique in that there
are to be found an overwhelming number of Visnu images in the
region despite paucity of Visnu temples and inscriptional
evidence suggesting royal patronage. Dr. Donaldson here
undertakes a detailed study under four heads: Vaisnava
iconography proper including Hari-Hara and other composite
images and those of Visnu's female consorts; images of Visnu
in his different avataras; depiction of Balarama, Krsna and
Jagannatha, and iconography of what are termed 'secondary
figures' like Garuda and Hanumana. He presents various
iconographic charts throughout the book of the basis of
textual description of the many images and their
representations in sculpture with a number of photographs of
the images studied, he provides details on the physical
attributes of each group of images and specific images and
their evolving iconographic and stylistic peculiarities: such
as the decline of a particular motif and the emergence of
another depending on the popularity of sects. The author also
traces with keen interest the influence of Vaisnavism on the
iconographic programme and rituals of Saiva temples, resulting
in even joint worship of Vishnu and Siva. For each type of
iconography, the book cites examples of different Orissan
temples and discusses the images in them.
The book would be of immense interest to scholars of
religious studies and particularly those concerned with Hindu
iconography.
Author escription
Prof. Thomas E. Donaldson, born in Charlevoix,
(Michigan) in 1933, received his MA degree from Wayne State
University (Detroit) in 1963 and Ph.D. from Case-Western
Reserve University (Cleveland) in 1973. He taught Art History
for three years at the University of North Dakota and have
been teaching at Cleveland State University since 1969.
Prof. Donaldson has been studying Indian Art, specifically
the art of Orissa, for more than thirty years. In addition to
45 articles on Orissan art in leading international journals
and festschrifts, his publishing credits include; a monumental
3-volume book on Hindu Temple Art of Orissa (1985-87);
Kamadeva's pleasure Garden in Orissa (1987); the text for
Ornaments of Orissa co-authored with R.P. Mohapatra (1998);
Sculptural Masterpieces from Orissa; Style and Iconography
co-authored with K.S. Behera (1998); and a forthcoming 2
volume book on the Iconography of the Buddhist Sculpture of
Orissa.
