ARTH183 1st Edition Lecture 6Outline of Last LectureI. HinduismA. Definition/Description a. Polytheism-Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, The Great Goddessb. Beliefs-Samsara, karma, nirvana/moksha, BrahmanII. Early Hindu Art: UryagiriA. SignificanceB. “Cave 6” exterior wall carvings: Iconography and stylea. Vishnub. Durgac. GaneshaIII. Early Hindu Art: DeogarhA. “Vishnu Temple”: Significance, forma. “Vishnu Reclining on the Serpent Ananta”: Iconography, style Outline of Current Lecture I. Early Hindu Art at ElephantaA. “The Great Cave”a. Layout (garbagriha; linga/lingam, yoni)B. “Three-Headed Shivaa. Styleb. IconographyC. Elephanta site symbolismII. Early Hindu Art at MamallapuramA. “Descent of the Ganges” or “Arjuna’s Penance”a. Iconography; 2 main interpretationsCurrent LectureEarly Hindu Art at Elephanta“The Great Cave.” Dated to ca. 6th c. CE: Elephanta is an island off of India’s west coast, near Bombay/Mumbai. There are no inscriptions in this cave temple identifying specific patrons,but it is thought to be probably royal patronage; the temple is dedicated to Shiva and contains These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.many large relief sculptures of Shiva in several different forms. Like Ajanta, temple was carved out from the top down and imitates freestanding structures.-Temple layout plan: Has an unusual layout with 3 different entrances; the east entrance is the main one (Shiva temples typically face East), but there is also another big entrance on the north and one on the west. Contains columned hall typical of temples.-Garbhagriha: the main sanctuary of any temple, its central area-literally means “womb chamber.” At Elephanta, a square chamber with 4 doors and steps leading up on each side flanked by guardian figures, figures of dwarves (members of Shiva’s retinue). Any Shiva temple garbhagriha will contain a lingam, an aniconic form of Shiva in the shape of a phallus that represents his reproductive power and his control over this as an ascetic (denies himself sensual pleasure as form of spiritual discipline)*Linga are generally just a cylindrical shape; degree of realism varies by representation*Yoni=representation of female genitalia, symbolizes Shiva’s consort/female form Parvati; sometimes seen with linga“3-Headed Shiva.” Ca. 535-550 CE: Very large (17 feet high) relief sculpture with image ofa multi-headed Shiva; the largest Shiva image at Elephanta in terms of scale. Often multiple heads are used to represent multiple aspects or attributes of a deity.-Style: Despite no longer being Gupta era, very Guptan inspired; see full face, lowered eyelids, “bee-stung” lips.-Central, outward-looking Shiva wears piled up matted hair of an ascetic, large crown, jewelry, holds attribute of citron fruit as symbol of the universe (cult of Shiva views him as both creator and destroyer of the universe); a kindly, beneficent main form-Left face represents a terrific, fierce form of Shiva, possibly Bhairava; fierceness is shown by curly hair, frown, furrowed brow, curly mustache, slightly parted lips to reveal tusks,attribute of snake (represents destructiveness)-Right face has attribute of a flower, suggesting that this is Shiva’s female form, Parvati/UmaLarger symbolism at Elephanta: Shiva, Parvati, and their retinue are believed to live in a cave in a mountain, so this cave temple carved out of a hill suggests their literal home; a lot of the temple’s exterior is left in its natural state, maintaining the sense of the site as a cave in a mountainEarly Hindu Art at Mamallapuram“Descent of the Ganges” or “Arjuna’s Penance.” Pallava dynasty, ca. early-mid 7th c. CE: Mamallapuram is on the southeast coast of India in Tamil Nadu; means “city of Mamalla,” named for a Pavalla king…a busy port city serving the capital nearby. This is an example of carvings in a style associated specifically with the south.-Stone is 49 feet by 98 feet, with a pool below and a cleft in the center that originally a cistern would have allowed water to run down. The iconography makes the subject uncertain*Entire upper section is filled with figures that seem to be converging on the central cleft, all represented as if they are flying there; they are deities, but types as opposed to individualized*Snake deities (naga=male, nagini=female) located in cleft; sometimes shown as just snakes, sometimes as human/animal hybrid. Presence tells us this cleft is probably supposed to be a river or body of water of some kind where naga/nagini would live*Shiva figure is indicated by attribute of trident, dwarves from retinue, matted locks of hair; he stands making a mudra of giving to an emaciated male figure in a yogic pose-“Descent of the Ganges” interpretation: Story has Bhagiratha petitioning for the waters of the heavenly Ganges river to come to Earth to purify the ashes of his ancestors; Shiva lets the river fall onto his head and trickle down to Earth through his long, matted locks. A very popular story, but this is not a typical, standard depiction (Shiva does not hold a lock of his hair, no representation of female Ganges river goddess)…still, most likely interpretation given the components-“Arjuna’s Penance” interpretation: Story from the religious epic Mahabharata about 2 sets of cousins who go to war over a kingdom. Arjuna is a member of one set who petitions Shiva for a weapon to help his family beat the other one. Again, not a standard representation (no hint at preceding hunting