Devi : the great goddess : female divinity in South Asian art / Vidya Dehejia ; with contributions by Thomas Coburn ... [and others].

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dehejia, Vidya.

Contributor:

Coburn, Thomas B.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Hindu art--South Asia--Exhibitions.

Hindu art.

Hindu goddesses in art.

Exhibitions.

South Asia.

Hindu goddesses in art--Exhibitions.

Genre:

Catalogs.

Physical Description:

408 pages : illustrations ; 31 cm

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : Sackler Gallery, 1999.

Summary:

Vishnu and Siva may be Hinduism's most important gods, but Devi's many faces and ubiquitous presence make her an especially fascinating deity. Devi sometimes appears in forms that are only known in small areas of India, while other manifestations are recognized across South Asia. She can be found adorned with jewels and silks in exquisite shrines, while in numerous villages she is little more than a vermilion-smeared stone or mound of earth.

From a prehistorical terracotta figurine to the work of contemporary artist Anish Kapoor, the beauty and diversity of the art of the Great Goddess testify to her continual and powerful presence in the life of India and beyond. Through over a hundred diverse examples of Devi's images and a collection of essays by distinguished international authors, many facets of Devi worship and tradition are explored, including ritual, architecture, literature, history, and contemporary issues such as feminism and gender politics. This unique celebration of the Great Goddess will be welcomed not only by scholars and students of South Asian art and culture, but also by the general reader interested in the history and contemporary life of this fascinating region.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

8185822638

OCLC:

40452937