Devata Rupa Mala - A Rare Book (Set of 4 Volumes)

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Vidyalankara, Sàstra-Chudãmani, Sangita- Professor Sãligrama Krishna Ramachandra is a well-known scholar who combines traditional learning with modern research. Well versed in Sanskrit, Pali Ardhamãgadhi and several modern Indian languages and acquainted with ‘Tibetan and some European languages, he has written extensively on Vedanta, Buddhism, Jainism, Indian Culture, Art and Literature.

In his professional career, however, he was a Professor of Psychology. He has headed the Department of Clinical Psychology in the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience’s. Bangalore, and the Department of Indian culture in the Collision College Study Center of the Unws4ty of the Pacific (USA). At present, he as the Senior Associate of National Institute of Advanced Studies (Indian institute of Science. Bangalore. and Guest Faculty, Indian institute at Management Bangalore and member of the govering council of TTD (SVCL Research Centre) Tirupati.

He has been Member of Karnataka State Lalitha Kala academy and Sangita Nritya Academy he has served on the agama board (Govt. of Karnataka). He is president of Silpa Kala Pratishtana. The Govt. of Karnataka has honored him with the 1986 Rajyolsava Award. Sangita Nritya academy he is the recipient of the Veda Samman for the year 2000 by the Govt. India.

Kendriya Samskrita Vidya Peetha Tirupati has awarded him honoris causa degree Vashaspati (2003).

He has written more than sixty books in Kannada a play in Sanskrit and a Pali Commentary on a Buddhist classic one of his books on iconography in Kannada has won the state Sahitya Academy award as also another of his books on the Tirupati temple.

Among his numerous English publications are three volumes of Encyclopedia of Indian Medicine Tibetan Tantrik tradition and Tibetan meditation Heinemann, Delhi consciousness in advatia and a series of six books on Indian temples and origins of Indian thought Kalapathru research academy has published his Pratima Kosha in six volumes agama Kosha in twelve volumes. Art and architecture of Indian temples in three volumes.

This volume entitled Devata-Rupa-Mala is the result of the project Devata-Dhyana-Malika undertaken by the Kalpatharu Research Academy Bangalore sponsored by National archives of India Govt. of India New Delhi.

The publication is based on Sanskrit manuscripts bearing on iconography. The book Devata-Dhyana-Malika of the former ruler of Mysore, Maharaja Krishnaraja wodeyer III has been main material as regards the dhyana slokas. Illustrations have been provided from several sources. It is hoped that the publication will be received enthusiastically by artists and scholars as also by craftsman.

We are grateful to the authorities of national achieves of India and to Prof. S.K. Ramachandra Rao who has prepared this volume for the Academy.

The Academy is deeply beholden to the revered Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Bharatitirtha Mahaswamiji of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham who is also the chief patron of the Academy for his munificent blessings. It is also grateful to Shri V.R. Gowrishankar the Chairman of the Academy and the administrator of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham for the keen interest he has evinced in the publications of the Academy.

M/s Omkar Offset printers who have done an excellent job in producing this book merit our sincere appreciation and thanks.

The present volume focuses its attention on Indian Iconography as prescribed by the Silpa Sastras and Agama Manuals. The basic material has been rearranged and presented in a new perspective. The book is based on the traditional framework of Panchayatanapuja the worship of Ganapati, Surya, Devi, Siva and Vishnu while these are the major deities the forms assumed by them and the retinue divinities associated with them are also dealt with. The volume is copiously illustrated so that the craftsmen engaged in preparing icons for worship in temples are also benefited.

The author is grateful to Sri Daivajna K.N. Somayaji Director and Chief Editor of the Kalpatharu Research Academy for the opportunity provided to prepare this volume to the revered pontiff of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham Sri Sri Sri Bharathi Tirtha Swamiji to Shri V.R. Gowrishankar the chief Administrator of Sri Sringeri sharada Peetham and to his friends Shri Venkatesh Babu and Shri Nagendra of the Omkar offset printers for their uniform and unfailing courtesy during the preparation of this volume.

The Project undertaken by the Kalpatharu Research Academy, l3angalore was continued during the year 2003-2004, and the result is the second part of Devata-Rupa-Mala (Part II). The basic text of ‘Devata-Dhyana-Malika’ compiled by the late Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyar III was published by the Academy last year.

The Academy is thankful to Vidyalankara, Sastrachudamani, Sangita-Kala-Ratna, Vachaspati Prof. S.K. Ramachandra Rao for having prepared this publication, and also seeing it through the press. Acknowledgement is also made of the cooperation of M/s. Omkar Offset Printers who have brought out this volume neatly and expeditiously.

The Academy is deeply beholden to the revered Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Bharatitirtha Mahaswamiji of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, who is the chief patron of the Academy, for his munificent blessings, and it is also grateful to Sri V.R. Gowrishankar, the Administrator of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, who is also the Chairman of the Academy, for his keen interest in the Academy’s research programmes.

The Academy is also grateful to the Authorities of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India, New Delhi and the Authorities of Ministry of Education Govt. of Karnataka.

The second part of Devata-Rupa-Mala (the first part of which was brought out last year) focuses its attention on the iconography of Sakti and her forms, as prescribed in the Agama texts and Silpa Sastras. The book is based on icons and images in Indian temples, which in turn are based, on the Agama prescriptions and visualizations.

The purpose of the volumes on Devata-Rupa-Mala is to assist the traditional craftsmen and sculptors by providing models for individual’s icons. The drawings and photographs collected here represent the best specimens of Indian iconography; and they illustrate the sculptor’s skill in visualizing the deities for formal worship and also contemplation.

The compiler is grateful to Sri Daivajna K.N. Somayaji, Chief Editor and Director of the Kalpatharu Research Academy, Bangalore for providing me with an opportunity to prepare this volume. He is also grateful to the Chief Patron of the Academy, Sri Sri Bharathi-tirtha Swamiji, of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, and to Sri V.R. Gowrishankar, Academy’s Chairman who is also the Administrator of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham. He acknowledges the cooperation of his friends Sri Venkatesh Babu and Sri Nagendra of the Omkar Offset Printers.

Kalpatharu Research Academy, Bangalore is proud to bring out the third part of Devata-Rupa-Mala in its prestigious series of publications entitled Bharatiya Samskriti Sarvasva Kosha. This series has been planned to provide correct and comprehensive acquaintance with all aspects of Indian culture. It is heartening to note that several important books have come out in this series. It is the intention of the Academy to make this an ongoing project.

The Academy wishes to place on record its reverential gratitude to His Holiness the Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Swamiji for his munificent blessings and to Sri V.R. Gowrishankar the chairman of the Academy and the Administrator of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham for his continued keen interest in the Academy’s research programmes.

It is also indebted to Prof. S.K. Ramachandra Rao, who has prepared this volume for publication, and to the Omkar Offset Printers who have produced this volume neatly. The Academy is also grateful to the Authorities of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India, New Delhi and the Authorities of Ministry of Education Govt. of Karnataka.

This is the third part of Devata-Rupa-Mala a project inspired by Devata-Dhyana-Malika by the late Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyear III. The third part deals exclusively with the iconic representa4ions of Vishnu. The volume has been planned to help the artistes and craftsmen to acquaint themselves with the classical forms of the gods in the Agama and Silpa-Sastra texts.

I am grateful to Sri Daivajna K.N. Somayaji, Director and Chief Editor of the Kalpatharu Research Academy, Bangalore, to the Chief Patron of the Academy, Sri Sri Sri Bharathi-tirtha Swamiji, the revered pontiff of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, and to Sri V.R. Gowrishankar, the Chairman of the Academy and also the Administrator of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham. And to my friends Sri Venkatesh Babu and Sri Nagendra of Omkar Offset Printers for their courtesy and cooperation during the production of this volume.

The Kalpatharu Research Academy Bangalore, is happy that it is bringing Out the fourth part of Devata-Rupa-Mala, under the project on Bharatiya Samskriti-Sarvasva-Kosha, a comprehensive and extensive project. This part deals with the important divinity Siva, in his various forms.

This collection of iconic representations and -the introduction were as in the previous parts prepared by Vidyalankara, Vachaspati Prof. S.K. Ramachandra Rao. We are grateful to him for this significant contribution. We are humbly grateful to the munificent blessings of His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Swamiji, the Jagadguru of Sri Sharada Peetham of Sringeri, and we also acknowledge the help of Sri V.R. Gowrishankar, the Administrator of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham and our chairman.

The Academy acknowledges the generous financial assistance from the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt., of India, New Delhi and the Ministry of Education Govt. of Karnataka for this noble task.

We thank M/s. Omkar Offset Printers for their efficient printing and production of this book.

This is the fourth part of Devata-Rupa-Mala which has been designed to be of help to the artistes and the craftsmen, engaged in the preparation of icons for worship in temples and at homes. The icons illustrated here by drawings and photographs are also excellent specimens of our sculpture. The reproductions of photographs from South Kanara District of Karnataka, here are from the late Dr. P. Gururaj Bhatt (cf. his definitive volume on studies in Tuluva History and Culture, 1975). He was my good friend, and he very kindly provided me with numerous photographs. My indebtedness to him has already been acknowledged in the previous part (Pan II, page. 101). The discussions I had with him on several occasions brought out the distinctive features of sculptural work in that area.

This volume deals with the iconic representations of Siva in his sportive forms (lila-murti) likeNataraja, Dakshinamurti, Vaivahikamurti-, Devyardha (ardha-nari) and so on.

I am grateful to Sri Daivajna K.N. Somayaji for providing me this opportunity, to the Jagadguru of Sringeri who is the chief patron of Kalpatharu Research Academy, and to Sri V.R. Gowrishankar who is the Chairman of the Academy, I am also indebted to my friends Sri Venkatesh Babu and Sri Nagendra of Omkar Offset Printers, for their courtesy and co-operation while this work was in the press.