ICONOGRAPHY OF SOUTHERN INDIA

This work concerns the iconography of the country of Dravidian Architecture and the Tamil language, which comprises the ten districts of southern India. It is concerned with iconography, and therefore comparatively simple, for although Hindus do not often agree about political ideas, they have always been in complete accord on the manner in which their gods and religious scenes should be portrayed. Iconography in southern India is entirely religious andas such extremely strict rules always govern the methods of representing the gods, and the sculptor’s chisel is invariably guided with exact precision. The Musalmans and Christians have always been relatively few in this part of India. From the time of the oldest historical documents, the Tamils have been what is called in India, Brahmanical. Their religion in Hinduism, which we can?t define in a few words. In fourteen centuries, this religion has become much modified, and has split up into numerous sects. Eminent teachers have spread ideas of a exulted philosophy as appertaining to it, but these have only served to increase the differences of cults and dogmas. This book is translated from French and very useful in the context of iconography of the country and Dravidian Architecture.