ANTH 320 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Vajrayana, Heruka, Epigraphy
Document Summary
India, the source of political and artistic inspiration. Also referred to as brahminization or hinduization. Initial epigraphic and historical analyses of se asia emphasized the indian nature and early states. Characteristics: hindu religion, cosmology, mythology and ritual with reverence for shiva and vishnu cults, sanskrit language. Indic (brahmi) writing system, stone inscriptions, palm-leaf books: hindu temple complex, statuary, cremation burial, rectilinear town planning, hydraulic systems and wheel-made (made on pottery wheel) ceramics. Initial se asian contact likely began with the gupta empire (4th to 6th century) Kings were followers of vishnu: still supportive of both buddhism and jainism. Refined art style copied within se asia sites: e. g. Important empire based in bengal and modern bangladesh (8th to 12th century. Elite and royal support of buddhism led to the establishment of network of five mahaviharas (buddhist universities) Vishnu (and his incarnations) and shiva most common depictions. Often, both gods combined in the form of harihara: fusion of shiva and vishnu.
