ART 357 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Ganesha, Schist, Chamunda
Document Summary
Worshippers tend to focus on only one god with whom they have a personal connection. Hindu gods are all aspects of brahman, the eternal spiritual reality. Vishnu, a preserver or savior god has many (at least 8) forms or avatars in which he came to. Married to laksmi whose name means good fortune. Shiva is both creator, destroyer, and preserver; married to parvati. Devi, a female god, symbolizes wealth and benevolence, but can also be violent. Durga and chamunda/kali, destroyers of evil, aspects of devi. Temple context, over lintel of a temple perhaps. Shiva has four arms, one holding a trident (attribute), one holding a lotus flower, one holding a rosary, gripping parvati with another arm. Lotus flower is a symbol of love in indian poetry. Rounded form, rounded face, smiling at each other, loving married couple. Surrounding are various upsara type figures (voluptuous women) offering wreaths and necklaces to shiva and parvati.
