Description
Book SynopsisLight of Devotion: Oil Lamps of Kerala, an in-depth study of the medieval oil lamps of Kerala and beyond, contributes a new chapter to the history of Indian art. These art objects are primary sources for a broader discussion of the ritual use of Hindu oil lamps, their related and unique cultural history, their motifs, style and subject matter. From an understudied region, they include miniature masterpieces in bronze of figural and mythic representations. Many of the pieces presented are previously unpublished. Hindu traditions and the underlying philosophy of these votive offerings to temple deities represented by the flaming oil lamps will interest those who study history of religions, art history and South Asian studies. The author has included oil lamps found not only in Kerala but also examples discovered in an international array of museums and collections. These lamps and their inscriptions offer a key to unlock the problem of the dating of Keralan bronze sculpture.
Table of ContentsList of Figures ;
Acknowledgements ;
Note on names of towns ;
Art of Devotion ;
Collections ;
Festivals ;
Bibliography ;
Inscriptions ;
Dating difficulties ;
Classification ;
Names of Some Oil Lamps ;
Suspension Lamps ;
Stationary Lamps ;
Portable Lamps ;
Suspension Lamps ;
Gaja/elephant-shaped lamps ;
Archaeological Museum, Dadigama, Sri Lanka, elephant-shaped oil lamp ;
CSMVS, Mumbai, elephant-shaped lamp found at Jogeshvari, Maharashtra ;
Thrissur State Museum elephant-shaped oil lamp from Thripunithura, Kerala ;
Kuthira Maliga Museum, Thiruvananthapuram, elephant-shaped oil lamp ;
Vimana vilakku/ Temple model-shaped lamps ;
Gaja Lakshmi ;
Mythic Depictions ;
Non-mythic suspension lamps ;
Stationary Lamps ;
Mada vilakku/wall niche lamps ;
Vriksha vilakku or Tree-shaped lamps ;
Kavara vilakku, branching lamp ;
Nila or
Kuthu vilakku or
stambha ;
Lakshmi
Deepa/Fortune Lamp ;
Kindi, ritual water pot lamp ;
Portable Lamps ;
Arti/prayer ;
Changalavatta ;
Vanchi vilakku, boat-shaped processional torch ;
Extra Parts ;
Conclusion ;
Characteristics ;
South Indian bronze imagery ;
Production features of style ;
Iconography ;
Dynastic arts ;
Bibliography ;
Index
