Iconography of minor Hindu and Buddhist deities

Citation preview

ICONOGRAPHY OF MINOR HINDU AND BUDDHIST DEITIES

ICONOGRAPHY OF MINOR HINDU AND BUDDHIST DEITIES

BHAGWANT SAHAI

ABH I NA V

m PUB LI CATION S

ABHINAV PUBLICATIONS NEW DELHI-110016

1975

3() 170/S

© BHAGWANT SARAI 1975 First Published 1975 Publisher : Shakti Malik, Abhinav Publications, E-37 Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016 Printer : Vishal Printers, 2/34, Roop Nagar, Delhi 110007

DEDICATED TO THE SACRED MEMORY OF MY FATHER

LATE SRT BAJRANG SAHAI

FOREWORD

THERE have been numerous studies on religious history and specific religions.

But the study of any religion on the basis of iconography is a highly difficult and technical job. Iconography of major Hindu and Buddhist deities has been the subject matter of highly competent works by the renowned scholars; but minor deities played no less important part in the religious life and beliefs of the people, particularly common people. Dr. B. Sahai chose this line of neglected area of study, 'Minor Hindu and Buddhist Deities', for his Ph.D. thesis. I saw the work grow under his meticulous care and the work was highly appreciated by examiners like late Dr. J.N. Banerjea. Dr. Sahai has shown great interest in handling this difficult subject anJ in his use of recent archaeological finds to substantiate his points. The work has been rightly well illustrated. I have no doubt that this book written in lucid style will be welcomed by the students and scholars of religious history. It also throws fresh light on the art of the early medieval period. In introducing Dr. B. Sahai as a writer in the field of ancient history and culture, I am more than confident that the world of scholarship would have more of such competent works from him later.

Patna Feb. 1975

B. P. SINHA University Professor and Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History & Archaeology Patna University

PREFACE THIS work aims at presenting a detailed and systematic study of the iconography of some of the minor Hindu and Buddhist deities. Its scope is, however, restricted to the sculptures of northern India; but still, by way of comparison, some well known sculptures of southern India have also been taken note of. The study has been felt rather essential in view of minor deities having received scant treatment at the hands of the renowned scholars in their works on iconography. The present work, Iconography of Minor Hindu and Buddhist Deities, embodies in the main the thesis approved for the degree of Ph.D. by the University of Patna · in 1965. No amount of words can adequately express my deep sense of gratitude that I owe to my esteemed teacher, Prof. B.P. Sinha, M.A., Ph.D. (Lond.), Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History & Archaeology, Patna University, whose constant guidance, able supervision, exacting standard of scholarship and sympathetic encouragement made it possible for me to give the work the present form. My grateful thanks and gratitude are also due to my revered teacher, late Prof. A.S. Altekar, M.A., LL.B., D.Litt., who had evinced keen interest and promised considerable help in this work of mine; but destiny ordained otherwise and the privilege of having benefited from his scholarly suggestions and numerous photographs of stone images he was to place at my disposal was unfortunately denied. To Dr. S. Malti Devi, M.A., Ph.D., Lecturer, Department of Ancient Indian History & Archaeology, Patna University, I owe deep sense of gratitude for her proffered help and valuable suggestions. My thanks are also due to Dr. S.N. Sahay, M.A., Ph.D., and Dr. M.C.P. Srivastava, M.A., Ph.D., both Lecturers in the Department, and to SrI Chitta Ranjan Prasad Sinha, M.A., Patna Museum, for their kind help and useful suggestions.. I have also to thank SrI Prosanto Kumar Bose, Photographer in the Department, for helping me with some very good photographs for their inclusion in this work of mine. I owe special thanks to Dr. B.N. Sharma, M.A., Ph.D., D.Litt., Keeper, National Museum, New Delhi, for having extended his helping hand in the final publication of the work. I am also thankful to Sri Shakti Malik, Proprietor, Abhinav Publications, New Delhi, for taking keen interest in the publication of the work and rushing its print throug~ the press. I would be failing in my duty if I do not thank the Ministry of Education, Government of India, for having awarded me a research scholarship which had

x Preface

enabled me to commence the work. I would also like to thank my alnta mater, the University of Patna, for having afforded me a financial assistance towards my research work. At the end, I must place on record my hearty thanks to all those great savants whose writings I have extensively utilised in the preparation of this work.

Patna February, 1975

BHAGWANT SARAI

TRANSLITERATION TABLE

a

ar

r

~

anusvara

a

arr

e

t:i:

visarga

~

ai

Q:

-

m

J:i

i

~

0

a:r)

u

;a-

au

ar1

u

3j

k

~

eh

"!

t

c

t