Open AccessCaturviṃśati-Mūrti forms of Viṣṇu
Author(s) -
Raju Kalidos
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
acta orientalia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1600-0439
pISSN - 0001-6438
DOI - 10.5617/ao.7685
Subject(s) - art , tamil , triad (sociology) , history , art history , literature , sociology , social science
The Acta Orientalia (2012, 2015) in the recent volumes has published blue-ribbon articles on the Daśāvatāra-10 and the Dvādaśa-12 with special reference to the Tamil bhakti literature. An elaborate codification of the assemblage of iconographical forms of Viṣṇu is perfected in the Caturviṃśati-24. Philosophies, āgamas and [śilpa/vāstu]-śāstras may speculate on concepts of coagulated (cf. Stietencron 1977: 127, 137) forms of the gods (e.g. Ekādaśa-Rudras) and the goddesses (Sapta Mātṛkās and Yoginīs-64). Are they represented in the pictorial arts (Jeyapriya 2015: 101)? Daśāvatāra and Dvādaśa, the Mātṛkas and the Yoginīs have been supported by archaeological and art historical evidences. Do we find any visual corroboration for Caturviṃśati? The present article is an eye-opener. I am not concerned with Śiva and Devī.