Puja and Piety: Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist Art from the Indian Subcontinent
Book Description
This comprehensive exploration reveals how sacred art serves as a bridge between the material and spiritual worlds across three of South Asia's most profound religious traditions. Through examining over 150 carefully selected artifacts spanning two thousand years, readers discover how devotional practice, known as puja, has shaped artistic expression throughout the Indian subcontinent.
The collection encompasses an extraordinary range of sacred objects, from towering temple textiles and intricate meditation diagrams to intimate household shrine pieces. Ancient terracotta figures stand alongside elaborate processional bronzes, while portable pilgrimage images reveal the deeply personal nature of spiritual seeking. Stone sculptures, wooden ceremonial chariots, and roadside shrine decorations demonstrate how the sacred permeates both grand temples and everyday spaces.
What makes this work particularly valuable for spiritual seekers is its focus on the living relationship between art and devotion. Rather than treating these objects as museum pieces, the authors illuminate how each item served as a tool for connecting with the divine. The book provides essential context for understanding how Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist practitioners have used visual beauty to deepen their spiritual practice across centuries.
Expert essays guide readers through the distinct iconographic traditions of each faith, while practical reference materials help decode the symbolic language embedded in these sacred works. This scholarly yet accessible approach makes complex spiritual concepts understandable for contemporary readers seeking to appreciate how art can enhance devotional life.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
📄 Length: 239 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Understand Buddhist philosophy and practice
- ✓ Explore Buddhist art
- ✓ Explore Rituals
- ✓ Explore Exhibitions
- ✓ Explore Jaina art
- ✓ Explore Puja
- ✓ Explore Hinduistische Kunst
- ✓ Understand Hindu philosophy and traditions
