The Art of Loving Krishna: Ornamentation and Devotion
Author(s): Cynthia Packert (Author)
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Publication Date: 7 July 2010
Language: English
Print length: 256 pages
ISBN-10: 0253221986
ISBN-13: 9780253221988
Book Description
Since ancient times, Hindus have expressed their love and devotion to their deities through beautiful ornamentation―dressing and decorating the deities with elaborate clothing, jewelry, and flowers. In this pioneering study of temples in Vrindaban and Jaipur, India, Cynthia Packert takes readers across temple thresholds and into the god Krishna’s sacred domain. She describes what devotees see when they behold gorgeously attired representations of the god and why these images look the way they do. She discusses new media as well as global forms of devotion popular in India and abroad. The Art of Loving Krishna opens a universe of meaning in which art, religious action, and devotion are dynamically intertwined.
Editorial Reviews
Review
[T]he material is presented in an easy and accessible manner . . . Recommended.
― Choice
The art of Loving Krishna provides a richly descriptive yet engagingly analytical entrance into the world of Krishna-bhakti as practiced today in Vrindavan, Jaipur, and in the wider world. . . . [T]his book adds a fresh voice to several scholarly discourses and calls for further attention to the ephemeral side of Hindu worship traditions.
― Journal of Hindu Studies
Review
[D]oes something truly wonderful: it shows that the clothes that gods wear convey critical information which is hidden to those who ‘see through’ the clothes and so miss key significations. . . . The wonderful blend of methods and insights from art history, ethnography, and history of religions makes the book compelling.
— Lindsey Harlan ― Connecticut College
Book Description
The vibrant tradition of temple decoration in India
About the Author
Cynthia Packert is Professor of the Department of History of Art and Architecture at Middlebury College. She is author of The Sculpture of Early Medieval Rajasthan.
Wow! eBook
