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The Hindu Temple: An Introduction to Its Meaning and Forms
For more than 1500 years, from the Indian subcontinent to the islands of the Indonesian archipelago, the temple has embodied and symbolized the Hindu worldview at its deepest level and inspired the greatest architectural and artistic achievements in Hindu Asia. In The Hindu Temple , considered the standard introduction to the subject, George Michell explains the cultural, religious, and architectural significance of the temple. He illustrates his points with a profusion of photographs, building plans, and drawings of architectural details, making the book a useful guide for travelers to Asia as well as an illuminating text for students of architecture, religion, and Asian civilizations.
Michell's discussion of the meaning and forms of the temple in Hindu society encompasses the awe-inspiring rock-cut temples at Ellora and Elephanta, the soaring superstructures and extraordinary sexual exhibitionism of the sculptures at Khajuraho, and the colossal mortuary temple of Angkor Vat, as well as the tiny iconic shrines that many Hindus wear around their necks and the simple shrines found under trees or near ponds.
Michell's discussion of the meaning and forms of the temple in Hindu society encompasses the awe-inspiring rock-cut temples at Ellora and Elephanta, the soaring superstructures and extraordinary sexual exhibitionism of the sculptures at Khajuraho, and the colossal mortuary temple of Angkor Vat, as well as the tiny iconic shrines that many Hindus wear around their necks and the simple shrines found under trees or near ponds.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
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About the author
George Michell
84 books18 followersGeorge Michell is a world authority on South Asian architecture, and a founder-trustee of the Deccan Heritage Foundation. He is amongst the most distinguished architectural scholars produced by the University of Melbourne.
He was born in Australia and received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from this university in 1968. He then turned his attention to India and obtained his PhD in 1974 from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, for his dissertation on Early Chalukya temple architecture. In 1976 he played a pivotal role in the ‘Arts of Islam’ exhibition at the Hayward Gallery in London. During the 1970s he directed courses on Asian architecture at the Architectural Association, London, as well as coediting Art and Archaeology Research Papers (AARP), a journal specialising in architecture and art of the Islamic and Indian worlds. In 1978 he edited Architecture of the Islamic World: its History and Social Meaning (republished in 1995).
George lives in London with his partner and splits his time between research trips to the Deccan and writing about its ancient architecture, at home.
He was born in Australia and received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from this university in 1968. He then turned his attention to India and obtained his PhD in 1974 from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, for his dissertation on Early Chalukya temple architecture. In 1976 he played a pivotal role in the ‘Arts of Islam’ exhibition at the Hayward Gallery in London. During the 1970s he directed courses on Asian architecture at the Architectural Association, London, as well as coediting Art and Archaeology Research Papers (AARP), a journal specialising in architecture and art of the Islamic and Indian worlds. In 1978 he edited Architecture of the Islamic World: its History and Social Meaning (republished in 1995).
George lives in London with his partner and splits his time between research trips to the Deccan and writing about its ancient architecture, at home.
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October 1, 2019
Well deserving of a good rating, but of course, the topic is somewhat narrow. If you are studying Hinduism, or visiting India, or studying the development of art and architecture in India, I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 of 1 review