In A World of Gods and Goddesses: The Mystic Art of Indra Sharma

by James C. Bae

In a World of Gods and Goddesses marks the first time a large collection of Indra Sharma's work has appeared outside of the Indian subcontinent. By magically combining contemporary and traditional artistic styles, Sharma creates icons of Hindu gods and goddesses that are altars of worship for millions. Steeped in India's ancient Vedic cosmology, these prayerful, captivating paintings contain a complete who's who of the Hindu pantheon. Ganesh, Shiva, Laxmi and Krishna come alive as divine forms in this unique and richly colored work.

Genres: Art

188 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2001

Reviews

[Tanja Nayak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent a week reading this gorgeous coffee-table book and it really is about more than just the pictures. The book is a great starting point for anyone interested in learning more about Indian culture.

The text by James Bae is comprehensive and the full-colour photographs of Sharma's works are lovely. There also are some photographs from temples and book interiors.

The book covers the main deities in the Hindu pantheon such as the Creator God (Vishnu), and associated avatars: the remover of obstacles (Ganesh), Rama, Krishna, Shiva, and goddesses too. I would definitely recommend this book to Hindus, or anyone who is interested in art and Indian culture. A fascinating read about the oldest culture on earth.

Hindus share the belief with Christians that peace will prevail on earth when the supreme deity returns.

[Rebecca Elson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on The Magical Buffet website on 07/06/15.

You may not have heard of Indra Sharma, but it is unlikely, regardless of where you live, that you haven’t seen his work. Sharma is one of India’s most well-known artists. He came from a long line of traditional painters and studied in multiple traditional painting styles. As such, his work reflects Hindu spirituality, and that is highlighted to great effect by “In a World of Gods and Goddesses: The Mystic Art of Indra Sharma” by James H. Bae.

What I was expecting was an art book; lots of pictures and a bit of text about the artist and his art. What I got was so much more! “In a World of Gods and Goddesses” is loaded with full color images of Sharma’s art, but it is also a wonderful biography of the artist. It offers a detailed explanation of traditional painting styles in India, and covers the sacred mythology of India and the stories of Hinduism’s deities. You can see why it’s a book to get excited about!

Thanks to the use of his art as posters, in calendars, and as greeting cards, Sharma’s work has made its way around the globe. I’ve personally found it in some new age/metaphysical gift shops on posters. Maybe you have too. “In a World of Gods and Goddesses” is a great way to learn about the artist, enjoy his work, and learn more about a whole artistic culture.

[Shraddha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite artwork. There are beautiful images in this book which you can stare at for hours. This is an artwork book and not a novel.