In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Knowledge Traditions & Practices of India: Painting: A Survey

Varṇikabhaṅga (वर्णिकभङ्ग) refers to “identification and analysis of colour and hue” and represents one of the six limbs (ṣaḍaṅga) of the ancient Indian art of “painting” (citra), according to the Vātsyāyana’, Kāmasūtra (2nd century CE). These “six limbs” (e.g., Varṇikabhaṅga) were the basis of the Indian art of painting.

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (shilpa)

Varṇikābhaṅga (वर्णिकाभङ्ग) refers to the “colour differentiation of a Painting” and represents one of the six limbs of Painting (citra), according to the Kāmasūtra and Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—The last kind of limbs of Painting called varṇikābhaṅga is related to the colour differentiation of a Painting. In the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa a detail discussion on the proper implementation of colours, narration on primary colours, different shades of colours are also found. In this regard the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa says that proper position, measurement, use of space, gracefulness, expression, similarity, scale of size to increase or to decrease are the eight qualities of a good Painting.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Languages of India and abroad

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Varṇikābhaṃga (ವರ್ಣಿಕಾಭಂಗ):—[noun] the art or sense of using right colour in painting to express a particular mood.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Varnika, Bhanga.

Full-text: Differentiation, Citra, Implementation, Shadanga, Shade.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Varnikabhanga, Varnika-bhanga, Varṇika-bhaṅga, Varnikabhamga, Varṇikābhaṃga, Varṇikabhaṅga, Varṇikābhaṅga, Varṇikābhanga; (plurals include: Varnikabhangas, bhangas, bhaṅgas, Varnikabhamgas, Varṇikābhaṃgas, Varṇikabhaṅgas, Varṇikābhaṅgas, Varṇikābhangas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture) (by Bhagyashree Sarma)

2. The Importance of the Term Citra < [Chapter 5 - Painting and Image Making]

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Triveni Journal

Indian Painting < [April – June, 1987]

C < [July – September 1977]

Indian Sculpture: Orissa's Role < [April 1957]

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