Significance of Vishnudharmottarapurana
Vishnudharmottarapurana is a crucial ancient text known for its comprehensive insights into various art forms, especially architecture, sculpture, and painting. It serves as a significant resource for understanding classical dance, Sanskrit drama, and temple construction guidelines, emphasizing detailed structural elements and artistic principles. This Puranic text categorizes glances and movements in drama, discusses different postures, and outlines guidelines for depicting various subjects in art. It plays a pivotal role in Hindu cultural practices and temple worship.
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Hindu concept of 'Vishnudharmottarapurana'
The Vishnudharmottarapurana is a crucial Puranic text in Hinduism, offering extensive insights into art, architecture, and their cultural significance, while detailing various styles, techniques, and sentiments relevant to Indian dramatic performance and visual representation.
From: Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture)
(1) A text that applies classifications to instrumental music and provides examples of the types of instruments.[1] (2) An ancient text that discusses various standing postures, distinguishing between male and female forms and detailing six types of postures for men.[2] (3) An ancient text that describes different kinds of sentiments and their representation in paintings, including the concept of citrarasas.[3] (4) An ancient text that discusses the principles of art, including detailed descriptions of different types of portraits and measurements for depicting human figures.[4] (5) A text that discusses five hero types in drama and their respective qualities, but remains silent on other character types.[5]
From: Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (study)
(1) A lesser Purana that contains significant information on architecture, sculpture, and painting.[6]
From: Matsya Purana (critical study)
(1) One of the Puranas that provides insights into the performance and rules surrounding upavasa.[7] (2) A Purana that acknowledges the seven limbs of state while varying some elements in its description, emphasizing flexibility in traditional governance.[8]
From: Annadatri-carita (study)
(1) A significant Purana that denotes the supreme status of Annadana amid various forms of donations.[9]
From: Mudrarakshasa (literary study)
(1) A text that details seventeen alamkaras, defining them but not providing illustrations for each.[10]
From: Vastu-shastra (Introduction to Indian architecture)
(1) Vishnudharmottara-purana is an appendix of the Vishnu-Purana and serves as a significant source on arts related to architecture, sculpture, and painting.[11]
From: Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
(1) A Purana detailing the construction of bows, qualifications for military officials, and the duties of kings in warfare.[12]
From: Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara (Study)
(1) A mythological text that describes the birth of the twelve suns.[13]