THE HINDU PANTHEON IN NEPALESE LINE DRAWING (Two Manuscripts of the Pratisthalaksanasarasamuccaya)

This book reproduces line drawings of the pantheon of deities described in chapter 6 of the Pratisthalaksanasarasamuccaya from two 17th-century Nepalese manuscripts Drawing of the 64 Yoginis according to the Devi-Purana found in an appendix to both manuscripts are also reproduced. The line drawings from Nepal should prove to be of great importance to the study of Hindu iconography. Comprehensive and almost complete sets of illustrations of pantheons such as this one are rarely found.

In addition to the line drawings, this volume reproduces the Sanskrit text of chapter 6 of the printed edition of the printed edition of the Pratisthalaksanasarasamuccaya (published in Kathmandu in 1966), which is not accessible.

The Pratisthalaksanasarasamuccaya, also called Laksanasarasamuccaya, Laksanasamgraha and Laksanasamuccaya, is a text of the 11th or 12th century and is attributed to Vairocana. It is a work on the construction and installation of lingas compiled from various Agamas. The present book discusses its authorship and date, the contents of its individual chapters, and analyses in detail the iconographic features of the deities described in chapter 6.

About the Author:

Gudrun Buhnemann is professor at the Department of Language and Cultue of Asia, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. Her recent publication include Iconography of Hindu Tantric Deities (2 volumes, Egbert Forsten, 2000-2001) and Mandalas and Yantras in the Hindu Traditions (Brill, 2003)

Preface

1 The Pratisthalaksanasarasamuccaya
1.1 The Pratisthalaksanasarasamuccaya, Its Author and Date
1.2 The Contents of the Pratisthalaksanasarasamuccaya
2 The Line Drawings
2.1 General Remarks
2.2 The Appendix Depicting the Sixty-four Yoginis according to the Devi-Purana
2.3 The Iconographic Features of the Deities
2.3.1 Colours
2.3.2 Postures
2.3.3 Hand Gestures
2.3.4 Attributes
2.3.5 Seats/Mounts
2.4 Tables of Specific Features of the Deities
2.4.1 Principles Followed in Preparing the Tables
2.4.2 Table 1: Specific Feature of the Sixty-four Yoginis according to the Devi-Purana as Depicted in the Appendix

Bibliography and Abbreviations

Index of Deities' Names

Reproduction of the Two Sets of Line Drawing (Manuscripts 1.331 and 1.1314)

The Text of Chapter 6 of the Pratisthalaksanasarasamuccaya
(from the Printed Edition)