Bhartiya Pratimalakshana - Iconography
by Dr Anindita Roy, Ph.D ( DesignEducator@gmail.com) To understand Bhartiya Pratimalakshana , one must view it not just as "art history," but as a precise liturgical science. In the Indian tradition, an image (Pratima) is a "yantra"—a tool for centering the mind—and its characteristics (Lakshana) are the specific codes that make the divine accessible to the human senses. 1. What is Bhartiya Pratimalakshana? Pratimalakshana (Sanskrit: Pratima = Image/Icon; Lakshana = Attributes/Signs) is the branch of the Shilpa Shastra (the science of arts and crafts) that deals with the creation and symbolic interpretation of religious icons. Canonical Basis: It is governed by texts like the Vishnudharmottara Purana , Agni Purana , and Manasara . These manuals provide strict rules for Iconometry (Talamana), ensuring that every limb is in perfect proportion to the whole. Purpose: The icon is meant to be a "bridge." Because the Absolute (Brahman) is formless ( Nirgun...