Hindu Images and their Worship with special reference to Vaisnavism: A philosophical-theological inquiry (Routledge Hindu Studies Series)

Hinduism comprises perhaps the major cluster of religio-cultural traditions of India, and it can play a valuable role in helping us understand the nature of religion and human responses to life. Hindu image-worship lies at the core of what counts for Hinduism – up-front and subject to much curiosity and misunderstanding, yet it is a defining feature of this phenomenon. This book focuses on Hindu images and their worship with special reference to Vaiṣṇavism, a major strand of Hinduism. Concentrating largely, but not exclusively, on Sanskritic source material, the author shows in the course of the book that Hindu image-worship may be understood via three levels of interpretation: the metaphysical/theological, the narratival or mythic, and the performative or ritual. Analysing the chief philosophical paradigm underlying Hindu image-worship and its implications, the book exemplifies its widespread application and tackles, among other topics such as the origins of image-worship in Hinduism, the transition from Vedic to image worship, a distinguishing feature of Hindu images: their multiple heads and limbs. Finally, with a view to laying the grounds for a more positive dialogic relationship between Hinduism and the "Abrahamic" faiths, which tend to condemn Hindu image-worship as "idolatry", the author examines the theological explanation and justification for embodiment of the Deity in Hinduism and discusses how Hinduism might justify itself against such a charge. Rich in Indological detail, and with an impressive grasp of the philosophical and theological issues underlying Hindu material culture, and image-worship, this book will be of interest to academics and others studying theology, Indian philosophy and Hinduism. Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of figures -- List of abbreviations -- Dedication -- Introduction: on the object and scope of our inquiry -- Part I -- 1 "The heathen in his blindness ... ": methodological considerations -- 2 In retrospect: the trajectory of image-worship in the light of Yāmuna's Āgamaprāmāṇya -- 3 On conceptualizing the foundations of Hindu image-worship -- 4 The Sāṃkhya paradigm re-configured and re-imagined: three further illustrations -- Part II -- 5 The art of the possible: on establishing a convention -- 6 Hindu dharma and the making of images -- 7 On the sense and sensibility of Hindu religious art -- 8 Deity embodied: a theological consideration of the form, worship and meaning of Hindu images -- Bibliography -- Index Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 List of figures 7 List of abbreviations 8 Dedication 9 Introduction: on the object and scope of our inquiry 10 Part I 14 1 “The heathen in his blindness [...]”: methodological considerations 16 2 In retrospect: the trajectory of image-worship in the light of Yāmuna’s Āgamaprāmāṇya 33 3 On conceptualizing the foundations of Hindu image-worship 67 4 The Sāṃkhya paradigm re-configured and re-imagined: three further illustrations 86 Part II 114 5 The art of the possible: on establishing a convention 116 6 Hindu dharma and the making of images 155 7 On the sense and sensibility of Hindu religious art 181 8 Deity embodied: a theological consideration of the form, worship and meaning of Hindu images 210 Bibliography 244 Index 254 Machine-generated Contents Note: Part I -- 1. The Heathen In His Blindness [...]: Methodological Considerations -- 2. In Retrospect: The Trajectory Of Image-worship In The Light Of Yamuna's Agamapramanya -- 3. On Conceptualizing The Foundations Of Hindu Image-worship -- 4. The Samkhya Paradigm Re-configured And Re-imagined: Three Further Illustrations -- Part Ii -- 5. The Art Of The Possible: On Establishing A Convention -- 6. Hindu Dharma And The Making Of Images -- 7. On The Sense And Sensibility Of Hindu Religious Art -- 8. Deity Embodied: A Theological Consideration Of The Form, Worship And Meaning Of Hindu Images. Julius J. Lipner. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 235-244) And Index.