The Dance of Siva: Essays on Indian Art and Culture

By Ananda K. Coomaraswamy

Book Overview

Ananda Coomaraswamy, late curator of Indian art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, was unexcelled in his knowledge of the arts of the Orient, and unmatched in his understanding of Indian culture, language, religion, and philosophy. In this excellent reprint of a rare volume of essays, he reveals the essence of the Indian experience, rooted in "a constant intuition" of the unity and harmony of all life. Everything has its place, every being its function and all play a part in the divine concert led by Natarājā (Śiva), Lord of Dancers.
In a series of 14 stimulating and provocative essays, Coomaraswamy unfolds the vast metaphysic of India: the magnificent revelation of its art; its conception of the universe; social organization; attitudes toward feminism; problems of family; romantic love, and marriage. His sweeping commentary considers the "intellectual fraternity" of mankind; the venerable past as it survives side by side with emerging modern India; and the individual, autonomy, and repudiation of "the will to govern."
Enhancing the text are 27 black-and-white photographs -- mostly of masterpieces of painting and sculpture from the second century B.C. to the eighteenth century, and including the glorious "Cosmic Dance of N taraja." This handsome volume offers rich insight into the art, philosophy, and culture of a fascinating forty-centuries-old civilization.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486248178
• ISBN13: 9780486248172
• Release Date: March 1985
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Closely reasoned, deeply profound

Surely, this book addresses an audience with serious and genuine interest in the ancient Indian art, architecture and culture. Coomaraswamy boldly puts forward his thoughts, understandings and conclusions in a systematic form. Some of his observations may border on being provocative. He discusses at length about the Hindu view of Art -- its history and aesthetics, and then, presents his theory of beauty.But, why I liked this book? -- because it gives a satisfying explanation of the image of Nataraja, the Dancing Shiva ( that stimulated Fritjof Capra to write his masterpiece "The Tao of Physics"). It also explains the philosophy behind the Indian images with multiple arms.I recommend this book to serious readers as it provides a rare insight. It leaves you with fewer questions, but more answers. Equally worth reading is the foreward by Romain Rolland.