Aesthetics-III

• Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art and taste.
• This module builds on the foundational understanding of Indian aesthetics introduced in Aesthetics-I and II.
• It focuses on the classical textual sources of Indian painting.
• It examines the practical application of Rasa theory in visual art.
• It introduces the principles of Alankara and Dhvani that underlie Indian aesthetic criticism.

After completion of the course student will be able to:

1. •Understand the classical textual foundations of Indian painting, particularly the Shadanga and Chitrasutra.
2. •Establish the connection between Rasa theory and its practical application in Indian painting and sculpture.
3. •Acquaint themselves with the principles of Alankara and Dhvani and their relevance to visual art.

TEXTBOOKS

1. Kapila Vatsyayan, The Square and the Circle of the Indian Arts, Abhinav Publications.
2. Priyabala Shah, Vishnudharmottara Purana — Third Khanda (Chitrasutra), Oriental Institute, Baroda.
3. S.K. De, History of Sanskrit Poetics, Firma KLM.

Reference Books

1. Stella Kramrisch, The Hindu Temple, Motilal Banarsidass.
2. Anandavardhana, Dhvanyaloka, tr. Ingalls, Masson & Patwardhan, Harvard University Press.

Online Resources

1. https://www.sahapedia.org (search: Chitrasutra, Rasa theory in Indian art)
2. https://iep.utm.edu/aestheti (Indian aesthetics related entries)