'Satarudriya': Vibhuti of Sivas Iconography

The present book on 'Satarudriya : Vibhuti of Siva's Iconography' is not only the text from the Krishnayajurveda Taittiriya Samhita with its translation but is a discussion of the epithets and their significance in the context of the iconographic concepts associated with Siva and the importance of this Vedic text in understanding the immanence of the Almighty conceived as Rudra. These discussions are illustrated by a bunch of chosen examples of art that form the plates accompanying the text.

About the Author:

After a brilliant academic career C. Sivaramamurti entered the Museum profession as Curator for Archaeology in the Madras Museum. He then joined the Archaeological Survey of India as Superintendent, Archaeological Section, Indian Museum, Calcutta, whence he came over to the National Museum as Keeper and rose as Assistant Director and finally became the Director. Closely associated with the International Council of Museums he was in its executive committee and was Chairman of the Indian National Committee of ICOM.

An Honorary Fellow of the Royal Anatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, he is the recipient of Padmabhushan award from the President of India. His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Sankaracharya of Kanchi has blessed him with the title Vichitrachitta.

He was offered the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship to make an intensive study of the Nataraja theme. He was also Honorary Adviser on Museums for Government of India.

He has been responsible for popularizing epigraphy and numismatics, sculpture and painting from an approach through literature giving literary parallels. His love for Sanskrit and art, his aesthetic taste and capacity to draw, paint and sculpt helped him to achieve his purpose of such a study of art and literature.

He has traveled widely all over the world, participated in international seminars, delivered important lectures at the invitation of several universities which have been published as books. He has over thirty-four books and innumerable papers on sculpture, painting, architecture, iconography, epigraphy, numismatics and literature to his credit. His large and profusely illustrated book 'L art en Inde' now available in French and German will shortly appear in Spanish, Italian and English. His 'Nataraja in Art, Thought and Literature' is encyclopaedic on the theme.