Devata-Rupa Mala (Three Volumes)

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The Kalpatharu Research Academy Bangalore is an institution running with the benign blessings of his holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharathi Tirtha Mahaswamiji under the auspices of Dakshinamnaya Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, established in 1981. Kalpatharu research academy has strided across the horizon of Ideological Research and Publications with giant steps and today stands as an institution know for its unique quality of research work.

Kalpatharu Research academy is dedicated to the cause of preservation of ancient heritage of India it has encouraged research in the fields of Agama, Veda, Tantra, Jyoutisha Mantra Sastra, Vastu , Yoga, Silpa Ayurveda Etc.

Among its prestigious publications (numbering more than seventy five till now) are six volume of Pratima Kosha twelve volumes of Agama Kosha three volumes of the art and architecture of Indian temples and several Koshas like Ganesha Kosha, Lalita-Kosha and Navagraha Kosha Oshadhi- Kosha Salagrama Kosha Gita-Kosha, Hanumat Kosha etc.

The academy has plans of undertaking intensive research in the field of Veda and Vedanga and intends publishing Bharatiya Sanskrit Sarvasava Kosha an encyclopedic work in several volumes dealing with all aspects of Indian tradition and culture. It seeks of promote education culture, science, Art and learning in all its branches. The approach will be broad based and multi disciplinary.

An extensive, comprehensive and specialist reference library has been built up to assist the research workers in the ideological disciplines. A valuable collection of Palm leaf manuscripts relating to Veda, Vedanta, Vedanga and allied subjects had already been made the collection work is continuing.

Dakshinnamaya Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham has been running a Guru Kula type a institution on tradition lines to impart Vedic Education at several places. Some of these institutions are over 100 years old. It is the intention of Kalpatharu Research Academy to take an active part in continuing this age old tradition and act as the research & Publication wing for these institutions.

Our ambition is to develop as a national centre for higher learing in Veda Vedanga and Shashtras and facilitate the propagation of unique Sanskrit and Vedic texts in the national and International arena.

This publication is the 98th of its achievement is this field.

Vidyalankara, Sàstra-Chudãmani, Sangita- Professor Sãligrama Krishna Ramachandra is a well-known scholar who combines traditional learning with modern research. Well versed in Sanskrit, Pali Ardhamãgadhi and several modern Indian languages and acquainted with ‘Tibetan and some European languages, he has written extensively on Vedanta, Buddhism, Jainism, Indian Culture, Art and Literature.

In his professional career, however, he was a Professor of Psychology. He has headed the Department of Clinical Psychology in the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience’s. Bangalore, and the Department of Indian culture in the Collision College Study Center of the Unws4ty of the Pacific (USA). At present, he as the Senior Associate of National Institute of Advanced Studies (Indian institute of Science. Bangalore. and Guest Faculty, Indian institute at Management Bangalore and member of the govering council of TTD (SVCL Research Centre) Tirupati.

He has been Member of Karnataka State Lalitha Kala academy and Sangita Nritya Academy he has served on the agama board (Govt. of Karnataka). He is president of Silpa Kala Pratishtana. The Govt. of Karnataka has honored him with the 1986 Rajyolsava Award. Sangita Nritya academy he is the recipient of the Veda Samman for the year 2000 by the Govt. India.

Kendriya Samskrita Vidya Peetha Tirupati has awarded him honoris causa degree Vashaspati (2003).

He has written more than sixty books in Kannada a play in Sanskrit and a Pali Commentary on a Buddhist classic one of his books on iconography in Kannada has won the state Sahitya Academy award as also another of his books on the Tirupati temple.

Among his numerous English publications are three volumes of Encyclopedia of Indian Medicine Tibetan Tantrik tradition and Tibetan meditation Heinemann, Delhi consciousness in advatia and a series of six books on Indian temples and origins of Indian thought Kalapathru research academy has published his Pratima Kosha in six volumes agama Kosha in twelve volumes. Art and architecture of Indian temples in three volumes.

This volume entitled Devata-Rupa-Mala is the result of the project Devata-Dhyana-Malika undertaken by the Kalpatharu Research Academy Bangalore sponsored by National archives of India Govt. of India New Delhi.

The publication is based on Sanskrit manuscripts bearing on iconography. The book Devata-Dhyana-Malika of the former ruler of Mysore, Maharaja Krishnaraja wodeyer III has been main material as regards the dhyana slokas. Illustrations have been provided from several sources. It is hoped that the publication will be received enthusiastically by artists and scholars as also by craftsman.

We are grateful to the authorities of national achieves of India and to Prof. S.K. Ramachandra Rao who has prepared this volume for the Academy.

The Academy is deeply beholden to the revered Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Bharatitirtha Mahaswamiji of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham who is also the chief patron of the Academy for his munificent blessings. It is also grateful to Shri V.R. Gowrishankar the Chairman of the Academy and the administrator of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham for the keen interest he has evinced in the publications of the Academy.

M/s Omkar Offset printers who have done an excellent job in producing this book merit our sincere appreciation and thanks.

The present volume focuses its attention on Indian Iconography as prescribed by the Silpa Sastras and Agama Manuals. The basic material has been rearranged and presented in a new perspective. The book is based on the traditional framework of Panchayatanapuja the worship of Ganapati, Surya, Devi, Siva and Vishnu while these are the major deities the forms assumed by them and the retinue divinities associated with them are also dealt with. The volume is copiously illustrated so that the craftsmen engaged in preparing icons for worship in temples are also benefited.

The author is grateful to Sri Daivajna K.N. Somayaji Director and Chief Editor of the Kalpatharu Research Academy for the opportunity provided to prepare this volume to the revered pontiff of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham Sri Sri Sri Bharathi Tirtha Swamiji to Shri V.R. Gowrishankar the chief Administrator of Sri Sringeri sharada Peetham and to his friends Shri Venkatesh Babu and Shri Nagendra of the Omkar offset printers for their uniform and unfailing courtesy during the preparation of this volume.