Iconography of Buddhist Deity Heruka

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The study of the iconography of the tantric deity Heruka is winsome and alluring. This book is a comprehensive account of the iconography of Heruka justifiably adducing literary and sculptural data thereby rendering authenticity. The relativity between these literary sources and the actual images has been shown apply by citing examples in all ingenuity. This book is indubitably a notable contribution to the Buddhist iconographical study - the outcome of devoted research and immaculate scholarship of the author. Written in lucid style, this book provides enormous details of the less known deity, Heruka. A number of photographs, consisting of sculptures, bronzes, paintings, representing different forms of Heruka illustrate the text and make the book useful for the student of Buddhist iconography, religion and philosophy.

Prof. Dr. K.Krishna Murthy, M.A., Ph.D., D.Litt., F.R.A.S. (London), MRAI (London, MRAA (London), a distinguished archaeologist and a celebrated at historian was born on 21- 6-1930 at Anatapur in Andhra Pradesh. After schooling in Municipal High School at Kurnool and collegiate education in Government Arts College, Anatapur, he took his B.A. (Hons) and M.A. from Andhra University, Waltair. A double doctor, he was awarded Ph.D. and D.Litt (Doctor of Letters) by the Nagpur University for his outstanding treatises in the field of archaeology. In recognition of his scholarly eminence, he was elected in 1972 a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (FRAS) and a member of M.R.A.I and MRAA (London) in 1985 and member of the World Archaeology Congress, South East Asia in 1992, an honour only few Indians enjoy.

He was associated with the Archaeological Survey of India for 34 years and served it with distinction, dignity and integrity in various capacities to become Superintending Archaeologist. He is also a former professor of History and Indian Culture in Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prashanthinilayam and its first Dean Faculty of Arts for some time. A prolific writer, he has authored about thirty books and hundreds of research papers in various national and international journals of repute. His specialisation in Buddhism resulting in the publication of authentic works on art-history, archaeology, Buddhist iconography, art, architecture, religion, theology, philosophy and literature has earned him celebrity. His deputation to Sri Lanka on Indo-Sri Lanka Cultural Exchange Agreement in 1978, enriched his longing to undertake Buddhist studies in greater depth.

No study is more fascinating than the study of Heruka in his various forms. Several scholars like Alfred Foucher, Benoy- tosh Bhattacharya, Alice Getty, Wladimir Zwalf, Dipak Chandra Bhattacharyya and others have written monumental works on Buddhist studies. In their works, this less known deity, Heruka, is dealt with considerably. But a comprehensive account on the iconography of Heruka is still wanting. I have made an endeavour in the present book to bring together from different sources relevant material bearing on the subject.

In the Preparation of this book, I have received valuable help in various ways from my colleagues Sarva Shri S.K. Sundararajan, Selection Grade Stenographer and M. Theagara- jan, Photographer, Gr. I of Temple Survey Project. I express my heart-felt thanks to Shri S.K. Sundararajan who prepared the typescript of this book with meticulous care and amazing perfection. His Sanskrit background has been of immense help in typing out the non-English material in the book. Shri M. Theagarajan has photographed the illustrations of this book.

My thanks are due to Sundeep Prakashan, Delhi for neat and speedy printing of this book.

**Contents and Sample Pages**