To What God Shall We Render Homage In The Temple At Modhera ? And Other Writings

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Five of the papers collected here examine great themes in Art and Myth-the temple at Modhera, which opens this book, the myth of the descent of Gangi, the god Visar'S celebrated three strides, the sacred Soma plant, and a unique sculpture of the Sun god.

An odd name, an epithet, or even entire myths that are but vaguely understood may preserve dim memories of a very ancient past. Myths may be couched in our routine discursive diction, but they speak in metaphors, verbal images, and symbols. In order to truly interpret them, we need to approach them with insight, humility, and even with a certain sense of awe in their presence: for stories that have survived for so long, even if their forms changed over time, cannot be mere fiction - as the word "myth" itself is to modern man. Generations of men came to terms with their own origins, the creation of the world, their place in Time, the invention of their skills and their tools through myths, as Language itself grew: Language and Myth are twin creations of the human mind.

An important matter, largely bypassed in academic writings, namely, the illicit export of India's artistic heritage, is taken up in three papers, two of them dealing with thefts of extraordinary Art followed by their recovery: a Yakşi from Bharhut in Central India and two amorous couples from Atru in Rajasthan.

The remaining papers take up historical aspects of India's Art.

KIRIT MANKODI trained as an archaeologist, obtaining a Masters and a doctorate from the Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute/ Poona University. He has worked at The American Academy of Benares and Prachya Niketan, Bhopal. Presently he is with the Project for Indian Cultural Studies founded by Franco-Indian Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, this book being the twelfth publication of the Project. He is the author of The Queen's Stepwell at Patan (second edition 2021), co-author of The Antiquities of Himachal, and other publications. A monograph on Atru In the Penumbra of Pratihara/Paramāra Art is a forthcoming publication, as also a co-authored book, Temples on the Tirtha of Baroli.

The author hosts the website www.plunderedpast.in where stolen antiquities are put up to facilitate their repatriation.

**Contents and Sample Pages**