In Indian art, a surasundari (Sanskrit: सुरसुन्दरी, romanized: Surasundarī, lit. 'beautiful goddess') is a young maiden characterizing feminine beauty and graceful sensuality.[2]
As a house without a wife, as a frolic without a woman, so without the surasundari, the monument will be inferior and bear no fruit.
—Shilpa-Prakasha, 9th century architectural treatise[1]
Buddhist and Jain shrines have featured sensual figures in form of yakshis and other spirits since 2nd century BCE. However, the surasundari motif gained prominence in Indian temple architecture only around the beginning of the 9th century CE. Shilpa-Prakasha, a 9th-century Tantric architectural treatise, declares a monument without a surasundari as inferior and fruitless.[1][3] The 15th century text Kshirarnava states that the surasundaris should be depicted looking down (adho-drishti), not looking at someone.[4]
In temple sculptures, the surasundaris are often depicted as attendants of gods and goddesses. They also manifest as dancing apsaras.[5] A salabhanjika or tree nymph is another variation of a surasundari.[1] Other forms of a surasundari include:[1]
The presence of surasundaris in religious shrines is interpreted in several ways. A spiritual interpretation is that they represent shakti (the feminine cosmic energy), and can be considered as both auspicious and empowering. A secular interpretation is that they represent the prosperity of the king who commissioned the temple.[6]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Surasundari.
^ abcdHarsha V Dehejia (9 January 2012). "Beautiful woman". The Times of India.
^Theodore Robert Bowie (1965). Ancient Indian Sculpture and Painting. Indiana University Art Museum.
^Roberta Smith, Ken Johnson and Karen Rosenberg (29 December 2011). "Some Favorite Things Not Hanging on a Wall". The New York Times.
^Harsha Venilal Dehejia; Makarand R. Paranjape (2003). Saundarya. Samvad India Foundation. p. 49. ISBN978-81-901318-0-3.
^Sarina Singh (2009). India. Ediz. Inglese. Lonely Planet. p. 683. ISBN978-1-74220-347-8.
^Heather Elgood (2000). Hinduism and the Religious Arts. A&C Black. pp. 111–112. ISBN978-0-304-70739-3.
January 01, 1970
surasundari, indian, surasundari, sanskrit, रस, दर, romanized, surasundarī, beautiful, goddess, young, maiden, characterizing, feminine, beauty, graceful, sensuality, surasundari, khajuraho, temple, house, without, wife, frolic, without, woman, without, surasu. In Indian art a surasundari Sanskrit स रस न दर romanized Surasundari lit beautiful goddess is a young maiden characterizing feminine beauty and graceful sensuality 2 A surasundari at a Khajuraho temple As a house without a wife as a frolic without a woman so without the surasundari the monument will be inferior and bear no fruit Shilpa Prakasha 9th century architectural treatise 1 Buddhist and Jain shrines have featured sensual figures in form of yakshis and other spirits since 2nd century BCE However the surasundari motif gained prominence in Indian temple architecture only around the beginning of the 9th century CE Shilpa Prakasha a 9th century Tantric architectural treatise declares a monument without a surasundari as inferior and fruitless 1 3 The 15th century text Kshirarnava states that the surasundaris should be depicted looking down adho drishti not looking at someone 4 In temple sculptures the surasundaris are often depicted as attendants of gods and goddesses They also manifest as dancing apsaras 5 A salabhanjika or tree nymph is another variation of a surasundari 1 Other forms of a surasundari include 1 Darpani mirror holder Torana door leaner Dalamalika branch holder Padmagandha smelling like a lotus Ketakibharana with a ketaki flower Matrika mother Chamari fly whisk bearer Nartaki dancer Shukasarika one who plays with a parrot Nupurapadika one who ties anklets Mardala drummer Alasyakanya lazy Shubhagamini thorn remover The presence of surasundaris in religious shrines is interpreted in several ways A spiritual interpretation is that they represent shakti the feminine cosmic energy and can be considered as both auspicious and empowering A secular interpretation is that they represent the prosperity of the king who commissioned the temple 6 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Surasundari a b c d Harsha V Dehejia 9 January 2012 Beautiful woman The Times of India Theodore Robert Bowie 1965 Ancient Indian Sculpture and Painting Indiana University Art Museum Roberta Smith Ken Johnson and Karen Rosenberg 29 December 2011 Some Favorite Things Not Hanging on a Wall The New York Times Harsha Venilal Dehejia Makarand R Paranjape 2003 Saundarya Samvad India Foundation p 49 ISBN 978 81 901318 0 3 Sarina Singh 2009 India Ediz Inglese Lonely Planet p 683 ISBN 978 1 74220 347 8 Heather Elgood 2000 Hinduism and the Religious Arts A amp C Black pp 111 112 ISBN 978 0 304 70739 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Surasundari amp oldid 1171470172, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
