The Dance of Siva: Essays on Indian Art and Culture (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) [Paperback]

Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Fine Art, History of Art | Publication Date: March 1985

In a series of 14 stimulating essays, a renowned historian unfolds India's vast cultural and philosophical traditions: its art, conception of the universe, social organization, and attitudes toward family, romantic love, and marriage. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy reveals the essence of the Indian experience, rooted in "a constant intuition" of the unity and harmony of life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (March 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486248178
• ISBN-13: 978-0486248172
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #747,621 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Anthropology > Cultural
  • #25 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Arts & Photography > Art > Art History > Criticism
  • #29 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Eastern Religions > General

More About the Author

ANANDA K. COOMARASWAMY was born in 1877, of Anglo-Ceylonese parents. After completing studies in Geology he soon became interested in the arts and crafts of his native Ceylon and India. In 1917 he relocated to the USA where he became Keeper of Indian and Islamic Art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, establishing a large collection of Oriental artifacts and presenting lectures on their symbolic and metaphysical meaning. An encounter with the seminal writings of perennialist author René Guénon served to confirm and strengthen his view of the Perennial Philosophy. From this period onwards Dr. Coomaraswamy began to compose his mature--and undoubtedly most profound--works, adeptly expounding the philosophia perennis by drawing on his unparalleled knowledge of the arts, crafts, mythologies, cultures, folklores, symbolisms, and religions of the Orient and the Occident. In 1947 his plans to retire to India and take on sannyasa (renunciation of the world) were cut short by his sudden and untimely death. A representative collection of his extensive writings, entitled The Essential Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, was edited by his son Rama P. Coomaraswamy and published by World Wisdom.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Closely reasoned, deeply profound, October 23, 2000

By 

Hariharan S. (Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India / Seattle, WA, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dance of Siva: Essays on Indian Art and Culture (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

Surely, this book addresses an audience with serious and genuine interest in the ancient Indian art, architecture and culture. Coomaraswamy boldly puts forward his thoughts, understandings and conclusions in a systematic form. Some of his observations may border on being provocative. He discusses at length about the Hindu view of Art -- its history and aesthetics, and then, presents his theory of beauty.

But, why I liked this book? -- because it gives a satisfying explanation of the image of Nataraja, the Dancing Shiva ( that stimulated Fritjof Capra to write his masterpiece "The Tao of Physics"). It also explains the philosophy behind the Indian images with multiple arms.

I recommend this book to serious readers as it provides a rare insight. It leaves you with fewer questions, but more answers. Equally worth reading is the foreward by Romain Rolland.

8 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting opinions - not for the newbie, March 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dance of Siva: Essays on Indian Art and Culture (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

Perhaps it is that my scholarly bent towards facts rather than opinions is a bit too severe, but I found this book to be largely opinion whereas I was looking for more factual substance. The essays are certianly well-written and present a very well-thought out view of each topic they discuss. But they are one person views. I would not recommend this book to the person looking for an introduction to Indian art and culture, for I find them very one sided and sometimes greatly disagreed with their take on history and historical cultural perspective (my particular focus on interest). Certianly something good to give you a strong, specific viewpoint and challenge one's own opinions on the topic. If one already has opinions, reading this book can be an enlightening exercise.