Reflections of Indian Consciousness

R.C. Mishra

ISBN 10: 8185832269 / ISBN 13: 9788185832265

Published by National Museum, New Delhi, 2008

About this Item

From the preface The present exhibition entitled Reflections of Indian Consciousness has been mounted jointly by the Archaeological Survey of India and National Museum. There are seventy six exhibits representing Hindu Buddhist and Jain pantheons. The exhibits portray the Indian sprit and sensibility. These have been selected from the excavated sites of Bharhut Khajurhao Nachna Kuthara and Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda (Andhra Pradesh) Ratnagiri and Udayagiri (Orissa) Nalanda and Bodh Gaya (Bihar) Sarnath Deogarh Mathura and Ahichchhatra (Uttar Pradesh) Pitalkhora and Mansar (Maharashtra) Hampi (Karnataka) and Akota (Gujarat). Representative metal images of Tamil Nadu have been largely selected from the collection of the National Museum New Delhi. The exhibits range from the 3 century B.C. to the 18 century A.D. However the exhibits are not necessarily mounted in a chronological order in the gallery. The text of the entries and the plate numbers coincide with the display numbers. Apart from the textual details of each entry the catalogue provides a short title provenance name of the museum chronology material size and accession number of each exhibit. The epigraphical inferences and other vernacular words are written in conformity with English transliteration. A few exhibits of Buddhist origin are inscribed with the Buddhist creed which may be read as under ye dharma hetu prabhava hetum tesham Tathagato hyavada tesham cha yo nirodha evam vadi Maha shramanah. Tathagata (i.e. Buddha) has revealed the cause of those phenomena which spring from a cause and also (the means of) their cessation. So says the Great Monk. The text entries of the exhibits from Ratnagiri have been transpired from the writings of Dr. Debala Mitra. 154 pp.

Seller Inventory # 73528

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Reflections of Indian Consciousness
• Publisher: National Museum, New Delhi
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 8185832269
• ISBN 13: 9788185832265
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: New
• Condition: As New
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)

About this title

Synopsis

Pages: 154 (153 Color Illustrations)


Forward

One of the important tasks o f the National Museum has been to explore and present the heritage of Indian in the context of her enduring culture. The exhibition “Reflection of the Indian Consciousness” is the Part of our Endeavour to carry out that task. This exhibition consists of several objects that were presented in an exhibition “Treasure of Ancient India” organized by the archaeological Survey of India in four cities in China during 2006-07. While selecting the objects from the collection of site museums of the Archaeological survey of India and the National Museum it was felt to focus the attention on the great values and ideals the art objects reflect. Therefore, certain objects have been replaced by other ones befitting to the theme of the exhibition. In fact this is a joint Endeavour of the National Museum and the Archeological Survey of India.

Thus the present exhibition focuses on ideals of peace, harmony, tolerance and co-existence which are quintessentially Indian. The objects have been selected not merely for their individual quality but also to demonstrate the cultural beliefs of the Indian sub-continent. The selection of artifacts their presentation and the scheme of the catalogue suggest that the exhibition intends to serve as a mirror of Indian philosophy, religion, aesthetic, sensibility, emotion, and expression.

An exhibition of this scale and complexity depends greatly on the help of many people. Obviously it is not possible to thank all the persons in such a venture individually, but my thank goes particularly to my predecessor in the National Museum, Mr. Vijay S Madan, whose persistent efforts brought this exhibition to its present form. I am also thankful to Smt. Anshu Vaish,