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Hindu art

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A beautiful bronze sculpture of Nataraja, the Hindu god of dance, from the Chola Dynasty in Tamil Nadu, India.

Hindu Art

Hindu art is full of beautiful pictures and stories about gods and goddesses. It comes from Hinduism, a big religion with 1.2 billion followers all around the world. People make this art to show love and respect for their gods.

Hindu art has been made for a very long time. Artists started with simple drawings and then made more detailed pictures. They show gods with extra arms to show their special powers. One famous goddess is Sarasvati, who has four arms and loves learning and music. She often holds a musical instrument called a vina, prayer beads, and a book.

The lotus flower is a very important symbol in Hindu art. It means purity and beauty. The lotus grows in muddy water but stays clean and beautiful, showing strength even in hard times. Many gods and goddesses are shown with lotus flowers.

Hindu art also includes many kinds of music and dance. Some famous dances are Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Odissi. These dances tell stories about the gods and are very special to people who follow Hinduism.

There are many ways people show their art in Hinduism. They make jewelry, paint pictures, and even arrange flowers in beautiful ways. One city, Raghurajpur, is famous for its art. Artists there make wonderful paintings and sculptures that people love from all over the world.

Images

A colorful 18th-century Indian painting showing the gentle god Shiva pouring water over the baby Ganesha, who is seated comfortably with his mother Parvati in a beautiful Himalayan meadow.
A historic metal sculpture from Nepal, showcasing traditional Himalayan art now displayed in the Cleveland Museum of Art.
A beautiful bronze statue of Ganesha from the 13th-century Vijayanagar Empire, on display at the Salar Jung Museum.
An ancient silver coin from the Mauryan Empire showing Balarama, a Hindu figure, holding a plough and conch shell.
An ancient coin showing a graceful dancing figure, thought to represent Lakshmi from Indo-Greek art.
An ancient coin from the Bactrian King Agathokles featuring depictions of Hindu deities, showcasing historical and cultural art from around 180 B.C.
An ancient architrave from Katra, Mathura, dating back to 100 BCE, showcasing the artistic style of ancient India.
An ancient sculpture of a Shiva Linga from the Shunga Period, displayed in the Government Museum in Mathura, India.
Ancient Hindu sculpture of Vishnu from the 2nd century CE, displayed at the Mathura Museum.
Ancient sculpture of Surya, the sun god, from the Kushan Period, displayed at the Government Museum in Mathura, India.
An ancient Shiva Linga from Mathura, worshipped by Kushan devotees around the 2nd century CE.
An ancient 1st-century Hindu sculpture depicting the deities Karttikeya and Agni, displayed at the Government Museum in Mathura, India.
A beautiful historical painting showing different forms of the Hindu god Vishnu, created by the artist Raja Ravi Varma.

Related articles

Hinduism
Bharatanatyam
Kuchipudi

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Hindu art, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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