Nature of the Ancient Indian Mind

Influenced by nature the early Indian mind, though notdepicted were covered and surrounded with flower
much educated and well trained, was a linear andlike shapes. Relating to god and relating to self was
single mind, glimpses of which are reflected in hissame for them. Their god forms were covered and
simple geometric forms and shapes. He was soprotected with artistic shapes. God was something
feared, insecure and dependent on nature that all hispersonal to them, personal to their feelings. Their days
blissful expressions were dedicated to it. Religion,started with god and his decorative surroundings (the
scriptures and traditions were the only knowledgetemples) and ends with the prayer and worshipping
forms that ignited his mind. His joyous expressionspractices. This also used to be their centre of
were as simple as the joy itself. Usage of triangles,community activities where they collectively discuss
circles, flower like shapes, mental imitation of god ortheir social and personal issues. God forms were
virtuous forms were the main units of his expressions.routinely decorated with different colors and clothing
The mind which was more disciplined and routindepending on days and seasonal festivals and also to
because of their prosperous daily choir preferredthe nature of god.
geometric shapes.God in Art:
In the root of all spiritual expressions is some kind ofGod or goodness is same for them. Their subjection
fear. Fear of nature powers, fear of slippingof god is personal, virtuous and sometimes social in
occupation and regular income, fear of family wellnature collectively. A geographical region is
being, all this is summarized in their art forms asrepresented by a collective representative god or god
submitted to virtuous gods.form.
Ancient Indian mind was very well trained for theirThey forget all their sufferings and worries in the
routine activities agrarian in nature. Being hard workingpresence of god. They worship and sing together in
left them with lots of leisure using it for their ownthe praise of their god. Singing in the glory they relate
products. But no doubt their preference of forms beingthemselves as convincing the might of their god who
geometrical shows advancement of mind though notcan remove all sufferings and would bring a day of
professionally trained. Their color choices were regionjoy, even 'moksha' or 'mukti' (salvation) some day.
and weather dependent and on the availability ofSome also understand that it brings it immediate as
chemicals and raw materials which were exceptionallythey submit their worries offering their devotion. They
natural.relate their god with some kind of benefit and virtue
Depiction of god forms:but are very strict to their choice and related ritual
Influence of scriptures the only arranged knowledgepractices. To some educated minds god is a general
available that time and ancestrally passed on mythrepresentative of a virtue and they are not that much
stories filled their minds with pride and a kind of 'moralrigid to follow the ritual practices. They are liberal and
education' with which they were proudly associated. Itflexible minds and see their ultimate god in different
has their pride and joyous associations which wererepresentative gods. Some relate their godly
reflected in majority of their expressions. If we saypreferences with related understanding, scriptures,
ancient Indian art is nothing but the simplicity and theabsolute knowledge and consciousness etc. Though
god, it won't be wrong.less religious, those hardworking and socially higher in
Indian Mind and the Progress:status have equal faith.
Indian mind became philosophical and lover ofTheir cultural expressions and art forms are very
knowledge when it followed a certain discipline. It wasmuch determined by faith in god. God is, to them, a
religiously disciplined. And out of this discipline emergedvirtuous body, to please whom, one has to be equally
a philosophical mind though his subject matters werevirtuous. So in a way it spread a virtuous notion in
related to their knowledge relative to their time.society and affected very much their art expressions.
Disciplined, regular and routined mind drew theirThere had been little politics over superiority of god
knowledge and inspiration from within and if we sayforms. It reflects their personal pride for their form of
from nature it wont be wrong. Indian spirit relatesgod but provided a classification to the cultural units (as
nature to the self. So both (self and the nature)having one or more representative gods). God is their
congratulated Indian mind and the progress.subjection of ultimate destination, reality, well doer, and
Simplicity of Their Imagination:part of their every activity. Every daily activity begins
The most distinguished aspect of Indian art reflectswith some kind of god related activity and
isolative nature of production very regional in nature.remembrance of which is rarely forgotten.
They were less mobile and mostly confined to theirAn artist too, with all his or her subconscious
little geographically segregated boundaries. This helpedsubmerged into some god and godly preference,
protect simplicity of their imagination. Most of theircreates his vision. So god is directly or indirectly part of
works are regionally recognizable. Their growth inevery aesthetic creation. This is a representative of
artistic feel is strongly tied with regional feel thoughsome positive virtue. A certain kind of 'bhav' (feeling) is
mostly locally appreciated. As they grew outexpressed by the artist in his or her god-art form.
geographically for better occupation and withThough mostly this is 'idealism' (of beauty, of
advancement of knowledge their cultural elementsappearance, of balance) and in other cases this is
spread and brought alien influences. But they were soexpression of grace, mercy, love etc.
adhered to their traditions in practice and regularWhatever the higher status of concentration an Indian
behavior that they could never disobey their principalartist attains causes them to be related and faithful to
characteristic features, even till date this is reflected inhis or her spirit and some relate this to some
their art production. Simple Choices to Live with andmanifested symbol and some merely believe in their
for:abilities. But undoubtedly an Indian mind is highly spirit
From Indian mythology to parental teaching the Indianoriented and exceptionally religious, to such an extent
mind has been educated to remain satisfied withbeing an orthodox.
whatever he or she has been given, the acceptanceLove in Indian Art:
of this education left them with simple choices to liveLove in Indian art is to be felt by a loved mind. A
with and for, and returned them lots of leisure resultingbeautiful mind creates it so it has to emit rays of love.
into abundance of art creation. This indirectly affectedDepiction of Radha and Krishna to animals residing
their culturing of mind, art forms and choices.peacefully in a natural setting is widely used. Highly
Temple Art:ornate elements like flowers, curves convey the inner
Virtuosity or god forms were so interrelated for them,love and ability of Indian artist. Primarily artist's love is
that all their representations of this are highlyrelated to godly forms, nature and its elements. Artist's
decorated. It reflected their inner joy and respect forpersonal love, nature and religious beliefs is largely
the forms. Temple art is good example of this.expressed in all their artworks. Love has been the
Temples are shaped as flower petals and the godsmost central emotion of all his creations.