The Dance of Siva: Essays on Indian Art and Culture

Rating:
Summary: Interesting opinions - not for the newbie
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Closely reasoned, deeply profound
Review: 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.