On Thursday 17 May 2007 7:06 am, Udhay Shankar N wrote: > The point is that phrases like "artistic value" are extremely contextual.
Let me post, on this list, what I have posted in a couple of other places because it deals with the interface between art, sexuality, propriety and what is contextually appropriate. I had been to Coimbatore for a couple of days last week and I decided to visit the temple at Perur which is reputed to be 1500 years old, although the outer sections are more recent - as it was patronized by the Cholas and Vijaynagar kings. However, I was amazed by something that I saw. Every pillar has a bas-relief carved on it depicting something, and on one pillar I saw the carved figurine of a completely nude yogini in meditation. Other female figurines show breasts, but the vulva is covered up - but not this one. What was even more amazing is that on a face of the pillar at right angles to this yogini figurine was the figure of a bearded man (most men are depicted clean shaven). This bearded man has a huge grin on his face and has a huge penile erection pointed at the yogini around the corner of the pillar. On another level, I guess I should not be surprised at all - because this is after all a Shiva temple - and is centered around a Lingam - which is essentially a penis set in a carved slab that represents a yoni - or female genitals. There is great difference between what is tolerated nowadays and what was perfectly Ok a few centuries ago. shiv
