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Lesson One: The Iconography of Hindu Deities

Objectives:

introduce students to the concept of iconography
teach students how to read an image by introducing them to visual representations of the Hindu gods and goddesses
ask students to consider the role played by art in a mostly illiterate culture
reinforce what students have already learned about Hindu belief
set the stage for teaching about Hindu devotional practice

Procedure:

Begin the lesson by dividing students into groups and providing each group with an image of a Hindu deity. DO NOT give them any background on the god or goddess and their role in the Hindu pantheon. These links provide images of Vishnu, Shiva, Krishna, and Kali along with a "key" for reading each image .

Ask each group to answer the following questions about their image:

1. Describe the figure. Are they old? Young? Beautiful? Ugly? Male? Female?
2. What kind of expression does the figure seem to have?
3. Is the figure holding anything? If so, what?
4. What is the figure wearing?
5. What kind of god do you think this is? What do you think he/she represents to Hindus?

Alternatively, you could project the images and answer the questions on each one as a group.

Have each group present their image and interpretation to the class and then reveal for them the identity and significance of each image. When you are done, define "iconography" and discuss how art and this language of symbols is often used to educate people in a society that is primarily illiterate.

Assessment:

Have students either:

choose one of the dieties discussed and explain why they would want to worship that god or goddess
or draw a diety in the Hindu style and explain the symbolism of the image and why it is significant to their own lives.