White clay: 1 definition

Introduction:

White clay means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts (shilpa)

White Clay is is used as a material for making icons when the patron is a Brahmin, as discussed in chapter 5 of the Markandeya-Samhita: a Pancaratra text comprising some 2200 Sanskrit verses mainly dealing with temple-building, iconography, puja (worship procedures), utsava (festivities) and prayashcitta (expiatory measures).—Description of chapter [mṛt-saṃskāra-vidhi]: The clay to be used when fashioning an icon out of plaster will vary according to the caste of the person undertaking to sponsor its construction and installation—white clay will be used when the patron is a Brahmin, red clay when a Kṣatriya, yellow clay when a Vaiśya and black clay when a Śudra. [...]

Shilpashastra book cover
context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

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