Mirrors in Hindu Consecration Rituals and Image worship: Naman P. Ahuja

The concept of reflection and the tool and metaphor of a mirror, have played a major role in shaping the theoretical basis for art history in almost all cultures. Bimba, and pratibimba, which explain art as reflection, are two major aesthetic concepts in India. A mirror is called darpana in Sanskrit, and is an attribute of many deities referred to in many ancient texts. What does this attribute mean? And can it help us understand the larger aesthetic philosophy?

Sculptures and paintings are informative: A mirror in the hand of Pārvatī symbolizes Prakṛti, to reflect Puruṣa, Śiva, the Absolute to him. For any absolute cannot, logically, know itself as it is unable to compare or to be aware of itself in relation to anything else. The mirror becomes a widely used metaphor for expressing the sāṅkhya philosophy of dualism, and the nature of cognition. The mirror enables other visions, Rādhā…