The Art of South and Southeast Asia, Article Review Example

Every country has some norms and values same as religion does. Art is always associated with countries, religion and culture. The article describes the relationship between religions. According to the author, Indian culture has influences from the West. It has links from western culture. The paper also discusses cosmic mountain significance in culture. The objective of this article is not to explore the background of Meru’s diffusion, but it intends to provide a symbolism synthetic account in an Indian cosmology underlying Hinduism and Buddhism.  Few sections of this article deal with embedded complex cosmographic dispositions in puranaas and certain Buddhist texts. Meru is the framework for outer space, and in the same time, it serves inner space as well. As per author, temple architecture links Meru with the sun both cosmographic and cosmological symbolism.

The later sections of the article, Meru stands in the center of the society. There are various concepts of Buddhism has reviewed, and the article sheds light on different Buddhism beliefs, its linking with other religions and particularly from west. In South East Asia, Meru symbolism was highly embodied in cosmographic state symmetry in state administration. The article discusses the examples of Cambodia, like in Cambodia, there are four kings considered as four pillars. In cosmological symbolism, the architecture of pyramidal shines of Angkor is particularly rich.  It also shows the relation between Mandara & Meru, they both are interchangeable. The article also sheds light on representation of a polar axis, and other 108 around it, materializing the cosmic cycle. There is a need to understand that cosmology is not a serendipitous combination of faiths, and beliefs. It is not considered as the alternative to religion. The article strongly deals with history of religions with examples.